JULIAN BYZANTINE: Guitar

Julian Byzantine began his advanced musical studies with John Williams at the Royal College of Music, where he was awarded the first ARCM for guitar. During this period he won scholarships to further his studies with Julian Bream in England and Andrés Segovia in Siena, where he was chosen by the maestro to give a solo recital. After finishing these studies he taught on the staff of the Royal Academy of Music, London, for two years.

Besides his recital work, Byzantine makes frequent concerto appearances and has performed with some of the leading orchestras in Britain, including the Royal Philharmonic, the City of Birmingham Symphony and the Scottish Chamber Orchestras, and with many national orchestras abroad.

In the field of contemporary music he has worked with Pierre Boulez and Peter Maxwell Davies, and on numerous occasions the Arts Council of Great Britain has had works commissioned for him.

Julian Byzantine's reputation as a soloist has been extended by his broadcasts for radio and television, and these have included a television documentary on the life and guitar music of Heitor Villa-Lobos. A particular interest in the manuscripts of the early guitarists and lutenists led him to become an exponent of the baroque guitar.

One of Britain's best established concert artists, Julian Byzantine has travelled widely, making extensive concert tours of Scandinavia, Latin America, the USA and, particularly, Australasia.