John Mills & Serenata Concert

‘Born in Kingston upon Thames in 1947, John Mills studied guitar first at the Spanish Guitar Centre, London, and later at the Royal College of Music under the professorship of John Williams. In 1968 he studied at the famous series of master-classes held in Santiago de Compostela in Spain given by the legendary maestro Andrés Segovia, and in 1970 played in classes given by Julian Bream at the University of Warwick.

John Mills was a frequent performer on both BBC Radio 2 and Radio 3, including several live broadcasts from centres such as Manchester and Bristol, and recorded a number of albums for several labels in the UK. He has contributed a large number of articles to guitar magazines over the last 30 years, as well as being the author of a best-selling method for the guitar published by Music Sales.

Following a number of years as a soloist during which time he performed in over 25 countries, including Japan, the USA, and Australia, he moved to New Zealand where he was Head of Guitar at the Nelson School of Music from 1985 to 1988. An offer of a professorship at the Royal Academy of Music meant a return to the UK in 1988, an appointment he held for 20 years, and he was appointed Co-ordinator of Guitar at the then Welsh College of Music & Drama in the early 1990s.

As well as teaching and a solo performing career, he also is very active in the field of chamber music with duos consisting of guitar and violin, harpsichord, piano, voice, and of course music for two guitars with his wife Cobie Smit.’ Richard, son of John and Cobie and Multi-instrumentalist, has been an active performer both as a classical guitarist and bass player. Studies and performances have taken him to Norway, Finland, New Zealand and Australia.

– http://www.johnmillsclassicalguitar.com/biography.htm