November 2007 ~ Daniel McKay (Guitar)

Featured this month is Australian Guitarist Daniel McKay. He will be performing Piazzolla's Three Tangos, Leo Bouwer's Sonata and Neil Gow's Lament for the death of his second wife.

About Daniel McKay
Daniel McKay began his musical studies at an early age under the guidance of his parents, both of whom are practicing music teachers. Living in the Blue Mountains region of NSW, Daniel was active as a multi-instrumentalist, performing within a myriad of popular styles. During this period, Daniel made many recordings for both commercial and independent release.

Daniel has studied extensively with Australia’s most highly respected guitar teachers, Timothy Kain and Gregory Pikler, in addition to master classes with John Williams, Remi Boucher, Maximo Diego-Pujol and Pavel Steidl. Daniel holds a Bachelor of Music (1st Class Honours) and Master of Music (Hons) from the Australian National University.

A major prizewinner in many competitions, Daniel has been heard in numerous live and pre-recorded broadcasts for ABC radio in solo (including his prizewinning performance in the Australian Guitar Competition), duo and quartet performances. In recent years Daniel has given many solo and chamber music recitals in most of the capital cities and regional centres of Australia. In 2006 Daniel undertook his first solo tours of New Zealand and Europe – the latter made possible through funding from the Australia Council – as well as recitals with long time ACO assistant leader, violinist Zoë Black, and numerous solo and chamber music performances along the east coast of Australia.

Daniel’s debut solo CD featuring works of Dusan Bogdanovic, Leo Brouwer, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Alexandre Tansman and Astor Piazzolla has been warmly received by music lovers and critics alike; UK publication ‘Classical Guitar’ wrote ‘Daniel McKay here performs an invigorating and very listenable program of 20th century music, which, of all the “private release” CDs I have reviewed is one of the best, if not the best: McKay is certainly a most technically-capable guitarist, and not only that, he is musical with it. His playing has a beautiful clarity and crispness and he has a superb innate sense of phrasing allowing him to get to the heart and soul of everything he performs’. A disc of works by Australian composers is in preparation, due for release in 2007.

To learn more about Daniel McKay, please visit his website http://www.danmckay.net

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