Duncan Gardiner

Duncan started learning the guitar at the age of 9. He learned through school with Dr. John Casey until beginning study at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Duncan has since completed an Advanced Diploma and a Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree under the musical guidance of Graham Hall and Dr. Jonathan Paget. Duncan is currently completing the Honours degree at WAAPA where he was recently awarded the Helen Court Scholarship awarded to the most outstanding final year classical music student. In 2004 Duncan received the Licentiate of Music Diploma with distinction from the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) winning the J.B. Vincent memorial prize for being the most outstanding candidate that year.

Duncan enjoys participating with a wide range of chamber music groups as well as being a member of Perth based acclaimed guitar orchestra, Guitarstrophe!. Duncan's recent concerto engagements include performances of the Torroba Sonatina for guitar and strings with the Allegri Chamber Orchestra (Perth premiere), Concertino Capriccio by Richard Charlton with the Caprriccio Quartet (Perth premiere), the Lorca Concerto for two guitars and orchestra with Guitarstrophe!, the Villa-Lobos guitar concerto with the Fremantle Symphony Orchestra, a performance of the Vivaldi lute concerto in D with the WAYO Collegium string orchestra, the Carulli guitar concerto with the Cherubini string quartet and a performance of the Nigel Westlake Antarctica Suite with the Perth Camerata.

Duncan has appeared on numerous occasions as a guest soloist at many concerts around the Perth metropolitan area (such as the St. Georges Cathedral lunch-time concert series, with the Classical Guitar Society of W.A. and the Mundaring Performing Arts Society) and has performed in solo recitals in Perth and Albany. In August of 2004 Duncan was invited to perform in a special concert for Australia's greatest living composer: Peter Sculthorpe.

Duncan has recently returned from performing in the Shell Darwin International Guitar Festival, where he performed in concert with fellow Guitarstrophites, as well as in master-classes for internationally renowned guitarists Karin Schaupp, Carlo Barone, and members of Saffire (the Australian Guitar Quartet).

Duncan is active as a music teacher in Perth and teaches in the private school education sector in addition to running a private music studio from home. In the near future Duncan plans to travel to the Eastern states to further his musical studies in classical guitar performance as well as to continue to compose new music for the guitar.

Visit Duncan's personal website at www.duncangardiner.com.au