Ian Watt

Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as ‘a guitarist of outstanding skill and originality’, Ian Watt (b. 1991, Aberdeen) has appeared throughout Europe, the Americas and East Asia, including several prominent international guitar festivals. Noted for his ‘astoundingly atmospheric’ playing (The Herald), Ian has released three solo albums for Nimbus Alliance, including a 2013 recording of Britten’s ‘Nocturnal’ which was described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘sublime’.

Possessing an ‘exceptional range of timbre’ (BBC Music Magazine), Ian’s playing received early international attention with several competition successes, including 1st prizes at both the 2011 Heinsberg and 2010 Westphalian Spring competitions, and 2nd at the highly prestigious Parkening International Guitar Competition (USA) in 2009, where he was hailed by Soundboard as an ’18-year-old phenom’.

Never content to limit himself to the guitar’s solo repertoire, Watt enjoys an extremely varied musical life and collaborates regularly with a variety of musicians and groups, including Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Hebrides Ensemble. He has worked closely with several prominent contemporary composers, giving world premieres of works by Hafliði Hallgrímsson, Rory Boyle and the complete guitar music of John McLeod (†2022).

Appointed to the guitar faculty of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013 just shy of his 22nd birthday, Ian has given masterclasses internationally for over a decade, including at the Korean International Guitar Festival, Mikulov International Guitar Festival, Kutna Hora International Guitar Festival, Balatonfüred International Guitar Festival, Royal College of Music and Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. He now resides in London and is delighted to be joining the LRAM team at the Royal Academy of Music.

Image credit: C Brown