Ian Watt

Described by Classical Guitar Magazine as ‘a guitarist of outstanding skill and originality’, Ian Watt has appeared throughout Europe, the Americas and East Asia. Having first come to international attention with 2nd prize at the highly prestigious ‘Parkening International Guitar Competition’ (USA) in 2009, where he was hailed by Soundboard magazine as an ’18-year-old phenom’, he subsequently took 1st prize (along with the audience and junior jury prizes) at the 2011 Heinsberg International Guitar Competition, where he attracted the attention and respect of many of Europe’s leading guitar soloists. Noted for his ‘exceptional range of timbre’ (BBC Music Magazine), his playing has been further described as ‘dazzlingly virtuosic’ and ‘astoundingly atmospheric’ (The Herald). He has released three solo albums for Nimbus Alliance, including a 2013 recording of Britten’s ‘Nocturnal’ which was described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘sublime’.

Ian collaborates regularly with a variety of musicians and groups, including Scottish Opera, Welsh National Opera, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and the Hebrides Ensemble. He was appointed, at the age of 21, to the guitar faculty of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and currently holds the position of LRAM guitar tutor at the Royal Academy of Music.