Four uniquely accomplished guitarists bring an infectious energy to the concert stage. Recently returned from concerts in Australia and China, the New Zealand Guitar Quartet (NZGQ) is building an international reputation that transcends geographical and historical borders.
While their performances of contemporary and world music gain wide audience appreciation, a return to their roots on this Arts On Tour NZ (AOTNZ) tour will see them pay tribute to a range of artistic styles including gypsy jazz, bluegrass, Celtic and flamenco.
The quartet
Jane Curry
Born in the UK and now based in New Zealand, international award-winning classical guitarist Jane Curry is senior lecturer and head of the guitar programme at the New Zealand School of Music, Victoria University of Wellington. Jane balances a demanding schedule of solo and chamber music engagements with the co-ordination of the largest classical guitar programme in New Zealand and is sought after as a soloist, chamber musician and teacher.
Recent concert engagements include concertos with the Orkiestra Ars Longa (Krakow Music Academy, Poland) the Aorangi Symphony (New Zealand), the Capital Concert Orchestra (Canberra) the Nelson Symphony Orchestra and the Kapiti Concert Orchestra (New Zealand). Her chamber music collaborations include Archi d'Amore Zelanda, and the New Zealand Guitar Quartet (NZGQ).
In 2016 Archi D'Amore Zelanda, featuring Donald Maurice (viola d'amore), recently returned from concerts in Malaysia, Thailand and Poland. The trio were visiting artists at the International Viola d'amore Congress held at the Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music (Poland). While in Poland the group recorded several Vivaldi and Graupner concertos with the Polish record company Acte Prealable. NZGQ highlights include concerts in Beijing (December 2016), at Centennial Hall, Peking University and the Sunrise Concert Hall, Beihang University. Both groups are committed to commissioning and recording new works and have several CD releases in 2016/2017.
John Couch
New Zealand born John Couch is an Australian-based classical guitarist and director of New Zealand's premier classical guitar festival, the Taranaki Classical Guitar Summer School. He holds a Masters of Music and Post-Graduate Diploma in performance and research, and is a Fellow of the Trinity Guildhall (London).
He has featured on three CD album recordings and has performed in festivals and concert series around Australia, New Zealand, Europe, North America and Asia. He has recorded for ABC Classic FM (Australia), Classic FM (New Zealand), appeared on TVNZ, Radio Canada, HCMTV7 (Vietnam) and as a soloist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. He has been a finalist and prize winner in many international guitar and music competitions, including the Taiwan International Guitar Competition, Tokyo International Guitar Competition and the 36th International Guitar Competition "Michele Pittaluga" Italy.
Christopher Hill
Hawke's Bay raised Christopher Hill came to Wellington and completed an honours degree in classical guitar at Victoria University, studying under Bill Bower.
Upon graduation he travelled to Spain to study flamenco guitar and while overseas gave performances in Italy and Portugal. He returned to New Zealand in 2010 to continue a busy career in music, touring on behalf of Chamber Music NZ with the Wellington Guitar Duo, and performing with a number of high profile contemporary ensembles.
Christopher is a creative composer with a keen interest in new music and guitar building. He currently plays as a classical/flamenco guitarist and all-round versatile studio musician.
