IGF Young Artist Platform presents Gus McQuade and the Morris Begg duo – two of IGF’s brilliant new crop of YAP awardees for 2022-23

IGF YAP aims to help young guitarists in the critical phase between the final stages of music education and the concert platform. Gus McQuade and the Morris Begg duo are two of IGF’s brilliant new crop of YAP awardees for 2022-23

Come and hear the future stars of the guitar!

Classical guitarist Gus McQuade was born and educated in Leamington Spa. He recently graduated from the Royal Academy of Music, London, with First Class Honours (BMus) and will continue to study there under Professor Michael Lewin on the Masters course funded by a number of scholarships, including a Help Musicians Postgraduate Award and the Drake Calleja Trust.

Recent awards include the Timothy Gibson and Blyth Watson Prizes (2022), and runner-up in both the Leicester Music Competition (2022) and the Royal Classics Guitar Concerto Prize (2020).

Gus was named joint winner of the Musicians’ Company’s prestigious New Elizabethan Award 2022/23 with his duo partner, Eleanor Grant (singer and double bassist). They will make their debut at the Wigmore Hall in February 2023.

Gus has performed in masterclasses with some of the world’s leading guitarists, including David Russell, Fabio Zanon, Roberto Aussel and Xuefei Yang and has regularly featured in the Royal Academy of Music’s concert series.

Notable performances include Lorenzo Palomo’s Madrigal y Cinco Canciones Serfadíes (UK premiere) and Sofia Gubaidulina’s Repentance for three guitars, cello and bass. Gus is passionate about expanding the guitar repertoire and is a keen arranger, writing for both guitar chamber ensemble and solo guitar.

Gus McQuade programme:

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
BWV 997: Prelude & Fugue

Zhenyan Li
The Mist
[IGF La Leona Commission 2022: World Premiere]

Manuel de Falla (1876-1946)
Homenaje ‘pour Le Tombeau de Debussy’

Joaquín Rodrigo
En Los Trigales

The Morris Begg Duo began working together three years ago when studying for their undergraduate degrees at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The shared enjoyment of the intimate and expressive nature of the voice and guitar form has been evident in their recent concert performances; press reviews noted they were ‘delivering their programmes with freshness and charm’. The duo enjoys presenting a diverse range of repertoire from late Italian Renaissance lute music to 20th century Spanish songs.

As Live Music Now artists they have performed for St Giles Cathedral and the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Morris Begg Duo programme:

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
A selection of songs arranged by Ross Morris
Music for a While
If Music be the Food of Love
Sweeter than Roses

Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
A selection of Lieder arranged by Ross Morris
Erlafsee
Seligkeit
An die Nachtigall

Enrique Granados (1867-1916)
A selection of Tonadillas arranged by Julian Byzantine
El majo discreto
El tra la la y el punteado
La Maja de Goya