Amanda is one of the leading guitarists of her generation. She has performed and given master classes in the USA, South America and throughout Europe. In the UK her performances include the South Bank and the Wigmore Hall. Her highly acclaimed performances are always noted for their sensitive musicality, fluid technique, and ability to draw the audience in to her world.
At the tender age of seven Amanda began to learn the guitar with Alexander Levtov. She then went on to study with Charles Ramirez at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, with the help of a scholarship. She then carried on to do her music degree at the RCM, as a Foundation Scholar, continuing with Mr Ramirez and then with Jakob Lindberg and Gary Ryan. Whilst at the College Amanda won several prizes for her performances, and outside of College she won the 1995 Admira Young Guitarist of the Year, 1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and the 1998 Carol Evershed Martin Award for solo instrumentalists. After studying at the College, Amanda spent 2 months in New York studying with Ben Verdery with the help of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Amanda has had several composers dedicate works to her including Nato Lima (Sonata No.2, 2004), Robert Boyle (Voices of Origin, for her Wigmore Hall debut 2003), Paul Gregory (Micro Prelude 2000), Cristiano Porqueddu (Amanda 1998) and William Lovelady (This Morning In Omagh the Sun Rose Again, written for the 1st Anniversary of the bombing in N.Ireland 1998).
She has performed and been broadcast live both on television and radio in Brazil, Spain, Peru and the UK. Amanda has also been interviewed and played live on BBC Radio 3 "In Tune", BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" and Classic FM.
In addition to solo work, Amanda works with many other musicians and is involved in many projects. Her most recent venture is with the ensemble G , composed of string quartet, percussion and two guitars. G will release an album later this year through record label IGF which includes compositions by Joby Talbot. Amanda is also part of the guitar trio Appassionata who, along with Rebecca Baulch and Hayley Savage released their debut album "Let Go" in 2005 with dedicated works from Paulo Bellinati, Gary Ryan and Bruce Macombie.
Aside from her first solo CD "Debut" and her new release, Amanda has also recorded a CD with the guitar quartet (Young Guitarists in Residence) for the Dundee Guitar Festival and has appeared alongside Martin Taylor and Juan Martin on the album 'The Guitar Collection Vol.1". She has also collaborated with the Director of the Registry of Guitar Tutors in the production of two CD's to accompany repertoire books.
Amanda has sat on the jury for several International Competitions and regularly adjudicates music festivals in the UK. She is a patron of the Federation of Guitar Societies, and a life member of the West Sussex Guitar Club.
copied from amandacook.co.uk Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.
Amanda is one of the leading guitarists of her generation. She has performed and given master classes in the USA, South America and throughout Europe. In the UK her performances include the South Bank and the Wigmore Hall. Her highly acclaimed performances are always noted for their sensitive musicality, fluid technique, and ability to draw the audience in to her world.
At the tender age of seven Amanda began to learn the guitar with Alexander Levtov. She then went on to study with Charles Ramirez at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, with the help of a scholarship. She then carried on to do her music degree at the RCM, as a Foundation Scholar, continuing with Mr Ramirez and then with Jakob Lindberg and Gary Ryan. Whilst at the College Amanda won several prizes for her performances, and outside of College she won the 1995 Admira Young Guitarist of the Year, 1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and the 1998 Carol Evershed Martin Award for solo instrumentalists. After studying at the College, Amanda spent 2 months in New York studying with Ben Verdery with the help of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Amanda has had several composers dedicate works to her including Nato Lima (Sonata No.2, 2004), Robert Boyle (Voices of Origin, for her Wigmore Hall debut 2003), Paul Gregory (Micro Prelude 2000), Cristiano Porqueddu (Amanda 1998) and William Lovelady (This Morning In Omagh the Sun Rose Again, written for the 1st Anniversary of the bombing in N.Ireland 1998).
She has performed and been broadcast live both on television and radio in Brazil, Spain, Peru and the UK. Amanda has also been interviewed and played live on BBC Radio 3 "In Tune", BBC Radio 4 "Woman's Hour" and Classic FM.
In addition to solo work, Amanda works with many other musicians and is involved in many projects. Her most recent venture is with the ensemble G , composed of string quartet, percussion and two guitars. G will release an album later this year through record label IGF which includes compositions by Joby Talbot. Amanda is also part of the guitar trio Appassionata who, along with Rebecca Baulch and Hayley Savage released their debut album "Let Go" in 2005 with dedicated works from Paulo Bellinati, Gary Ryan and Bruce Macombie.
Aside from her first solo CD "Debut" and her new release, Amanda has also recorded a CD with the guitar quartet (Young Guitarists in Residence) for the Dundee Guitar Festival and has appeared alongside Martin Taylor and Juan Martin on the album 'The Guitar Collection Vol.1". She has also collaborated with the Director of the Registry of Guitar Tutors in the production of two CD's to accompany repertoire books.
Amanda has sat on the jury for several International Competitions and regularly adjudicates music festivals in the UK. She is a patron of the Federation of Guitar Societies, and a life member of the West Sussex Guitar Club.
copied from amandacook.co.uk Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.