The New Zealand Guitar Quartet

The New Zealand Guitar Quartet – AOTNZ tour November 2014

As soloists in their own right, NZGQ members Jane Curry, Owen Moriarty, Tim Watanabe and Christopher Hill have garnered acclaim on concert stages around the world and in a multitude of international guitar competitions. Coming together as the New Zealand Guitar Quartet, they’ve combined their individual skills towards creating an exciting, engaging ensemble noted for its polished ensemble playing and diverse programming ranging from the renaissance to the 21st century.

”…nothing less than extraordinary…” ~ Motueka Music Society

“…technical brilliance and emotional depth…” ~ Christchurch Arts Festival

“…scintillating…” ~ Rotorua Music Society

“…sublime musical entertainment…” ~ Whangarei Music Society

www.aotnz.co.nz
nzguitarquartet.com/

About the artists

Jane Curry
In 2010 Jane Curry completed a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Arizona and is head of the classical guitar department at the New Zealand School of Music, Wellington. She has placed in several international guitar competitions including 2nd Prize, Portland International Guitar Competition, 2nd Prize, California Guitar Panorama International Competition, 3rd Prize, Rantucci International Guitar Competition (New York), and has received the Creative NZ Jack McGill Music Scholarship (NZ), the International Arts Foundation Scholarship (NZ), Medici Scholar Award (University of Arizona), and a Creative NZ Grant to commission composer John Psathas. She has performed in New Zealand, England, Scotland, Spain, Mexico, Tahiti, Canada, Malaysia, and throughout the US.

Owen Moriarty

Owen Moriarty began his formal guitar studies in 1997 at Massey University, graduating in 2003 with a Master’s degree in performance music and then moving to the US in 2003 where he studied towards a Graduate Certificate at the University of Southern California (Los Angeles). Owen has toured five times with Chamber Music NZ, twice as a soloist, twice as a member of Tango Virtuosi, and lastly with the Wellington Guitar Duo. He has also given performances in Australia, USA, Portugal, Mexico, Thailand, Spain and the United Kingdom. Owen’s self-titled debut (double) CD was released through ODE Records in 2003.

Tim Watanabe

Tim Watanabe graduated in 2005 from Massey University in Wellington, studying under Matthew Marshall and Gunter Herbig. He has been an active member of the Conservatorium Guitar Orchestra, playing as a soloist in the Guitar Orchestra tours around New Zealand, and has taken part in master classes with numerous international guitarists.

Christopher Hill

Hawkes Bay raised Christopher Hill came to Wellington and completed an Honours Degree in classical guitar in 2001 at Victoria University, studying under Bill Bower. In 2004 he travelled to Spain to study flamenco guitar and while overseas, gave performances in Italy and Portugal. In June 2010, Christopher toured on behalf of Chamber Music NZ with the Wellington Guitar Duo. A member of numerous groups/ensembles, Christopher is a creative composer with a keen interest in new music and guitar building. He currently plays as a classical/flamenco guitarist and all-round versatile studio musician.

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