Terry Spooner

Terry Spooner first took up the electric guitar at the age of fifteen and was self taught for five years. He made his first public appearance at sixteen and by the age of twenty he was a professional guitarist playing in various rock, jazz/rock and dance bands throughout the UK.

It was while he was in a recording studio in London’s West End, that he first heard the classical guitar being played in the studio next door. He decided then to take up the classical guitar and initially had private lessons.

After three years of lessons ,he then studied the classical guitar and composition for four years full time at the London College of Music. He was awarded a Fellowship diploma (FLCM) as a performer and was one of only a very few guitarists there to be awarded a Lloyd Webber performance prize. He also gained an ARCM diploma (Associate of the Royal College of Music) the same year.

He made his professional debut as a classical guitarist whilst still a student, giving the first performance of Ian Parrot's 'Concertino for Two Guitars and Small Orchestra' with his teacher George Zarb. Later they formed a guitar duo and played a number of recitals around the country. They made their London debut at the Wigmore Hall in the late 1970s.

Terry continued to give solo recitals for some years as well as playing in ensembles of all kinds. He has played in such musically diverse venues as The Marquee (rock), Ronnie Scott’s (Jazz) and the Royal Albert Hall (classical). He has a particular fascination for South American music and he recently performed a recital of Brazilian music in Rio De Janeiro.

He has been teaching the guitar professionally since the 1970s and was, until recently, Head of the Guitar department at a large London Music Service.

In January and February 2008 Terry recorded his solo guitar album 'Painted Sky'. This should become available later this year.