PGAD Distinction
MMus Distinction
Gold Medal finalist
Euro Strings Prize winner
International performer & teacher
Harold Gordon-Smith
"International prize winning classical guitarist
Harold Gordon Smith. The first strings student in the history of Trinity Laban to score 100% in postgraduate final performance"
1 hr
£30 - £50 Lessons
Biography
"International prize winning classical guitarist Harold Gordon-Smith is unique for his exciting and colourful playing, complimented by an expansive and varied repertoire."
Born in London, 1994. He began as a self-taught guitarist through to his undergraduate degree where he studied under Graham Devine. Harold is now an award-winning classical guitarist and has performed in master classes with many of the world’s top classical guitarists - David Russel, Marcin Dylla and Roberto Aussel. From Trinity Laban, Harold was awarded his master’s degree with Distinction. His career has taken him performing through Wigmore hall, Queens house and across Europe, from Vienna to Portugal. Although, this is only the start of Harold’s traveling. He was recently accepted as a performing artist on the Carnival Cruise Ships. Harold is gaining international recognition and has recently won Second Prize in the ‘Euro Strings’ Sarajevo International Guitar Competition and has previously been awarded the Cleve Montague Prize and first place in the Alison Stevens Competition for plucked strings.
Harold’s love of J.S Bach and arranging has led to collaborations with the Netherlands Bach Society and famous jazz singer, Youtuber - ‘Aimee Noltie’. Along with some of the top sopranos like ‘Amelia Berridge’ and ‘Sam Cobb’ from the Monteverdi choir. Harold has performed as an artist at the Greenwich Guitar festival and is required to give a concert demonstrating the instruments of the guest guitar makers. Early music direct also contacted Harold asking him make videos demonstrating their high-end baroque and romantic guitars.
Harold was also known for his love of parkour and gymnastics. As a founder of the London parkour scene, he has worked as a stunt double in music videos for ‘Foals’ and ‘Tempertrap’. It is possible to follow Harold’s classical guitar and parkour work on his Instagram account: haroldgordonsmith
COncert Review
Current Program Review:
This was a truly exceptional performance of guitar music of the highest order in a recital of rare interpretive ability and talent.
The arc of the performance over the two Bach works was superbly crafted and performed with incredible focus and stamina. There was an understated flamboyance throughout played with technically flawless energy with the rare ability to get under the skin of the audience. The Martin had a reflective quality that served to comment on the Bach. The following works employed a full range of emotion that were always in control showing authoritative flair with the sublime ability to engage the audience. The recital was interpretatively assured showing strong technical command. Sense of pulse and poise consistently seamless fluency and control demonstrating a potent artistic voice.
It would be churlish to comment on the individual works. The panel agree that this performance was of the highest order showing exceptional command, interpretation and artistic curation.
Bravo!
Nick Pendlebury - Joe Townsend - Mark Eden
