Doug Turner/Memphis and Gary Ormond

Doug Turner/Memphis

Memphis has played with artists as diverse as Toots and the Maytels, The Last Poets – who were one of the early rap bands fromAmerica-Jack Radics, Jamaican recording artists, and numerous other groups and artists.Doug has played guitar professionally in many different styles since 1963: with American country singer Johnny Duncan, Houston Wells and the Marksmen (who were the first country band to record in England in 1964). Doug has also worked with Chas and Dave, and Rod Davies of John Lennon’s original Quarrymen. He plays in various jazz styles, including the Chet Atkins fingerstyle.

Gary Ormond

Gary was born in Doncaster in August 1974. He began learning the guitar at age 12, taught by his father Gordon. After 2 years, he continued his studies with Peter Wiltschinsky, of the Hill / Wiltschinsky guitar duo. Gary was awarded a place at the City of Leeds College of Music, where he studied with Graham Wade. After three years with Graham, Gary achieved his degree with honours and embarked on a career in guitar teaching. In addition to his endeavours on the classical guitar, Gary has become a proficient electric rock guitarist and bassist, and teaches these instruments as well. He lives and works in Watford.

John Duarte Guitar Quintet

Played Concerto Le Grazie (1997) by Gerald Garcia, English Suite No. 5 (John Duarte) and Fantasia para un Gentilhombre by Joaquin Rodrigo (1999). The quintet (Antonio De Innocentis, Claudio Cecere, Paolo Mauriello, Marcello, Parisi, Ruocco Panico) were formed in December 2004, following the sad news of Maestro John Duarte’s death. John Duarte has been one of the greatest composers the guitar has ever had and being lucky to know him personally and having the high honour to be counted amongst his friends, I thought to entitle our quintet to him, who so much loved the guitar. My friends and colleagues also got the lucky chance to meet him once just in Caserta, when Jack, in 2002, came to visit us at home.

So, I informed dear Mrs Dorothy Duarte of our wish and asking her permission too and she graciously allowed us to call ourselves the “John Duarte Guitar Quintet”, also sending her best wishes for our activity. So, we all thank her so much for that. (Reproduced with kind permission of Antonio De Innocentis)

Steve Yates

Stephen has been a regular performer at Ealing for over 10 years. He has won several awards, which include the Vicente Sanchis Guitar Challenge, and has been voted Guitarist magazine’s ‘Guitarist of the Year’. As a classical player he performs a wide-ranging repertoire from baroque through romantic to contemporary works. At the other end of the musical spectrum he also performs on the electric guitar, playing audacious and breathtaking.

John Clarke

John has had a long association with the Ealing Guitar Society, having performed primarily classical guitar music regularly from 1972, and occasionally flamenco in the last five years. He has studied with some of most prominent teachers in the field, including Alirio Diaz, Turibio Santos and John Duarte. John teaches classical and flamenco guitar full-time. John played: Sarabande & Bouree (from lute suite no. 1)by JS Bach , 2 Sonatas by D Scarlatti, as well as 5 Blues for Guitar by Tim Royal.

Student, Robin Sheffield (classical guitar), also played a selection of pieces by Ferrer, Montreuil and duetted with John Clarke with "Ballet" by Praetorius

About us

Ealing Guitar Society has been acting as a source of live guitar music since 1969 in the West London area. We welcome both players and listeners of guitar music alike and are proud to have counted amongst our members and performers a number of well-known and aspiring players.

Since our inaugural meeting over 40 years ago, performers at the society have included Carlos Bonnell, Antonio de Innocentis, Flavio Cucchi, Nigel North, Philip John Lee, Rose Andresier, Brad Richter, Gilbert Biberian, Liona Boyd, Luis Zea, Joy Hyman, Juan Martin, Greg Nestor, David Russell, David Parsons, Alfonso Montes . .

There have also been several BBC young performers, as well as students of the leading UK schools of music (Royal Academy, Royal Northern College, Royal College of Music and London College of Music).

Meetings are held regularly, at 7.30pm on the first Sunday of each month, at St. Matthew's Church Hall, North Common Road, Ealing, very close to Ealing Common and Ealing Broadway stations.

The focal point for the Society has always been to promote interest in the guitar and other fretted instruments ( i.e. banjo, bouzouki, dulcimer, lute,mandolin and sitar).  The guitar has also been combined with flute, piano, recorder, violin and voice.

St Matthews Church, Ealing W5