Conall McKay
Part of St Andrew's Cathedral at Noon Recital Series
Original works for 11 string guitar inspired by Celtic, Hispanic, Renaissance, Baroque and Romantic music.
Conall McKay (b. Lerwick, 1964) began his guitar studies at the age of eight years in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where his father worked for a time as a Presbyterian minister. Conall continued his musical education in Scotland then Ireland where he studied guitar with John Feeley at the College of Music in Dublin. In 1988 he graduated from South East Technological University, Waterford, with an honours B.A. degree in music and the licentiate and fellowship diplomas of Trinity College, London. He has participated in masterclasses with David Russell, Alan Neave, Alice Artz among others.
In 1993 he was the first winner of the Lowden Bach Cup at the Feis Ceoil, Ireland's national music competition. He then performed in many venues in Scotland and Ireland including the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, John McCann hall, National Concert Hall, Dublin (John Field Room) as soloist and member of a guitar duo with Michael O'Toole and the Tirando Guitar Quartet. Since 1997 he has worked as guitar instructor for Aberdeen City Council and was the musical director of the North East of Scotland Classical Guitar Society 2005 – 2016.
Conall specialises in performing on 11 string guitar and is a published composer for classical guitar (Bergmann-edition).
www.conallmckayguitarist.com