danmckay.net
Daniel
McKay began his musical
studies at an early age under the guidance of his parents, both of whom are
practicing music teachers. Living in the Blue Mountains region of NSW, Daniel
was active as a multi-instrumentalist, performing within a myriad of popular
styles. During this period, Daniel made many recordings for both commercial and
independent release.
Daniel
has studied extensively with Australia’s most highly respected guitar
teachers, Timothy Kain and Gregory Pikler, in addition to master classes with
John Williams, Remi Boucher, Maximo Diego-Pujol and Pavel Steidl. Daniel holds a
Bachelor of Music (1st Class Honours) and Master of Music (Hons) from
the Australian National University.
A
major prizewinner in many competitions, Daniel has been heard in numerous live
and pre-recorded broadcasts for ABC radio in solo (including his prizewinning
performance in the Australian Guitar Competition), duo and quartet performances.
In recent years Daniel has given numerous solo and chamber music recitals in
most capital cities and regional centres of Australia. In 2006 Daniel undertook
his first solo tours of New Zealand and Europe – the latter made possible
through funding from the Australia Council – and since relocating to Melbourne
has given many recitals with long time ACO assistant leader, violinist Zoë
Black. Zoë and Daniel have just released their debut CD d’aujourd’hui
on Move Records.
Daniel’s
debut solo CD featuring works of Dusan Bogdanovic, Leo Brouwer, Mario
Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Alexandre Tansman and Astor Piazzolla has been warmly
received by music lovers and critics alike; UK publication ‘Classical
Guitar’ wrote ‘Daniel McKay here performs an invigorating and very
listenable program of 20th century music, which, of all the
“private release” CDs I have reviewed is one of the best, if not the
best: McKay is certainly a most technically-capable guitarist, and not only
that, he is musical with it. His playing has a beautiful clarity and
crispness and he has a superb innate sense of phrasing allowing him to get to
the heart and soul of everything he performs’. A disc of works by Australian
composers is in preparation.
Considered
one of Australia’s finest guitarists of his generation, Daniel’s interest in
contemporary Australian music and considerable ensemble playing skills led to an
invitation to join Guitar
Trek, widely recognised as among the very best of Australia’s chamber
ensembles. Engagements have included several recitals for Musica Viva, the
Sydney Festival, Canberra International Chamber Music Festival, Darwin
International Guitar and New Zealand International Guitar Festivals, highly
successful tours of Europe in 1999 and 2002, and Vietnam in 2005. Guitar
Trek’s long awaited fourth CD is soon to be released on ABC Classics, with a
CD of Australian works also in preparation.
In
demand as a teacher, Daniel has been a guest tutor for the Sydney Guitar
Society’s 2004 and 2006 Summer Schools, featuring guitarists Carlos Bonell
(London) and Pavel Steidl (Czech Republic) as principal tutors, and residencies
by leading Australian guitarist/composers Phillip Houghton and Richard Charlton.
A guest tutor at some of Australia’s leading music institutions, Daniel taught
for many years in the pre-tertiary area of Australia’s leading guitar
department at the Australian National University, School of Music. He now
resides in Melbourne, and is on staff at the Victorian College of the Arts.