Described as ‘a player destined for future glories’ (Classical Guitar Magazine) Morgan Szymanski has been highlighted as ‘One to Watch’ by both Gramophone Magazine and the BBC Music Magazine. A featured artist on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine, Morgan Szymanski was selected as a finalist for the ‘Outstanding Young Artist Award’ by MIDEM Classique/IAMA.
In recent years Morgan has given recitals at major UK venues and festivals including the Wigmore Hall, Cadogan Hall, Bridgewater Hall, Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall, King’s Place, The Sage Gateshead, Royal Opera House, and London International Guitar Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé, Royal Northern Sinfonia, Filarmónica de la Ciudad de México, Orchestra of the Swan, Southbank Sinfonia, Welsh Chamber Orchestra, Scottish Sinfonia, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the Cervantes Choir and the Coro de Madrigalistas de Bellas Artes in Mexico’s Palacio de Bellas Artes.
We had a chance to ask Morgan a few questions in the lead up to his digital concert as a part of the 2021 Liberation International Music Festival. Here’s what he had to say:
At what age did you decide to become a musician?
Well, I first picked up a guitar when I was 6 and have been fascinated by it ever since. However, I never really consciously decided to be a musician. It´s just the way life developed and unfolded.
What do you love most about being a guitarist?
Segovia used to say the guitar is like a mini orchestra, with it´s large pallet of tones and colours. I enjoy being creative with sound, and working on my own interpretations. A bit like visual artists choose and use colours and lines, or as a friend once put it: ´sculpting sound´.
Where are you from originally & what brought you to the UK?
I was born in Mexico City to a Scottish mother and a Mexican father of Polish background. I grew up in Valle de Bravo, in the State of Mexico, where I live now. It was music that brought me to the UK, Edinburgh initially, before studying at the Royal College of Music in London and the Conservatoire in Amsterdam.
What is your favourite place on Earth?
Valle de Bravo followed by Tuscany.
Who is your favourite composer?
JS Bach
What or who inspires you most?
Nature
If you hadn’t become a musician, what job would you have wanted to do?
Gardener
What is on your bucket list?
Cuba, Patagonia, learning flamenco and arranging all of Bach´s Cello Suites for Guitar
Which historical figure would you choose to have dinner with?
Frida Kahlo
What can we look forward to from you next?
I´m looking forward to releasing ´Live in South Africa´, a live recording from the Woordfees festival in Stellenbosch with my friends from the Amici Quartet. We recorded works by Vivaldi, Boccerini and Piazzolla. Also looking forward to a series of UK concerts this summer with my friend Mark Padmore, the Benyounes Quartet and Laura Mitchell. Details on my website www.morganszymanski.co.uk
You can see Morgan’s stunning performance in this year’s festival on Saturday, 5 June in a solo recital all of German sonatas (available to watch until 5 July).
