John Williams

One of the most influential classical guitarists and musicians of modern times, John Williams has become well known for expanding the boundaries of the guitar and challenging the dominance of the classical canon. He is still as likely to be found working with leading jazz and traditional musicians as he is to be heard on the concert stage. His work has always celebrated the guitar’s diversity and heritage, demonstrated through his many performances, creative collaborations and his own compositions and arrangements.

John’s groundbreaking performances and recordings have opened new doors for guitarists, encouraging them to not only explore, but celebrate the breadth of their musical world and the influences that have shaped it. His love of film music for example, drew attention to a vital source of contemporary inspiration and creativity and his willingness to cross musical boundaries has helped broaden the appeal of the classical guitar to new and diverse audiences.

In his presentation ‘Connecting the Dots’, John will draw threads together, open doors, lift us above the notes, and suggest new ways of imagining and giving meaning to our contemporary musical culture.

Richard Savino

Richard Savino is a world-renowned guitarist, musical director, and musicologist with a focus on early music and period instruments. He has an extensive discography of over 35 commercial recordings, ranging from 17th-century works to virtuoso pieces by Paganini and Mertz. Notable among these are pioneering recordings of Giuliani’s Guitar Concerto Op. 30 and Boccherini’s Guitar Symphonia using original orchestrations and period instruments.

Throughout his career Richard has received critical acclaim, including a Diapason d’Or award and a GRAMMY nomination. He has collaborated with renowned performers such as Joyce DiDonato, Monica Huggett, Paul Hillier and Judith Nelson and performed as principal with major opera companies and orchestras.

As director of the ensemble El Mundo, Richard has created innovative concert programs highlighting historical figures such as Goya, Rubens, and Artemisia Gentileschi. His research and editorial work have been published by Cambridge University Press and others. He has also composed soundtracks for art exhibitions, including videos for the Leiden Collection shown at the Louvre and other major museums.

Richard is a Professor of Guitar and Historical Performance Practice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Sacramento State University. He holds a Doctorate from SUNY Stony Brook and has studied with such masters as Andres Segovia, Eliot Fisk, Jerry Willard and renowned harpsichordist Albert Fuller.

http://www.richardsavino.net/about/

Also see Johannes Vermeer, Young Woman Seated at a Virginal.

Adrian Walter

Throughout his extensive career in university management , Adrian has maintained a passion and interest in the 19th Century Guitar; its repertoire, and its social and historical context. After an extended period in Hong Kong as Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, he returned to Australia where is now Head of the School of Music at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia.

Throughout his career, Adrian has organised, and been artistic director of major guitar festivals. These included the renowned Darwin International Guitar Festival and the Hong Kong Altamira International Guitar Symposium. At these events the 19th century guitar has featured prominently, bringing together a diverse range of performers including guitarists, singers, violinists and fortepianists. During these festivals Adrian performed all three of Giuliani’s guitar concerti with his colleague and conductor, Carlo Barone.

Currently Adrian is preparing a 19th century guitar performer’s handbook, drawing on the major tutor methods of the period. As well as focusing on guitar methods, the book importantly draws on methods of other instruments and voice, including the Grand Violin School of Louis Spohr, The Art of the Violin by Pierre Baillot, the Piano Forte School of Carl Czerny, and the vocal methods of Manuel Garcia and Enrico Delle Sedie. The inclusion of these other instrumental and vocal methods helps to deepen our understanding of the cultural context and significance of the 19th century guitar and its repertoire.