Ben Kearsley

Ben Kearsley was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He began classical guitar with Norman Quinney and later with Ian Smith. During his time at school Ben won The Young Musician Of The Year 1993 at James Gillepies High School and the Norman Quinney Prize for Classical Guitar. Performances at the Usher Hall and Queens Hall in Edinburgh took place during this time.
After 5 years of full time study in music (one year at Napier University and four years at Birmingham Conservatoire ) Ben graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1998 with a BMus (Hons) 2:1

During this time Ben performed in masterclasses for Alirio Diaz, Jose Tomas, David Russell, Roland Dyens, Nigel North and Carlos Bonell. Performances at the Adrian Bolt Hall, Birmingham Town Hall and Symphony Hall took place during this time. During the 1990’s Ben attended many summer schools in Scotland, England, France and Belguim.

After studing Ben lived in La Paz, Bolivia and then Madrid, Spain. He taught guitar at the Conservatoirio De La Paz and performed at the British Embassy, Palacio Chico and Theatre Municipal.

Flavio Cucchi

"One of the most reknowned and admired Italian guitarists" (Il Fronimo), Flavio Cucchi has given hundreds of recitals in Europe, America, Asia and Australia in addition to participating in radio and TV shows for the some of the biggest world-wide broadcasting corporations (the BBC, RAI, ZDF, Bayerischer Rundfunk, Televisa Mexico, Television Corporation of Singapore, Radio Praga, and others).

As a soloist, he has played in over then 30 European cities and he is regularly invited by the major  festivals all over the world.

Winner of international competitions he started his international career as a contemporary music specialist: he has played the world premiere of Sestina d'Autunno by Petrassi and many modern masterpieces as Boulez “Marteau sains maitre” (at the Scala di Milano), Henze's “Cimarron” etc.. He has also participated in several operas by Bussotti, Berio etc.

He is one of the first Italian guitarists to popularize the compositions of Leo Brouwer, who wrote: "Flavio Cucchi's perfect tone and virtuoso approach is serving marvellously to a panorama of my music"

Many composers have been inspired to write for Flavio including the famous pianist Chick Corea who wrote: "Ever since I first heard Flavio play the guitar I've been a big fan. His playing is simply filled with Beauty. I want to play the guitar like this."

He is a professor at the Istituto Superiore di Studi Musicali "Pietro  Mascagni" of Livorno since 1985 and held  also Masterclasses in  USA, Japan, Mexico, Singapore, Russia etc. for the most important music societies.

The Poet Yusef Komunyakaa (Pulitzer prize 1994), dedicated to him “Ode to the guitar” presented at Genova International Festival of Poetry

He has recorded over 15 CDs and he is Artistic Director of Guitar Media Collection

Neil Smith

Neil Smith is among Britain’s best-known guitarists whose reputation is world-wide. He started life as an engineer for the MoD but soon went on to play for the Mecca and Top Rank organizations in major ballrooms across the UK. There and on television, he worked alongside many stars including George Melly, Freddie Star, The Comedians and Fivepenny Piece, Bob Monkhouse, Edward Fox, Robert Hardy, Jim Bowen, Patty Boulaye, etc, etc. He studied classical guitar with Madame Adele Kramer (friend of Adolf Hitler and pupil of the great Miguel Llobet) of the Guildhall School of Music in London and the composer John Duarte and theory with the pianist Robert Marsh and he gained a scholarship to study in in Canada with Leo Brouwer and Alirio Diaz at Toronto University in 1975.His successful debut in 1979 led to tours and BBC broadcasts and a first LP record whichwas Pick of The Month in two journals. He toured Europe and the USSR under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle, appeared at the Scottish Proms directed by Sir Alexander Gibson and later at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, and then the new Barbican Hall in a Royal Gala Weekend along with Rostropovich and Andres Segovia.His US debut drew a standing ovation and he returned coast-to-coast and he went beyond the Iron Curtain to play in massive festivals and also for the Red Army in Transylvania. He has recorded for seven labels and has given classes globally. In 2000, he was honoured to play for Her Majesty The Queen Mother’s 100th birthday at her home in Glamis, Scotland.His travels have become widely known in the music world via his book; HAVE GUITAR, WILL TRAVEL where he documents his life on the road; a Molotov-Cocktail exploded near his taxi in the Belfast Troubles, a killer escaping the Police threatened him with a knife and in the USSR, he found Security Police on his trail due to his former MoD connections. At one crucial meeting, he was faced by none other than the dreaded Soviet KGB and was placed under city-arrest and threatened with a fine of $12,000. In Rome, he played for the film stars Elizabeth Taylor and also Geraldine Chaplin by request. In Dubai, he played for His Highness General Sheikh Mahktoum. His book is available via the Website known as authorsonline, his CDs from www.thespanglishstore.com. From Western Canada, across the USA, the Atlantic, Europe and Siberia to Japan, his tours have taken him literally round the world.He is a Fellow of the London College of Music and has been an Examiner for the University of Wales, the University of Huddersfield and a Visiting Tutor and Assessor for the Royal Northern College of Music. For a number of years he was the British representative at the great Cup of The North Festival in North Russia and in 1990 he directed Holland’s main guitar festival in Zwolle. Last season he played on Orkney and gave classes in Perugia in Italy and also in Austria and Southern Ireland and recently, he visited Denmark and Norway. He also writes for Europe’s largest classical guitar magazine Classical Guitar.

Fabriccio Mattos

Fabricio Mattos was born in Curitiba, Brazil. He began his musical studies at the age of six, learning musical theory with his father. When he was fourteen years old, he was introduced to the guitar and was fascinated by the possibilities of this instrument, eventually deciding to study with Dirceu Saggin, at Paidéia Music School, in Curitiba.
He graduated in 2006 Bachelor of Music School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná (EMBAP), taking classes with Professor Luiz Cláudio Ferreira. He acts as a performer since he was 16 years old, and nowadays plays solo and chamber music concerts in various places in Brazil and Europe. He has launched in 2007 his first CD, "España", with original works by Spanish composers of the twentieth century, in a national tour of concerts in ten Brazilian states. From September to December 2009 Fabrício toured in Brazil as part of the project "SESC-Sonora Brazil", being invited to perform, along with guitarist Salomão Habib, 80 concerts throughout Brazil, which is considered the biggest guitar tour ever realized in Brazil.
He has participated, along with ten other Brazilian guitarists, of the "Brazilian Guitar" project, for which he recorded a track for a CD and a solo program to be broadcasted by the Brazilian television. He has also served as producer of the series "Guitar in the Chamber” and artistic producer of the series "Music and Spirituality ", in Curitiba, in addition to exerting an intense didactic activity with the guitar, giving lectures and masterclasses in many places in Brazil and the United Kingdom. He has played in several international festivals and competitions in various European countries, at events globally recognized for its high musical level.
He has participated of the Armando Prazeres Prize for Young Soloists of Petrobras (2003), in which he won first place. He was awarded in more than ten national and international competitions, and has also received honors as "Ivor Mairants Guitar Award” (Worshipful Company of Musicians, London),"Picker Trust Award” (Royal Academy of Music, London) and "Webshow Video Award”. Recently Fabricio was the first Brazilian musician in history to be elected a finalist for the prestigious "Alexander Tansman Competition of Musical Personalities," in Łódź, Poland, where he performed a solo recital in November 2008. In 2009, Fabricio was awarded one of the greatest honors received by a Brazilian guitarist abroad: the “Julian Bream Award”, an award for artistic excellence and distinction given in London by the legendary guitarist Julian Bream, who personally chose the Brazilian guitarist to join the select rank of winners of this prestigious award.
Fabricio Mattos currently resides in London, where he conducts his studies in Master's in music performance at the Royal Academy of Music, one of the best music institutions in the world, and has received a partial scholarship in recognition for his high artistic level. In this institution, he has as mentors musicians like Michael Lewin, Timothy Walker, Fábio Zanon, John Williams and Julian Bream. He constantly collaborates with composers from various musical languages, such as Harry Crowl, Mario Ferraro, Paul Hart, Salomão Habib, among others, by dedicating himself to a development and refinement of the musical approach on the guitar, through contact with various ways of expression in music. Fabricio acts as a scholar on guitar performance, performing constantly, both as soloist and chamber musician, always looking for a difference of interpretation that values the artistic personality and sound and phrasing quality.

Three Guitars and a Harp - France Ellul (Harp), David Artus, Richard Clark, Steve Dell

Tonight's colourful programme presents music from Avalon to Paraguay.

France Ennul - Celtic Harp.
France was a founder member of Vitae, the seminal band and ensemble of musicians who set up and ran the ‘Winterdrum’ festival in High Wycombe for many years.

France’s band ‘Harps of Avalon’ made their debut appearance at the 2001 Winterdrum Festival. They performed, individually and collectively, at a wide range of events from festivals, including Womad, to the British Diversity Awards.

His current band, Anwen, plays a fusion of original compositions and a mix of folk / traditional pieces from various parts of the world, including Celtic, Indian and classical influences. Tonight, France will play solo songs, from the mists of Avalon.

David Artus - Folk Guitar.
David has been studying Classical Guitar with Steve Dell for the last 4 years, but his first love is singing songs in folk and acoustic music clubs. Currently he sings regularly at the Uxbridge and Chesham folk clubs. He repertoire ranges from Al Stewart's songs about the perils of invading Russia to Ralph McTell's sweet sorrow of children leaving home. Tonight he will be singing of families and trains.

Richard Clark - Classical Guitar.
Richard learnt classical guitar in his teens, going on to obtain the ALCM diploma. He has performed many times at Ealing and will be performing at a festival in July in Kingston. In addition to playing classical pieces he has also worked with singer David Jennings. They have recently releasd a single called 'Beautiful Sea of Yesterday' which was produced by Australian composer and producer Cliff Bradley. This has been played on Resonance FM in Central London. Richard has arranged an acoustic version of this song, especially for tonight's concert.

Steve Dell - Spanish Guitar.
To celebrate 35 years of playing the guitar, Steve is looking forward to presenting a mix of his own arrangements tonight, and provide accompaniment to EGS regular Patrick Smart, who will sing one of John Dowland's songs.

Carlos Bonell

Carlos Bonell was born in London of Spanish parents and he studied at the Royal College of Music with John Williams. He gained prominence through his Decca recording of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and Charles Dutoit. It has been repeatedly singled out as the finest version available.

His discography includes more than 20 CD and DVD recordings ranging from the music of Queen and the Beatles to the Bach lute suites.

Since 2006 Carlos has been helping Sir Paul McCartney in editing, notating and recording a concerto he is composing for guitar and orchestra.

Carlos last played for the Ealing Guitar Society in 1971 - four decades ago! His concert was attended by his teacher, the world-renowned John Williams.

Haydn Lute Trio

The Haydn Lute Trio was formed in 2000 and has been delighting audiences since with its widely varied programmes featuring the 18th century lute and theorbo in ensemble. Following the critically acclaimed ‘Lute music for a Princess’ CD (for ASV Gaudeamus) the trio have regularly featured in arts festival, music society and educational programmes contrasting rarely heard early classical Lute trios by Haydn and his contemporaries with the great violin sonatas of Bach, Handel and Corelli, using the theorbo as continuo. The Trio also include French 18th century repertoire in their concerts, with the pièces de théorbe en partition taken from the 1716 publication of Louis 14th’s court theorbist, Robert de Visée.

David Parsons - Baroque Lute
David studied at the Royal College of Music as a pupil of Diana Poulton. Since his Wigmore Hall debut he has performed at many of the principal European musical events as well as touring the USA and Scandinavia.
He has an extensive discography both as a continuo player and soloist, recording repertoire ranging from the early 16th century to specially commissioned 20th century works. He has made many radio broadcasts in the U.K and abroad, particularly in Spain where he has toured widely, and presented recitals of lute music for National Television.

Eleanor Harrison – Baroque violin
Eleanor completed her postgraduate diploma in Historical Performance with distinction at the Royal Academy of Music in 2006, where she studied baroque and classical violin with Nicolette Moonen and Simon Standage. She was leader and soloist with both the Royal Academy of Music Baroque Orchestra and Becket Ensemble under such distinguished directors as William Christie, Laurence Cummings, Margaret Faultless and Monica Huggett.

Miguel Calvo – Baroque cello
Miguel is from Pamplona in Northern Spain studied cello baroque cello with Alison McGillivray at the Guildhall school of music and drama in London. In addition he has participated in master classes with Jenny Ward-Clarke and Susan Sheppard and received his master’s degree in 2003. Miguel is now much in demand on the London early Music Scene working in chamber groups and teaching in addition to performing regularly in Spain.

Dimitris Dekavallas

Multiple award winner Dimitris Dekavallas has already won a significant number of prizes in major competitions and is considered to be one of the most talented guitarists of his age.
Dimitris was born in Athens and began learning the guitar at the age of six. He was first taught at the National Conservatory of Athens and continued his studies at the Hellenic Conservatory. He graduated from the conservatory in 2002 with 1st Prize and was honoured with the Haralambos Ekmetzoglou music award at his graduation. He won 1st Prize in the IKY National Scholarship Foundation in Greece in 2004, which enabled him to come to London to the Royal Academy of Music. He studied under Micheal Lewin, Timothy Walker and John Mills. While there he won the Tebutt ExhibitionScholarship and in 2007 he received his Diploma of Postgraduate Performance (Distinction) and was given the Blyth Watson Award at his graduation. More recently, Dimitris was selected for the Barry Holmes Award by the Worshipful Company of Musicians.
From the age of nine Dimitris has given solo performances all over Greece, including in the National Concert Hall in Athens. Since graduating from the Academy he has given recitals throughout the UK, Asia, USA, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Romania, Hungary and has been invited to perform as a soloist and give master-classes in international festivals such as Ripon International Music Festival, Abu Dhabi International Music and Arts Festival, Bolivar Hall International Festival, London International guitar festival, Volos International Guitar festival, Veria Guitar Festival, Tirgu Mures International Guitar Festival and many others. He has appeared as soloist with the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie Orchestra in Germany, the Romanian Philharmonia, and in the UK the HCMC orchestra in Oxford and the Hertfordshire Philharmonia. Future plans include appearances at the Wigmore Hall and South Bank Centre in London. He released a new recording Music for Oboe and Guitar in 2009 with the oboist Marios Argiros.
He has taken part in many international festival and competitions and has won more than 13 international and national prizes.
Dimitris has played in masterclasses with John Williams, Pepe Romero, David Russell, Eliot Fisk, Hubert Kppel, George Hatzinikos, Carlos Marchione, Fabio Zanon, Kostas Kotsiolis and Carlo Domeniconi. He has also played in workshops with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.
Dimitris is sponsored by D’ADDARIO using D’addario J46 strings on his G. Smallman guitar and he currently lives in London.
www.dimitrisdekavallas.com

Ten String Fever

TenStringFever was established in 2005 by experienced musicians Jane Miller (violin) and Terry Spooner (guitar). They have since been performing in a wide variety of venues in the UK.

Their performances feature a very wide range of music with many influences- classical, jazz, world, celtic, film.

The duo’s first album ‘Jigs & Jazz’ was issued in 2007.

Their second album 'Chase the Sun' has just been favourably reviewed in 'The Musician ' magazine in September. As well as featuring music by Piazzolla, Morricone, Reinhardt/Grappelli and Sibelius, five of the tracks are new original compositions by Terry and Jane, including the title track.

This recital will feature music from ‘Chase the Sun’ plus music by Faure, more new Piazzolla pieces and two new original pieces by themselves.

Sample tracks from both albums, plus photos, live dates etc can be found on their website www.tenstringfever.com

Peter Martin - lute

My first instrument was classical guitar, which I started playing as a child in Spain. I developed a strong interest in early music while studying Music at Cambridge University, and I now mainly play renaissance lute, theorbo and baroque guitar. I work as a soloist, accompanist, and as continuo player in baroque chamber music and in large-scale works such as the Monteverdi Vespers or Purcell's King Arthur.

I've always been interested in the widest range of classical music, and in making unexpected connections. For example, in my solo concerts for the Lute Society in the UK and the Sociedad de la Vihuela in Córdoba, I set music for renaissance lute by Spinacino, Holborne and Dowland alongside Benjamin Britten's Nocturnal after John Dowland for classical guitar. My most recent solo project was in May 2010, when I played a programme of music from the greatest English lute manuscript, Matthew Holmes's lute book, in a series of concerts in the UK and at the 2nd International Lute Festival in Fuessen, Germany. I'm touring the programme again in 8 concerts in England and Wales in October 2010.

There's a lot of repertoire for voice and lute, and I work regularly with singers. Since 2009 I've been working with the Toulouse-based vocal group Antiphona playing lute, baroque guitar and theorbo in programmes of renaissance and baroque music from France, Italy and Spain.

Looking back, my duo Sambuca with recorder/flute player Michael Copley has performed throughout Europe. Venues have included the Barbican Centre, Göttingen Handel Festival and Kloster Michaelstein (Germany), Zagreb Summer Evenings (Croatia), Salisbury festival, Mulhouse baroque festival (France), Sir Jack Lyons concert hall in York, and many universities and music societies. Our two CDs, Sambuca and There and Back Again, featuring our characteristic mix of baroque, classical and world music on a multitude of instruments, have been heard on BBC Radio 3's Late Junction. Sambuca has appeared live on Radio 3's In Tune and on Croatian breakfast television.

The most unusual strand of my musical career has been playing with The Chuckerbutty Ocarina Quartet. Following its Wigmore Hall debut with the Academy of Ancient Music, the quartet has played in the Royal Festival Hall, the Barbican Centre, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, family concerts throughout Catalonia, and the Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo as part of our 2009 Japan tour. The quartet directed an ocarina workshop and performed at Dartington Summer School in 2002, and played for the British Flute Society with special guest Sir James Galway. Our CD I Love my Ocarina appeared in 2009 and has also been heard on Late Junction.

I'm an active member of the Lute Society, and was proud to be a member of their University Challenge team on BBC2 TV in 2008. My booklet 'Playing lute music on your guitar' is published by the Lute Society, and has been reprinted by the Universidad Nacional de la Plata, Argentina, and by Classical Guitar magazine. My writings about the lute and its music can be found at eatslutes.blogspot.com, and you can hear me playing at myspace.com/absolute81.

Tnnight's programme features music for solo lute drawn from the most important collection of English lute music, housed in Cambridge University Library. Dating from the golden age of English lute music at the end of the 16th century, the repertoire covers the major English composers of the time including John Dowland, Anthony Holborne and John Johnson, plus some continental music that made it across the channel, including pieces by Francesco da Milano and Philip van Wilder. This varied selection of music covers a wide range of styles, from sober pavans through to exuberant jigs and dumps.

The Lute Society will be publishing a major new facsimile edition of the manuscript in 2010.

www.silvius.co.uk

Tomás Jiménez and María José García

Tomás and María José met in their home town, Cartagena, in the region of Murcia on the South East Mediterranean Coast of Spain. Tonight, they will present a recital of solo flamenco guitar compositions and duets with castanets.

Tomás Jiménez

Tomás Jiménez learnt to play flamenco guitar from his father whose teaching instilled in Tomás a respect for flamenco together with the understanding that his playing should communicate the true meaning of each piece without using unnecessary superfluous effects.
Much later Tomás attended master classes with Gerardo Núñez and Paco Cruz.
Tomás has performed as a soloist in Spain at the prestigious flamenco festival: Festival Nacional del Cante de Las Minas, La Unión, Catedral de Santander, Centro Cultural Ramón Alonso Luzzy, Festival Nacional del Cante por Cartageneras, Teatro Circo, Cartagena.
In Britain he has performed at The Queen Elizabeth Hall, The Purcell Room, The Fairfield Halls, Croydon, The Brighton Festival, Dundee International Guitar Festival, Northumberland International Guitar Festival, Durham University, Sunderland University, Surrey University, Embassy Theatre Swiss Cottage, London, South Hill Park, Bracknell and for many guitar societies as well as Paris, France and Damascus, Syria.

María José García

María José studied flamenco dance in Cartagena and took all her dance exams in the Conservatorio de Danza in Murcia, Spain. She studied Flamenco and Classical Spanish Dance and gained the title of Bailarina Profesional (Professional dancer) from the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Madrid.
She later bought the academy where she had studied and ran it for several years.
María José has attended classes with several renowned flamenco dancers such as Ángel Muñoz, Rafaela Carrasco, Alicia Márquez and Virginia Dominguez among others.

Tomás Jiménez and María José have given sell out concerts at Royal Albert Hall, Norwich Castle Museum Francis Cheetham O.B.E Memorial Concert, Canning House (Latin American and Spanish Cultural Centre) Chelsea, London, Dorchester Festival, Dumfries and Galloway Festival, Arts Depot and the Buckingham Festival.

David Parsons - lute

David Parsons studied the lute at the Royal College of Music as a pupil of Diana Poulton. Following a successful Wigmore Hall debut in 1981 he has toured widely in Europe, Scandanavia and the United States.

He has broadcast in London, Los Angeles, Oslo and Munich and presented a recital of lute music for Spanish television. He has recorded as a soloist, accompanist and continuo player working with ensembles including the Consorte of Musicke (with Emma Kirkby), the Musicians of the Globe, Glynbourne Opera and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra.

In addition to solo and trio concerts, David offers engaging recitals of English lute songs with the tenor Paul Robinson. Their programmes include songs and lute music by Dowland, Rosseter, Purcell and Blow.

Dietmar Kres

Dietmar Kreš was born in I963 and has been playing guitar since the age of 9. He was a student at the university of music and performing arts in Graz/Austria, was a student of Eliot Fisk in Köln/Germany and of Cacho Tirao in Buenos Aires/Argentina. He was prizewinner of several contests (Radio France/Paris, Fernando Sor/Rom, Franzico Tarrega/Benicassim, Manuel M. Ponce/Mexico City). Beside his teaching profession, he is always preparing for concerts at various festivals, mostly solo (Jeunesse musicales, Styrian autumn, Lucerne Festival, Austrian cultural forums in Turkey, Poland, Croatia, Czech Republic), sometimes in chambermusic (Staatsorchester Hannover with Garth Knox, Orchestra recreation in Graz).

Since the beginning of his involvement with music Dietmar Kreš has shown interest also in modern composers. So he started his discography with H.W. Henzes “Royal Winter Music”. The composer showed himself absolutely happy with this interpretation, observing that he had never heard his pieces so well understood and so technically mastered as by Dietmar Kreš: “One heard almost exclusively the music and the musical ideas. By musical means, he presented the characters as if he were a story-teller.”

A couple of visits to Buenos Aires, Argentina, inspired the artist to record his second CD with a compilation of Tangos and rhythms from the past. With this background he played many concerts in several formations, for instance with the Bandoneon-master Victor Villena.

The topical program offers an extensive repertory. The main part is formed of finds of musical collections of Gaspar Sanz and Igor Strawinsky, completed with some Tangos and pieces of Scarlatti and Mozart.

Jeff Rodriguez

Combined with his career as a concert recitalist in possession of an extensive musical repertoire spanning five centuries from the Renaissance through to the 20th century, Jeff also enjoys the reputation of being a fine flamenco and jazz guitarist making him without doubt one of the most versatile guitarists in the UK.

Aside from his solo activity, Jeff performs in a variety of ensemble settings from guitar with voice/violin to various guitar duos/trios. As a flamenco guitarist, he regularly performs with Steve Homes in the DeCasas Duo/Trio and has many original flamenco compositions to his name. He is also very interested in early music and plays vihuela de mano.

Jeff has recorded two CDs to date. His first, “20th Century Guitar” (2005) was received to high acclaim and features some of the finest repertoire of the 20th century. His second solo release ´Iberian & Latin American Guitar Music´ was released in 2008. Future recordings soon to be released include a CD of Jeff’s original flamenco compositions and one of 16th century Spanish music performed on the vihuela.

Born in Canada to Portuguese parents, Jeff Rodrigues studied guitar with renowned guitarists Norbert Kraft and Jeff McFadden and received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto. He studied jazz and flamenco guitar with Rob Bulger and Pepe Haro and also holds an FRSM in Performance. Upon completing his studies, Jeff moved to Europe and has been based in the London since 1998. As well as giving recitals throughout the UK, Jeff has also performed in Canada, Portugal, Spain and Italy.

Tonight's programme:

Two Mazurkas - FRANCISCO TARREGA / Three Etudes - H. VILLA LOBOS / Ciacona BWV 1004 - J.S. BACH (the famous Chaconne in Dm arranged from the original violin) / Reverie Op.9 - GIULIO REGONDI / Homanaje a Toulouse-Lautrec - E. SAINZ DE LA MAZA / Fandanguillo & Sevillana - JOAQUIN TURINA

Fabricio Mattos

Fabricio Mattos was born in Curitiba, Brazil. He began his musical studies at the age of six, learning musical theory with his father. When he was fourteen years old, he was introduced to the guitar and was fascinated by the possibilities of this instrument, eventually deciding to study with Dirceu Saggin, at Paidéia Music School, in Curitiba.

He graduated in 2006 Bachelor of Music School of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná (EMBAP), taking classes with Professor Luiz Cláudio Ferreira. He acts as a performer since he was 16 years old, and nowadays plays solo and chamber music concerts in various places in Brazil and Europe. He has launched in 2007 his first CD, "España", with original works by Spanish composers of the twentieth century, in a national tour of concerts in ten Brazilian states. From September to December 2009 Fabrício toured in Brazil as part of the project "SESC-Sonora Brazil", being invited to perform, along with guitarist Salomão Habib, 80 concerts throughout Brazil, which is considered the biggest guitar tour ever realized in Brazil.

He has participated, along with ten other Brazilian guitarists, of the "Brazilian Guitar" project, for which he recorded a track for a CD and a solo program to be broadcasted by the Brazilian television. He has also served as producer of the series "Guitar in the Chamber” and artistic producer of the series "Music and Spirituality ", in Curitiba, in addition to exerting an intense didactic activity with the guitar, giving lectures and masterclasses in many places in Brazil and the United Kingdom. He has played in several international festivals and competitions in various European countries, at events globally recognized for its high musical level.

He has participated of the Armando Prazeres Prize for Young Soloists of Petrobras (2003), in which he won first place. He was awarded in more than ten national and international competitions, and has also received honors as "Ivor Mairants Guitar Award” (Worshipful Company of Musicians, London),"Picker Trust Award” (Royal Academy of Music, London) and "Webshow Video Award”. Recently Fabricio was the first Brazilian musician in history to be elected a finalist for the prestigious "Alexander Tansman Competition of Musical Personalities," in Łódź, Poland, where he performed a solo recital in November 2008. In 2009, Fabricio was awarded one of the greatest honors received by a Brazilian guitarist abroad: the “Julian Bream Award”, an award for artistic excellence and distinction given in London by the legendary guitarist Julian Bream, who personally chose the Brazilian guitarist to join the select rank of winners of this prestigious award.

Fabricio Mattos currently resides in London, where he conducts his studies in Master's in music performance at the Royal Academy of Music, one of the best music institutions in the world, and has received a partial scholarship in recognition for his high artistic level. In this institution, he has as mentors musicians like Michael Lewin, Timothy Walker, Fábio Zanon, John Williams and Julian Bream. He constantly collaborates with composers from various musical languages, such as Harry Crowl, Mario Ferraro, Paul Hart, Salomão Habib, among others, by dedicating himself to a development and refinement of the musical approach on the guitar, through contact with various ways of expression in music. Fabricio acts as a scholar on guitar performance, performing constantly, both as soloist and chamber musician, always looking for a difference of interpretation that values the artistic personality and sound and phrasing quality.

What the press say:

“Fabricio Mattos delighted he public playing Villa-Lobos concerto, with Petrobras Orchestra…”

Noticias da OPPM – 27/03/2003

“López-Chávarri’s Sonata has been recorded just a few times through the history, and has received in cd ‘España’ an interpretation worthy of its grandeur. Fabricio Mattos was well succeeded with his premiere in recording field.”

Violão Pro Magazine – 04/2007

“Fabricio Mattos can extract the exact musical expression from the guitar…”

André Egg – Blog “O Melômano” - 2008

“Fabricio has a remarkable personality, and combines an impeccable technique to an outstanding interpretative personality, fanciful.”

Petros Andreou, Richard Clarke & Steve Dell

Tonight's concert will be shared by the above 3 guitarists, all of whom have been members of Ealing Guitar Society for many years.

Petros will play Giuliani's Variations on the famous 'Harmonious Blacksmith' theme, and some of the well-known preludes by Villa-Lobos. Richard will play favourites from the guitar repertoire including 'The Cathedral' by Agustin Barrios, and Steve will play a mix of Dowland, Bach and pieces by contemporary Spanish composers.

Ajmal Singh, one of Steve's students, will shortly be taking Grade eight. Tonight will also present one of the pieces he has prepared for this exam, accompanied by various tunes from Grade Seven.

We hope you will brave the cold weather to come and see us play!

Gerard Cousins

This summer has been busy time for Gerard who, as well as touring the
UK and Saudi Arabia has been busy preparing and recording a new CD
of Welsh music soon to be released. He will perform some of these new
unique arrangements of traditional Welsh folksongs at tonight’s concert
as well as some classics from the guitar repertoire.

Gerard Cousins’ expressive performances hold audiences spellbound.
He transports his listeners with his evocative playing, from silence to
the quietest sweetest sounds, or mimicking the sounds of nature, the
wind and the sea, a whole range of emotions pour forth from his guitar
as if he is truly singing through those strings.  His interpretations,
compositions and arrangements all show an un-compromising artist
unafraid to push the boundaries of so called ‘classical music’ whilst
constantly maintaining a joyful communication with whomever makes the
effort to listen.

"Gerard really exploits the classical guitar's sonority to full effect
and truly establishes himself as one of the rising young British
classical guitarists around today."
Classical Guitar News

Guitar magic...he has a beautiful touch"
Frank Hennesey, Celtic Heartbeat Show, BBC Radio Wales

"beautiful playing and subtle phrasing"
Musical Opinion

Martin Byatt & Dominic Grant

The Duo:
Martin Byatt is a versatile and experienced guitarist who is comfortable with a variety of musical styles – anything from Eric Clapton, The Eagles and U2 to the Buena Vista Social Club, Bossa Nova and Ragtime classics. Together with Dominic Grant – a guitarist well known on the London Jazz scene for his brilliant rhythmic work with top singers and bands – they form a guitar duo that encompasses popular music in all its various forms. Using electro-acoustic nylon and steel string guitars they deliver an entertaining and exciting recital.

Martin Byatt is a Scottish exile who has made London his home, having taught and performed in the capital since 1980. He has had several original works published, including four graded pieces for Chanterelle’s Modern Times series. He has been the founder member of various ensembles, most notably The Janimar Trio ( Guitar/Flute/Mandolin ) and Zaramba ( two Guitars and Percussion ). In 1996 he arranged and performed the music for the prize-winning Radio 3 production of “The Sea Urchins” by Sharman MacDonald ( mother of Keira Knightley ). His solo CD New Horizon comprises original material and arrangements of classic rock tunes by Dire Straits, Steely Dan and others. He was deputy for two of the guitarists in the hit musical Zorro at the Garrick Theatre. He has performed with Dominic Grant extensively over the past ten years.

Dominic Grant has worked extensively on the West Coast of America, particularly in Los Angeles and Las Vegas with various bands playing variety of musical styles Jazz, Latin, Pop. Toured for 2 years with the Gary Pucket Band. Concert and club work with famous jazz musicians: Albert Tootie Heath, Bill Henderson, Herman Reily, Phil Upchurch. Band work with Soca Tremor (with Phil Chen and Robert Greenwich), Joe Higgs, Pato Banton, Stranger Cole,, Macaw, Rebel Rockers. Session works include: Native’s album “No Boundary”, Harry Belafonte “Christmas Album”, commercial and soundtracks. Before moving to America in 1981, Dominic worked with his father “Cy Grant” on radio and cabaret, led his own band “Out to Lunch”, played one year at the Park Lane Hilton with resident band, and played the London pub circuit with Latin jazz bands Night Flight and Manyana. Since returning to London in 1995, he has done session works, performed as a Solo resident guitarist at many top London’s Hotels And clubs, various Band and Duo work in Europe mainly with Eduardo Niebla,Martin Byatt, Kathy Wilson, Nina Ferro, Victoria Newton, Kelly Dickson, Karen Lane, Elsa Chapman, Liz Cass, lance Ellington, Monique, Natalie Williams & Inner Swing as well as keeping busy in London’s club and function circuit. He has also released a new CD with his world jazz group “Festivo”.

Ben Kearsley

Ben Kearsley was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. He began classical guitar with Norman Qinney and later with Ian Smith.

Ben graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire in 1998 with a BMus ( Hons ) After living in La Paz, Bolivia and Madrid, Spain Ben returned to live in the U.K In 2004 Ben undertook his first tour – 20 concerts in Scotland.

2005 40 date U.K tour and debut c.d ‘SUNBURST’ : 2006 40 date U.K tour and ‘KOYUNBABA’ c.d : 2007 40 date U.K tour and ‘SAKURA’ c.d : 2008 40 date U.K tour and ‘MILWAUKEE’ c.d

In 2008 Ben was signed to Shore Sounds Music record label.

Ben has also been teaching guitar for 11 years, teaching for Fife Council, Conservatoiro De La Paz, Loretto School, Mansfield School of Music and Edinburgh University.

Concordia

Dennis Cooke and Nick Hartley are (or should be!) familiar names to audiences at Ealing. For almost twenty years now they have been performing as the Duo Concordia. Both had much previous experience of ensemble playing, notably: Nick with Biberian's Omega Players; and Dennis with Ian Cross, giving performances that included television and radio. Recently they have played for various events in the South of England.

Their programmes have always included a mix of standard duo repertoire and their own transcriptions, which tend to push at the limits of the combination's possibilities, at one time stretching this with requinto and ten-string. For this concert they play music from Bach to Rodrigo with two standard guitars.