Matthew Fagan

10 String guitarist Matthew Fagan has a reputation of being Australia’s leading all round acoustic guitarists and has developed unique and versatile performances surprising audiences with his modern interpretations of original arrangements, original compositions and virtuosity on guitar.

Matthew has toured and performed with an extraordinary array of international dignitaries and celebrities- Natalie Cole, The Original Buena Vista Social Club, Billy Connolly, Shirley Bassey and Michael Crawford. The tour with Billy Connolly was so successful that Billy made a gift of his own Banjo to Matthew as a token of his gratitude and was quoted saying
“Matthew is the best Guest artist I have ever had.”

As a touring musician, Matthew has followed in the footsteps of his musical ancestors, especially his great uncle Cecil Parkes Australia’s child prodigy in the 1920’s personally chosen by International star soprano Dame Nellie Melba as her star attraction on patriotic Australasian tours and who also sponsored his tour to the USA and Canada in 1916 at the age of 13.
Matthew performs regularly in Major Concert Venues nationally and internationally and has performed in more than 120 countries worldwide as a soloist, with orchestra and bands including extensive touring across Europe, South America, Alaska, Canada, China, Japan and South East Asia.

International solo performance highlights include the Royal Festival Hall, London, Jazz clubs in Brighton, England, New York and New Orleans England and at Major international Festivals such as the Bath Guitar Festival and Winfield Festival in Kansas, U.S.A in where he placed as a finalist in the international Fingerstyle Guitar competition 2009-2011. Matthew performed for his holiness the Dalai Lama at the parliament of World Religions in 2011.

Highlight National performances include major concert arenas in Australia: Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne Concert Hall, National Gallery of Australia, Sydney Opera House and Adelaide Festival Centre. Ten years consecutive performances at the Melbourne International Festival, Adelaide Guitar Festival, Melbourne Guitar Show, Port Fairy and National Folk Festivals. Matthew has amazed corporate clients as diverse as Domaine Chandon, The Australian Grand Prix Corporation, National Gallery of Australia, Federation Square and Crown Casino.

In May 2014 Matthew was the Sponsor, Promoter and performer for the National tour with World Renowned Jazz and Fingerstyle Guitarist Martin Taylor MBE from the UK.

Matthew’s music education has been at the Victorian College of the Arts (Performance -Classical and improvisation), Monash University (Ethnomusicology, Composition Education) and a Masters PHD of Cultural Development at the University of Melbourne. Matthew has studied and or performed with masters John Williams, Paco Pena, Leo Kottke, Martin Taylor, Joe Pass and Tommy Emmanuel amongst others.

The Celtic Suite was Matthew's first composition for orchestra and was performed at the Melbourne Town Hall, The National Gallery of Victoria, Government House Victoria, Bailleau Myer Residence and St John's Southgate by the Orana Chamber Orchestra (and features on his 2nd album Indigo Moon). In 2000 Matthew was a recipient of a Victoria Arts Council Grant for "The New Celtic Suite" which led to a further 12 commissions to compose for orchestra.

Matthew has been the recipient of over 30 grants as composer and Musical Director of the Voyages Project which had its inception at the Shepparton Festival with the Goulburn Valley Orchestra in 2004 and in 8 other regional areas with funding from Vic Health, The Victorian Government and Victoria Arts Council. From the success of this project, Matthew was commissioned by the Victorian Government and Pan Events for the Voyages World Music Orchestra at Federation Square Australia Day from 2004-2010 to audiences of over 20,000 people.

In September 2015 Matthew produced two new Albums in the USA, “Solstice” a collaborative project with a piano accompanist which features classical masters Beethoven, Rodrigo, Bach, Albeniz and Vivaldi and a Festive Guitar Album with Christmas and Celtic Music. In September 2013 Matthew produced “Virtuoso” A Homage to my Ancestors” which features compositions from classical masters Vivaldi, Mozart, Paganini and Spanish Classical and Flamenco, Celtic and Renaissance Lute Music.
Stories from his life of travel and entertaining are a special feature of his show.

Matthew is an exhilarating, breathtaking and captivating performer and his shows are not to be missed.

‘Matthew has a Latin Soul and we love his playing so much that we want to take him back home to Cuba’.
Ibrahim Ferrer- The Original Buena Vista Social Club

“Matthew is the best guest artist I have ever had “
Billy Connolly”.

"A True Artist" - Paco Pena

Hola Maestro, the "Toccata" was a masterpiece: a fusion that leans towards J.S. Bach in one direction .... & Paco Pena in the other!
David "el Rasquito de Cordoba".

"Matthew has the fire of Flamenco", The passion of Django and the fire of Santana,
the talent comparable to John Williams and diversifies with improvisation like a true gypsy”.
Melbourne Guitar Festival

‘I felt mesmerized and drawn into his ultimate world of guitar as if I was playing along with him. His love for the audience is as great as his love for the guitar. Matthew performs with charisma and a gentle humour that people love. He is affectionate with the audience and wins them over with his unaffected charm. He's a natural.’ Zelda Cawthorne – Freelance Journalist

Television Appearances
ABC TV “A Moody Christmas”
In Early December 2012, Matthew’s virtuosic hit rendition of “Tocatta” aired on the ABCTV1 Television Production "A Moody Christmas". Matthew's hands featured in the performance which was the pinnacle climax of this season.
See Matthew performing Tocatta live on Youtube at recent Voyages Multicultural Community Performing Arts Concert http://youtu.be/t0udTFjcexc

Channel 7 Network “Winners and Losers”
In July 2012 Matthew Fagan appeared on Channel 7’s Network of episode one of Season two 2012 of “Winners and Losers”. Matthew performed part of his original Flamenco Composition Arabesque from the CD “Voyages and Journeys”
http://www.myspace.com/MatthewMFagan/music/songs/arabesque-51699801
and “Morning Song “off the Album “Indigo Moon”.
http://www.myspace.com/MatthewMFagan/music/songs/morning-song-88197407

Matthew appeared as a Flamenco Guitarist and his original composition “Morning Song” was heard in its entirety for the closing love scene. Over 1 million viewers watched this episode, and even more is expected when this show is screened in Europe.
Matthew is regularly featured on the Channel 31 Television Program Guitar Gods. Matthew performed his original composition Renaissance which features on his recent solo album "One Day in Nashville".
http://www.myspace.com/MatthewMFagan/music/songs/renaissance-mp3-83221420


ALBUM INFORMATION

“Virtuoso 2- A Homage to my Ancestors”
“Festive Guitar”
“Virtuoso- A Homage to my Ancestors”
“Ukuleleland”
“One Day in Nashville
“Voyages and Journeys”
“Indigo Moon
“Point of Departure”- Available at Concerts

Listen online

https://soundcloud.com/matthewfagan


Purchase Music

http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/MatthewFagan1
http://www.matthew-fagan.com/#!shop/px2vy


Social Media

http://www.matthew-fagan.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/mjb1fagan
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www.twitter.com/MatthewJFagan @MatthewJFagan