Sunday 20 June 2010

Andrew Booth (guitar)

Hailed as ‘One of the best’ (West Sussex County Times), Andrew Booth is one of the most exciting young guitarists in the UK. He recently completed his Bachelor of Music degree with First Class Honours, followed by the Postgraduate Performance Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music, under the tutelage of Gordon Crosskey and Craig Ogden. Andrew has won awards from the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and a major scholarship from the RNCM. Andrew is sponsored by the Countess of Munster Recital scheme for the 2010/11 season and has recently been accepted onto Worcester Classical Guitar Society’s New Artist Scheme.

In the summers of 2008 and 2009, Andrew was the only British musician invited to perform at the SoundSCAPE Contemporary Music Festival in Italy, where he gave world premiere performances of new works specially commissioned for the festival. Following his performances in the 2009 festival, Andrew was awarded the prestigious Performer Prize for his dedication and commitment to the performance of new music. Andrew has played in masterclasses with many eminent guitarists including Gary Ryan, Chris Stell (Eden-Stell Duo), David Tanenbaum and Dale Kavanagh. In 2008, Andrew attended the Iserlohn International Guitar Symposium, Germany where he performed in masterclasses with Roland Dyens, Bruce Holzman and John Dearman (Los Angeles Guitar Quartet).

During his time as an undergraduate at the RNCM, Andrew was one of the most sought after guitarists for solo and chamber recitals (in duo with flute and cello), performing throughout the North West and in many other parts of the UK and Ireland. Andrew has extensive pit orchestra experience and has played the demanding classical and electric guitar parts in Les Misérables. In 2007, he gave the world premiere performance of Brett Dean’s ‘Three Caprichos after Goya’ having worked with the composer and in June 2008, Andrew gave a European premiere performance of Steve Mackey’s Jango for four guitars and marimba. Andrew is now in demand throughout the UK as a recitalist, concerto soloist and chamber musician.