Education.....
MMus (Distinction), RSAMD,
2003
PGDipMus, RSAMD, 2002
BMus Hons (1st class), Napier
University, 2001
Fabio Zanon, private tuition,
London,
2003-5
Study with Simon in
Edinburgh at.....
Napier University
(degree level)
Stevenson College
(degree foundation, HND)
St
Mary's Music School (Scotland's
independent specialist music school, ages 9-19)
Simon was recently appointed Honorary Fellow of Music at the University of
Aberdeen.
Solo performance highlights.....
Brooks Concert Hall,
Worcester, Massachusetts, USA, April 2009;
Festival recitals in Las
Alpujarras, Andalucía, Spain, 2009;
2008, nomination for a Royal Philharmonic
Society Music Award, the highest recognition for live classical
music-making in the UK;
2007, tour of innovative solo programme
The Alternative Guitar, including the premiere of Kenneth Dempster's
Sanctum at the Queens Hall, Edinburgh, for the Edinburgh Contemporary Arts Trust (ECAT),
Musica Nova Festival, Glasgow and Sound Festival,
Aberdeen;
Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall, London, as a winner of the 50th
Park Lane Group Young
Artist Awards, including the premiere of David Fennessy's Security
Blanket for solo guitar (2006);
series of concerts in
Havana, Cuba, for audiences that included Ramon Castro, brother of Fidel
and Cuba’s greatest composer Leo Brouwer as well as on live TV;
Venezuelan Embassy, London;
Dundee, Shetland and Ullapool
Guitar Festivals;
Simon was a member
of the Yehudi Menuhin founded Live Music Now! scheme from 2002-7,
providing countless performing opportunities.
Chamber music.....
Simon Thacker and the Nava Rasa Ensemble
duo with All Angels'
Daisy Chute;
Camerata
Ritmata;
¡Canto vivo! with
opera star Claire Debono;
Edinburgh International Festival, Usher
Hall, with the Paragon Ensemble,
broadcast on BBC Radio 3;
Scottish tour, including an
appearance at the St Magnus Festival, with the Hebrides
Ensemble;
quintets with the
Edinburgh
Quartet;
tour of Scotland and CD release with the Dundee
Guitar Festival YGR Quartet
Concerto performances.....
Guitar Concerto,
Heitor Villa-Lobos: Strathclyde University Symphony
Orchestra, 2008
Mary's Lament,
Kenneth Dempster (written for and premiered by Simon
Thacker): Queens Hall, Edinburgh 2001; Peebles Orchestra
2005
Concerto RV93,
A. Vivaldi:
Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra, 2004; Peebles Orchestra, 2005
Concerto in A, op.30,
Mauro Giuliani: Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra 2004, 2005
Concierto de Aranjuez,
Joaquin Rodrigo: Glasgow Orchestral Society, 2004
Fantasia Para Un
Gentilhombre,
Joaquin Rodrigo: Tayside Symphony Orchestra, 2005;
Ayrshire Symphony Orchestra, 2006
Guitar Concerto no.1,
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: Ayrshire Symphony Orchestra,
2009
Solo reviews.....
***** Scotsman review of
The Alternative
Guitar
premiere performance at the
Queens Hall, Edinburgh
here
Scotsman review
of October 2006 Edinburgh solo concert
here
Classical Guitar
Magazine review of the Park Lane Group London Purcell
Room solo concert
here
The
Alternative Guitar, Aberdeen University review
here
Press quotes.....
"A stylish and sophisticated player"
The Scotsman
"showed
real poise... a lovely crystalline clarity."
Classical
Guitar
"the
supremely accomplished Simon Thacker"
The Scotsman
"Up close guitar magic."
The List
"One of the UK's leading classical
guitarists."
Glasgow Herald
"a guitarist of
accomplishment."
The Scotsman
"colourful performances"
The Times (of London)
"A glittering display of classical guitar playing."
Dundee Courier
"inspired guitar playing."
edinburghguide.com
"formidable technique"
The Scotsman |
