Genre

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Choral

 

Rob MacKillop is a Scottish classical guitarist and lutenist who has gained international recognition for his virtuosic performances and innovative interpretations of early music. Born in Glasgow in 1959, MacKillop began playing guitar at the age of 12 and quickly developed a passion for classical music. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1981. After completing his studies, MacKillop began performing professionally as a soloist and chamber musician, specializing in early music repertoire for the guitar and lute. He quickly gained a reputation for his technical skill and musical sensitivity, and was invited to perform at major festivals and concert series throughout Europe and North America. One of MacKillop's early breakthrough performances was at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1985, where he gave a critically acclaimed recital of music by the 17th-century Scottish lutenist Robert Johnson. This performance helped to establish MacKillop as a leading interpreter of early Scottish music, and he went on to record several albums of Scottish lute music for the Linn Records label. In addition to his work as a soloist, MacKillop has also collaborated with a wide range of musicians and ensembles, including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Scottish Early Music Consort, and the Scottish Ensemble. He has also worked extensively with the Scottish harpist Alison Kinnaird, with whom he has recorded several albums of traditional Scottish music. MacKillop's repertoire is diverse and eclectic, ranging from Renaissance lute music to contemporary works for the guitar. He is particularly known for his interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach, which he has recorded on several acclaimed albums for the Delphian label. His recording of Bach's lute suites has been praised for its technical brilliance and musical depth, and has been hailed as a landmark in the history of Bach interpretation on the guitar. In addition to his performing career, MacKillop is also a respected musicologist and educator. He has written several books on the history and technique of the guitar and lute, and has taught at several prestigious institutions, including the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh. He is also a frequent guest lecturer and masterclass teacher at universities and music schools around the world. Throughout his career, MacKillop has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the world of classical music. In 1990, he was awarded the prestigious Scottish Arts Council Creative Scotland Award, which recognized his outstanding achievements as a performer and composer. He has also been awarded the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama's Gold Medal for Excellence in Performance, and has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Despite his many accomplishments, MacKillop remains committed to exploring new avenues of musical expression and pushing the boundaries of his instrument. He continues to perform and record regularly, and is widely regarded as one of the most innovative and exciting classical guitarists of his generation.

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