Guitar
Broaden your horizons with our Guitar Department's wide range of performance opportunities and access to exceptional resources.
The Guitar Department’s curriculum, unique musicological resources and outstanding instruments help students reach the highest standards as soloists, ensemble players and teachers.
You will study every aspect of the guitar’s repertoire with professors knowledgeable about its historical evolution and distinctive national traditions, central to which is the Academy’s special link to Julian Bream and the range of music he inspired.
Here are some of the further experiences you can expect to have during your studies here:
- Collaborate in regular chamber concerts and special events with students from a wide variety of disciplines, including themed Guitaria recitals with singers
- Contribute to a creative process for new guitar music by composers, ranging from current students to major international figures
- Present innovative solo and ensemble programmes in the Academy’s state of the arts performance spaces and in venues across London and beyond
- Explore the guitar’s concerto repertoire, with opportunities to perform in concerts and a prize competition
- Enjoy research seminars, as presented by John Williams, Hans Abrahamsen and Milton Mermikides
- Perform in special events celebrating the lifetime achievements of outstanding figures in the guitar’s history, such as Julian Bream and the composer Stephen Dodgson.
- Participate in masterclasses with world-leading guitarists such as Edoardo Catemario, Paul Galbraith, Tilman Hoppstock, Miloš Karadaglić, Jonathan Leathwood, Nigel North, Pepe Romero, David Russell, Xuefei Yang and Fabio Zanon
- Share the stage in Side by Side concerts with virtuosi, such as Pepe Romero
The Academy is the custodian of the Spencer Collection, which includes important lutes, guitars, books and manuscripts. The Calleva Foundation’s loan scheme gives students access to instruments made by some of today’s finest luthiers. See our Collections Index for more information.
Michael [Lewin] was incredible because he never stopped me from expressing myself the way I wanted to, but he always helped me express myself better.
Guitar Department Showreel
Manuel de Falla's La Vida Breve performed by Academy Students Gus McQuade and Gonçalo Caetano
Contact the department
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