Russell Poyner

 

Classical guitar

Germany

Russell Poyner’s performances have been described by critics as “enchanting”, full of “energy and vigour”, a “musical journey through the diverse beauty of sound” (Rhein Zeitung), and by BBC Radio 2 as “really musical performances of character and commitment”.

Russell studied at the Birmingham Conservatoire with Simon Dinnigan. During this time he won the Birmingham Conservatoire Guitar Prize, and was awarded a scholarship from the Banners Gate Trust.

He also studied with Maestro Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy, winning a scholarship from the Accademia Chigiana and Arts Council England, and later went on to study with Professor Hubert Käppel at the Koblenz International Guitar Academy, where he was awarded the postgraduate Soloist Diploma.

Russell has won prizes in national and international competitions. These include runner-up in the BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year, and 2nd prize at the 10th Koblenz International Guitar Competition.

He has given performances across Europe, America, and Brazil, including concerts at the Queen Elizabeth Hall and Bolivar Hall, London; the Rhein Mosel Halle, Koblenz, Germany; the Secs Centre, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and Theatro Municipal Niteroi, Brazil. His full London debut celebrated the centenary of the Spanish composer Antonio José with a concert at the Imperial War Museum. This concert was heralded as a “triumph” by Robert Matthew-Walker in Musical Opinion. Russell has also performed at the Bolivar Hall Guitar Festival, London, Gevelsburg International Guitar festival, Germany, and Koblenz International Guitar Festival.

As a soloist with orchestra, Russell has performed with the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie. His performances have also been broadcast on BBC Radio 2, television in Germany, England and in Brazil on TV Globo’s ‘Good Morning Brazil’ programme, live to an audience of over a million people.

Russell’s first Album, together with the oboist Monika Dawidek „Oblivion – Latin American Music for Oboe & Guitar“, was released in summer 2015 by the record label First Hand Records.