Page 40

Classical Guitar

Classical Guitar Open Day - 12th October 2007

Head of Guitar:
Michael Lewin FRAM

Guitar Administrator:
Karen Ingram BA, Hon ARAM

Telephone 020 7873 7379
Email guitar@ram.ac.uk

Classical Guitar
Michael Lewin FRAM

(Picture: Photo of Michael Lewin)

Studied at the Royal Academy of Music and later in Spain with José Tomas. As guitarist and lutenist, has performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Scottish Opera, English National Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden and La Piccola Scala, Milan. In addition to solo concerts, has played and recorded with leading ensembles and orchestras throughout Europe. Vice-President of the European Guitar Teachers’ Association (1996–2006). Head of Guitar studies since 1987.

The Course

The Academy has established itself as a foremost international centre for the study of the classical guitar, with a comprehensive curriculum which encourages students to reach the highest standards as soloists, ensemble players and teachers. The expertise of the department embraces all aspects of guitar performance, from the concert platform to the theatre, ballet, opera house and recording studio, as well as specialisms in the main historical periods.

Among the distinguished visiting artists have been the Assad Duo, Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, David Starobin, John Williams and Julian Bream (who adjudicates his prize each year).

Other special events have featured the composers Leo Brouwer, Stephen Dodgson, Hans Werner Henze, Nicholas Maw, Sir Richard Rodney Bennett and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and an International Guitar Duo Festival. Academy guitarists regularly win top prizes in major national and international competitions. Outstanding alumni include David Russell, Antigoni Goni, Fabio Zanon, Mark Ashford, Xuefei Yang, the Eden/Stell and Katona duos and both Tetra and the English Guitar quartets.

The Teachers

Michael Lewin FRAM
TimothyWalker Hon ARAM

Visiting Professors
John Mills Hon ARAM
JohnWilliams OBE, Hon RAM

Consultant
Julian Bream CBE, Hon RAM

Your Audition (see p.57 for general details)

Undergraduates should present three pieces and postgraduates four pieces from:

A contrapuntal work written between c.1550–1750
A movement in sonata form
A theme with variations
A dance movement
A work, or movement(s), written after 1950.

2006–2007 Highlights

Master-classes with Fabio Zanon, Jonathan Leathwood and David Russell.
Workshop with Sir Richard Rodney Bennett, celebrating his 70th birthday.
Concerts of diverse chamber music with guitar.
Student performances at the Bolivar Hall International Festival.

Milos Karadaglic (MMus)

(Picture: Photo of Milos Karadaglic)

‘From a young age, it’s always been in my mind that the Academy is the best place to study guitar. Coming here for my undergraduate and then postgraduate training, I’ve realised that at the Academy you also learn a lot more than how to play your instrument.

I’ve played in master-classes for the world’s greatest guitarists, I’ve performed at the Wigmore Hall as a finalist for the Friends of the Academy’s Wigmore Award. I’ve been a concerto soloist with an Academy orchestra. While researching the Academy’s Spencer Collection, the biggest collection of 19th-century guitar manuscripts, I’ve discovered some extraordinary unknown works.

Being at the Academy really is a total preparation for a successful professional life.’