Timothy Walker (Guitar) - Short Biography

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Timothy Walker (Guitar)
Born: 1943 - Durban, South Africa
The South-African guitarist, Timothy Walker, was born of British parents. His father was well-known journalist, write, broadcaster and music critic. Timothy began playing the guitar at the age of 12, and when Narciso Yepes first toured South Africa, the maestro invited him to further his studies in Madrid, This he did for two years before settling in London, where he gave his debut concert at the Wigmore Hall in 1970. He has also studied with Ida Presti, her husband Alexandre Lagoya, and John Williams who recommended him for work with the Fires of London, the modern music group directed by Peter Maxwell-Davies, and from mid 1970's he played regularly with this ensemble, and Maxwell-Davies wrote Lullaby for llian Rainbow (his first guitar solo) for Tim's son. Timothy Walker was the guitarist with the London Sinfonietta and has played with the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Opera Covent Garden and other orchestras. Conductors with whom he has worked include Colin Davis, Andrew Davis, David Atherton, Pierre Boulez, Hans Werner Henze and Walter Susskind. In addition to his solo career, Walker is recognised as one of the foremost guitarists in the world of chamber music, and has encouraged composers to use the instrument more in ensemble works. He has played groups such as the Melos Ensemble, Ensemble Musique Vivants, the Nash Ensemble, the Lindsay Quartet and many other leading ensembles. He has performed in duo with John Williams, as well as with some of the world's finest singers and instrumentalists including Robert Tear, Philip Langridge and Sarah Walker. Timothy Walker is acclaimed internationally as a brilliant virtuoso of the highest rank. He has played, taught, broadcast on radio and television on his own and with other artists in over 50 countries: throughout Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Yugoslavia, South America and the USA. Festivals include Edinburgh, Flanders, Royen, La Rochelle, Berlin, etc. His repertoire ranges from folk inspired to classical and the most complex of modern scores. Timothy Walker was soloist (playing electric guitar) in one of the 1977 Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. 1978 included duets with John Williams at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in Sor Bicentenary concert, his first tour of the USA (solo), and a tour of South America with the soprano Mary Thomas. To date Timothy Walker has made over 30 recordings and has recently recorded all the guitar works of Sir Peter Maxwell Davies (Master of the Queen's Music) for Maxopus. He has also played for many radio and television programmes and for manyfilms, including Billy Two Hats and Don Quixote. Timothy Walker has given master-classes on 5 continents and is a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in London. (He teaches in Spanish and French as well as in English.) A number of his compositions and arrangements have been published (several of them by Belwin Mills) and recorded.
"A player of exceptional quality. An asset to any teaching establishment." - Pierre Boulez "A superb musician! I have written several works especially for him. As a teacher he is inspiring, a splendid communicator." - Sir Peter Maxwell Davies "The audience was in the presence of a great musician." - O Globo - Brazil "An exceptionally fine programme." - Kansas City - USA

Source: Liner notes to the LP's 'Timothy Walker plays Baroque Music' (Saga, 1976) & 'Classical Folk Guitar' (Hyperion, 1981); Impulse Music Website Contributed by Aryeh Oron (July 2008)
Timothy Walker: Short Biography \| Recordings of Instrumental Works
Links to other Sites
Timothy Walker (Impulse Music)

Short Biographies: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | Explanation | Acronyms

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Last update: ýJuly 21, 2008 ý00:52:28