The Early Days...
From a very early age, I was drawn to making music. By the age of 11, I already knew that music would be my vocation, and I entered the Royal College of Music as a Junior Exhibitioner. I received there a thorough musical training every weekend.
At the age of 18, I moved to London to study full-time at the Royal College of Music, where I remained for 5 years, studying the classical guitar with Carlos Bonell and the late Patrick Bashford. The legendary John Williams was a regular visiting Professor. I left with several major RCM prizes (including all the guitar prizes), a Master's Degree in Performance Practise (gaining the highest mark in my year), Dip(RCM), ARCM, and a wealth of inspiration.
I later undertook further intensive study at the Banff Centre for Fine Arts in Canada, taking residencies over two separate winters. Living in the midst of the Rocky Mountains fuelled my musical expression as much as the cross-fertilisation of the fine musicians from around the world who used to gather at Banff every winter.
I travelled widely to guitar festivals and international summer schools, where I performed and participated in masterclasses with many of the leading guitarists at the time, including Eliot Fisk, Norbert Kraft, Vladimir Mikulka, Gordon Crosskey, Jack Duarte and Gilbert Biberian.
Throughout these years I was in much demand as a solo classical guitarist, as well as performing in numerous duos and small chamber ensembles.
I moved to Cornwall after an injury forced me to stop playing the guitar at a professional level. Instead, I have built up a thriving teaching practice, and have enjoyed helping many people of all ages and from many walks of life, to experience 'music for wellbeing'.