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Russell Poyner

This is the official RUSSELL POYNER- myspace-site.

About Me


Aranjuez, 1st movement by Joaquin Rodrigo for guitar and orchestra, Koblenz guitar festival, May 2005.
At the age of nine Russell Poyner began singing with St Chad’s Cathedral Choir, Birmingham. At the same time he began playing the guitar, and with his first musical influences of Byrd, Palestrina, Julian Bream, Chuck Berry, and the Beatles, so began his musical journey.
He studied successfully at the Birmingham Conservatoire (Simon Dinnigan) gaining a BMus (Hons) and PG Dip (Mus), at the Academia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italy, (Maestro Oscar Ghiglia) and at the Gitarrenakademie Koblenz (Prof. Hubert Käppel) receiving the highest possible mark. Russell has also taken masterclasses with many of the world’s leading classical guitarists, including the Grammy Winner David Russell.
He has won prizes in National and International competitions including, the BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year, (his performances were described by Lady Barbiroli as ‘Really musical performances of character and commitment’.) the Koblenz International Guitar Competition and the Birmingham Conservatoire Guitar Prize.
Russell has given performances across Europe (Britain, Ireland, Finland, Germany, and on the Baltic Sea), America (Los Angeles, New Jersey), and Brazil. Including concerts at venues such as the “Queen Elisabeth Hall” and “Bolivar Hall”, London, the Adrian Boult Hall and CBSO Center, Birmingham, the “Rhein Mosel Halle”, Koblenz, Germany, and the “Secs Centre” Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His full London debut in a special concert to celebrate the centenary of the Spanish composer Antonio José, at The Imperial War Museum was described by Robert Matthew-Walker writing for Musical Opinion as ‘a triumph’ .
He has also featured as soloist with Orchestras such as the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie.
Russell’s performances have also been broadcast in Germany by SWR television, on BBC Radio2, Channel 4 television, and TV Globo’s ‘Good Morning Brazil’ programme to an audience of over a million people.
Russell has worked with a number of Contempory Composers (e.g. Louis J Clark, Simon Cresswell) and was proud to give the world premiere performances of a number of Solo Works, and Louis Clark’s Guitar Concerto No.1 for guitar and orchestra at the Adrian Boult Hall.
He has also worked on projects with the Narrator Marlies Pinnow, combining Literature with music. With the dancers Yolanda und Micheal Jeske from the Koblenz Theater Ballet ( Rhein-Zeitung , “a Masterful Interpretation.”) And collaborated with the British actor Nigel Boyle on ‘If Music Be the Food of Love’, a concert of Shakespearean verse, songs from John Dowland and music from Shakespeare’s time, ( Rhein-Zeitung , ‘brilliantly performed’.)
Russell Poyner plays 'come again' by John Dowland, live video

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 1/16/2008
Band Members: Russell Poyner and his Guitar made by

http://www.wichmann-guitars.de/

Sounds Like: ‘Really musical performances of character and commitment’
Lady Barbirolli, BBC Radio, June 2000

‘This whole performance brought tears to my eyes’
John Wallace OBE, BBC Radio, June 2000

‘Wonderful colouring – a great maturity of expression’
Leonard Pearcey, BBC Radio, June 2000

‘A very accomplished performance by a talented young player’
Southampton Classical Guitar Society, March 2001

‘Mompou, Rodrigo, Falla, Ohana, and of course José: few can disagree with the poignancy of the compositions chosen’
Tim Panting (Classical Guitar, July 2002)

‘The Imperial War Museum was the unusual but highly appropriate setting for a Guitar recital in Homage to Antonio José by the very gifted Russell Poyner … [who] excelled in this work [José’s Sonata], and all in the entire recital was a triumph’
Robert Matthew-Walker (Musical Opinion Supplement, July 2002)

‘We immediately were able to appreciate his clear but passionate playing… Bravo to a great British player!’
Greenwood Classical Guitar Society, June 2003

‘He has a beautiful tone with lots of subtle colour changes built over a solid pulse. Above all, his interpretation does not appear clichéd or predictable.’
Therese Wassily Saba(Classical Guitar Magazine, Oct 2003)

‘Russell’s programme was very well balanced… [and] was very lyrical and expressive. I find Poyner’s interpretation of Ohana’s Tiento particularly satisfying. I have heard him perform it before, and it always has the same affect on me… I just want him to play it again.’
Therese Wassily Saba(Classical Guitar Magazine, Aug 2004)

‘After interval the young English guitarist Russell Poyner came on to the stage. As part of his post-graduate diploma studies at the Guitar Academy Koblenz, where he studies with Prof. Hubert Käppel, he played together with the Stattsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo. The enthusiastic applause from the full Concert Hall, and a happy examination jury documented the top quality standards at the Guitar Academy Koblenz.’
Akustik Gitarre, 2005

‘“If music be the food of love, play on“, commanded Orsino, brilliantly performed by the London based Actor Nigel Boyel and his „Court Musician“, the young Concert Guitarist from Birmingham Russell Poyner. Orsinos Palace was in this case the „full to the seams“ Pallottiner-Kapelle in Ehrenbreitstein.‘
Rhein-Zeitung, Nov 2006

‘...The audience were captivated and thanked the artist with heartfelt and sincere applause. Playing J. S. Bach’s “Sarabande” as an encore, the artist ended this musical journey through the diverse beauty of sound.’
Wolfgang Frech Rhein-Zeitung Hunsruck, Feb 2007

‘Adding a further dash of colour to this evening of interdisciplinary arts, Yolanda und Micheal Jeske of the Koblenz Theatre Ballet set the “Fantasia la Compagna” by Francesco da Milano into full movement. This was accompanied by a masterful interpretation of the composition by the concert guitarist Russell Poyner.’
Rhein-Zeitung Aug 2007

‘...Russell Poyner from Birmingham plays his guitar with energy and vigour, with precision and understanding, with a lyrical filigree and a skill for interpretation...’
Rhein-Zeitung Sept 2007

‘...the English solo guitarist Russell Poyner enchanted the capacity audience in the Pallotiner-Kapelle in Ehrenbreitstein...he was brilliant on the six strings.’
Rhein-Zeitung Sept 2007

‘High Fives all around! A rare glimpse at the next generation of guitar greats from Europe. Russell Poyner is truly a musician's musician.’
Anthony Palmucci (Musical Director The Music Academy,Oct 2007)

Type of Label: None

My Blog

2nd New Track Added: Pavana Triste by Antonio Jose

Hello Friends! Just a note to let you all know the 2nd track from the recording at Air Stream Studios www. myspace. com/airstreamstudio , has been added.So when you get a minute please drop by and tak...
Posted by Russell Poyner on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 12:51:00 PST

New Tracks Added: Work in progress (New Album 2008)

Hello friends!  Well&. I’ve been busy over Easter recording a New Album at the Air Stream Studios in Koblenz, Germany (www.myspace.com/airstreamstudio). It’s been a lot of fun as well...
Posted by Russell Poyner on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 02:01:00 PST