Described as ‘a player destined for future glories’ (Classical Guitar Magazine) over the last year Morgan Szymanski was selected as ‘one to watch’ by Gramophone Magazine and the BBC Music Magazine, was featured artist on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine (Nov 2008) and was a finalist in the ‘2008 Outstanding Young Artist Award’ (MIDEM Classique/IAMA).
Born in Mexico City in 1979, Morgan Szymanski started playing the guitar at the age of six. Early studies at the National Music School (Mexico) and the Edinburgh Music School led to a scholarship to study under Carlos Bonell and Gary Ryan and the Royal College of Music in London, graduating in 2004 with first class honours. During his studies he won all guitar prizes from the RCM as well as scholarships from the Tillett Trust, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Leverhulme Trust, Wall Trust, FONCA and a scholarship to study at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He immediately went on to become the first solo guitarist to be selected by YCAT and was the first guitarist to be awarded a Junior Fellowship at the RCM, where he completed his Masters with distinction.
A top prize-winner at international competitions, in 2002 Morgan won first prize at the prestigious National Guitar Competition in Mexico. Abroad, performances as a soloist and with orchestras have taken him to Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Mexico, Guatemala and the USA.
Over the last year Morgan has given recitals at major UK venues and festivals including Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgwater Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, King’s Place, the Sage Gateshead and London International Guitar Festival to name a few. In May 2007 he made his debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Joaquin Rodrigo’s ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’.
He is a founding member of ‘Machaca’, an international ensemble consisting of some of the UK’s finest musicians including Ruth Rogers (violin), Gemma Rosefield (‘cello), Laura Mitchell (soprano) and the ODuo (percussion) amongst others. Their first recording ‘Mano a Mano’ was released in April ‘07 in London’s Purcell Room during ‘La Linea’: London’s Latin American Music Festival and was described as ‘a real jewel of a disc’ by Gramophone Magazine. In 2008 the ensemble embarked on a tour of Mexico culminating at the Mexico City Festival to critical acclaim.
Described as ‘top class in every respect’ (Classical Guitar Magazine, 2005), Morgan’s previous CD ‘The Unicorn in the Garden’, was released in 2005 including works by Iannarelli, Ritter, Ponce and Barrios as well as works especially written for him by Alec Roth. In 2006 he composed the original soundtrack to the award winning Mexican documentary ‘Toro Negro’ and 2008 saw the premiere of his ‘Zambezi Sarabande’ for the Bulawayo Music Festival (Zimbabwe).
Morgan’s interest in chamber music has led to collaborations with artists such as John Williams and Carlos Bonell (guitar), Mark Padmore (tenor), Alison Balsom (trumpet), Priya Mitchell (violin), Marcelo Nisinman (bandoneon), the Sacconi Quartet, Phuong Nguyen (accordion), Adam Walker (flute) and Clara Mouriz (mezzo-soprano) amongst others.
He has appeared as a soloist with the Royal Philharmonic Ocrhestra, Hallé, Orchestra of the Swan, Southbank Sinfonia, the Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Sinfonia and the Cervantes Choir. Future plans include concerto performances with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Macedonia Phiharmonic and the City of Birmingham Youth Symphony Orchestra.
In 2008 he took part in two world premieres by Alec Roth – a guitar quintet especially commissioned for him with the Sacconi Quartet and a collaboration with Vikram Seth called Songs in Time of War recently recorded on the Signum Label with Mark Padmore. 2008 saw the world premiere at the Wigmore Hall of ‘Los Ambulantes’ by Stephen McNeff especially commissioned for Morgan Szymanski and ODuo.
