Allan Neave

Allan Neave studied at the RSAMD (1984) and the RNCM (1988) and since then has been performing worldwide. He is a regular guest at many of the worlds’ leading musical events, including the Dublin Guitar Festival, the Irish Guitar Festival, the Lewes International Guitar Festival, the Bath International Guitar Festival, the Guitar Celebrity Series Bonn and the Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano in Lima, Peru. He has worked with many influential musicians, including Nikita Koshkin, Edward McGuire, Hans Werner Henze, Gordon McPherson and Stephen Dodgson, many of whose works he has premiered.

To date, career highlights have included recording Gordon McPherson’s concerto Born of Funk and Fear of Failing with the new music group Psappha, performing Scottish guitar music in Peru, a tour of Australia with virtuoso flautist Alison Mitchell and a further tour of the far east with Tetra Guitar quartet, performances of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the RSNO in their prom season and filming a documentary in Argentina and Venezuela with local folk musicians.

He has broadcast widely both in the UK and abroad, including Radio 3 and 4 broadcasts at the Edinburgh International Festival, performances of Schoenberg’s Serenade with the Hebrides Contemporary Music Ensemble for BBC Radio 3, the isle is full of noises on KFZAZ Radio USA, RadioSodre Uruguay and BBC Radio 3. He also gave the world’s 1st live Internet guitar concert broadcast in 1997.

His CD releases include a recording with Tetra guitar quartet, Gordon McPherson’s aforementioned born of funk and fear of failing for guitar and small orchestra on the Metier label, Friends in strange places by Gordon McPherson for multi tracked guitars and percussion, Celtic/Jazz crossover with jazz virtuoso Don Paterson and the isle is full of noises (BGCD104). His latest album, ‘Guitarra Internacional ’ has just been released!

Recent performances included a German tour of the ‘Island Tapes’ and an English tour with South American musicians’ ‘Caracas Sincronica’. Forthcoming performances include a promotional tour of the new album around Scotland in February, a trip to Tartan Week in New York in April, a 3rd visit to the West End Festival in Glasgow & performances at the 16th Dundee Guitar Festival in July!

Allan has been Artistic Director of the Dundee International Guitar Festival since its inception and in 2000 he received the Scotland on Sunday Glenfiddich® Spirit of Scotland Award for Music. These awards were set up to recognise individuals who lead the way in Scottish culture.