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Simon Thacker, classical guitarist
"Not only is Mr Thacker a sublime technician but his artistry seems to soar above that of most mere mortals. His ability to extract such meaning and expression from merely six nylon strings speaks of true genius."
“one of the most important musicians of his generation" *****
Solo - Guitar
Instrumentation
- Simon Thacker - guitar
Repertoire
Simon brings a lifetime of inspiration and collaboration to solo classical guitar.
Programmes are always carefully shaped in dialogue with societies. Examples:
"The virtuoso composer": Simon's unique perspective on the evolution of the guitar through some of the most celebrated music by its greatest luminaries, including Tarrega, Mertz, Agustin Barrios, Villa-Lobos, Cuba's Leo Brouwer.
"Obras maestras": masterworks by Bach, Schubert arr Mertz, Rodrigo, Ginastera, Thacker
"Pashyanti": a passionate, revelatory cultural journey drawing on Simon's immersion in diverse traditions
Biography
Musical alchemist; intercultural creator; instinctive contrarian; transcendence seeker: classical guitarist and composer Simon Thacker offers a portal to musical worlds through the ages.
As comfortable playing Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with orchestra as writing and recording new work expanding on Romany traditions with leading exponents from Hungary and Poland, or performing his reimaginings of Bengali Baul spiritual songs at South Asia’s biggest folk festival to 60,000 ecstatic fans, Thacker is one of Scotland’s most original and fascinating polymaths.
His work has been nominated for The Ivors Composer Awards and won a Scottish Award For New Music.
A gifted instrumentalist with a compelling command of the masterworks of the repertoire, Simon's solo performances are renowned for weaving "magic which has live performance at its heart" (The Scotsman).
His compositions distil his extraordinary experiences with leading musicians from traditions around the world. He has been invited to perform his music at many major festivals, including London’s South Bank Centre, Cheltenham Music Festival, Christchurch and Taranaki International Arts Festivals (New Zealand), Celtic Connections, DIFF (Bangladesh, for an audience of 60 000) and The Sacred Pushkar (India).
He has been selected to represent his country in the Made in Scotland showcase at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe five times. In 2023 he premiered Tandava, for solo classical guitar and classical dancers from India's Piah Dance Company, for which he composed the music: "timeless" ***** (Arts Review Edinburgh)
Simon leads several ensembles, all of which exclusively feature his music. Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti is a four lineup Indo-Western community. Simon Thacker's Ritmata is his musical laboratory with three of Europe’s finest improvisers.
Simon has been instrumental in nurturing the next generation of Scottish based talent at Edinburgh Napier University and Edinburgh College (where he also teaches composition) for over 15 years. He has been nominated for a Royal Philharmonic Society Music Award, was a winner of the 50th Park Lane Group Awards and has performed as soloist with many orchestras, including the RSNO. His music has received airplay in over 50 countries and 200 radio stations in the USA alone.
His discography includes the Scottish New Music Award winning "Trikala" album by Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti. He recently released "Songs of the Roma".
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