Rory Russell

Weekly ensemble coaching sessions to support all the chamber music activities of the guitar students.
Once a term Rory gives 1:1 lessons to all guitar students as well as running the weekly performance class.
Once a year Rory leads and conducts a whole department directed ensemble project for a performance in the summer guitar faculty public concert. The aim of this project is to give the students invaluble experience working in a large ensemble and to develop their skills in following a conductor and in the discipline needed to work in an orchestral type setting.

Rory’s primary work is as a member of the Aquarelle Guitar Quartet with whom he has performed extensively throughout Britain, Europe, South Korea and Israel and in venues including London’s Albert Hall & Wigmore Hall, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and Athens’ music conservatoire. They appear regularly on Classic FM and BBC Radio 3 and have had features on them in Gramophone, BBC Music, Classic FM & Classical Music magazines. In 2009 they were signed to Chandos Records and received widespread acclaim for their first release ‘Spirit of Brazil’. Their second CD for Chandos ‘Dances’ was released on the 1^st July 2010 and has been featured on the Classic FM play list in Britain and Australia. ‘Final Cut’ (film music for 4 guitars) was released in 2012 and is a regular on BBC radio 3 and Classic FM and Cuatro, a new CD of Spanish music was released in 2013. Their fifth disc for Chandos, Aspects, was released in October 2016.

Rory has appeared with orchestras around the UK to perform concertos including Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Fantasia para un Gentilhombre, the Malcolm Arnold Concerto and Vivaldi’s Concerto in D major.

Rory’s primary responsibility at the RNCM is coaching chamber music groups and helping them to hone their ensemble skills. Having worked with a range of other musicians including singers, cellists, flautists & violinists, Rory has a wealth of experience to share with the RNCM guitar students.