GERARD COUSINS
​
"One of the
world’s finest classical guitarists"
Adam Walton,
BBC Radio Wales
With regular
international radio play and streaming numbers in the
tens of millions per year -
Gerard Cousins is one of the UK's most successful guitarists performing today.
​
The Brecon born guitarist is described as "a rare guitar player... A master of the classical idiom and the range of techniques which it demands...his stunning playing is matched by his artistic vision" Acoustic Magazine
He has worked with some of the most important composers of our day - transcribing the choral works of Eric Whitacre and the piano music of Philip Glass. His transcriptions of crossover artists such as Olafur Arnalds and Alexis Ffrench create a new repertoire for the classical guitar with fresh appeal.
​
His repertoire ranges from Renaissance lute music, Baroque masterpieces, Spanish Romantics, Contemporary Classical and his own compositions which are often inspired by his Welsh heritage.
Gerard is happy to tailor his concerts to suit the occasion from full recitals in two halves to 1 hour or 45 minute formats. His relaxed presentation style puts the audience at ease, preparing them for their musical journey from the meditative to the virtuosic.
Gerard has performed all over the world from South America to the Middle East.
Notable concerts include London's Purcell Room (South Bank),
Milton Court (Barbican), Dora Stoutzker Hall (Cardiff) and the Recital Hall (Birmingham Conservatoire).
Festival appearances include the London Guitar Festival, Cardiff Guitar Festival and Brecon Jazz Festival.
Recording Philip Glass at Monnow Valley Studios. Monmouth
​
Gerard Cousins was the first guitarist to successfully create guitar versions of Philip Glass’s piano music and was invited to release his recording on Glass’s own record label - Orange Mountain Music. The album was featured on the front page of Apple Music and has currently been streamed well over a million times. Gerard recently followed this up with an EP of transcriptions of Grammy award winning choral composer Eric Whitacre which has also been received with great acclaim and has recently been playlisted on Classic FM.
Gerard has had entire radio programmes dedicated to his guitar playing and compositions on BBC Radio Wales and France Musique and appeared on TV as a finalist on Sky Arts ‘Guitar Star’.
​
Gerard Cousins offers a classical guitar concert with a difference: His unique repertoire, audience interaction and sense of improvisation has seen him widen the appeal of the nylon strung guitar.
​
EQUIPMENT
I'm obsessed with creating a beautiful sound so if I need to use amplification I have a great setup!
​
BOSE L1 COMPACT
Amplifier
Quite simply the best amplification I have ever tried for classical guitar. Crystal clear sound with magical spreading of the sound for the whole audience.
ROYER R-122 & SCHOEPS MK4 matched pairs
I use the world's best microphones to capture my sound with absolute warmth and clarity.
LOGIDY EPSI
Reverb pedal
Convolution reverb in a footpedal. A great idea that let's me choose my own IR reverbs without needing to use a laptop.