Tom Kerstans

Tom Kerstens is one of the most inspiring and versatile guitarists of his generation with a passion for the guitar's heritage and a genuine commitment to its future. He plays modern guitar as well as historical instruments and has recorded two classic CDs on Baroque and 19th century guitars. As a concerto soloist he has performed most of the major repertoire as well as new concertos, including the world premier of Barrington's Pheloung's Double Guitar Concerto and Giles Swayne's Mancanza for guitar and orchestra.

History

Tom studied in his native Netherlands as well as in Spain, France and England and has played in masterclasses with Alexandre Lagoya, Roberto Aussel and John Williams. He undertook the advanced solo studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama studying early music and baroque guitar with Nigel North on a British Council scholarship Tom is also a graduate in musicology and philosophy of the University of Utrecht.

He made his British debut at the 1987 Greenwich Festival and has subsequently played at most other British Festivals, most recently at the Harrogate, King's Lynn and Brighton International Festivals. He has toured the UK and Europe, plays regularly at the SBC and other major London venues and is a regular on television and radio. His debut CD ¡Fandango! (Conifer Records), which featured a programme uniquely played on three different guitars - baroque, romantic and modern - became the most broadcast guitar CD on Classic FM in 1992-1996. The great composer Joaquin Rodrigo congratulated him on his "excellent interpretation of my works." More recordings followed: 'Serenade', romantic music for romantic guitars' (a celebration of romantic music played on period instruments) and a recording of Walton's Five Bagatelles for EMI (Edward Greenfield described it as ("an outstanding Performance") both of which had the rare distinction of being selected by the Gramophone Good CD Guide in 4 consecutive years.

Since 1995 Tom Kerstens has been Artistic Director of the International Guitar Foundation and Festivals (IGF) in Bath, which under his leadership has established itself as the foremost guitar festival in Europe. In this capacity he has commissioned over 30 new works for guitar from many leading composers including 3 new concertos.

Now

His latest recording projects are a recording of Deirdre Gribbin's guitar piece 'The Sanctity of Trees' (a 1997 IGF commission) for Black Box (BBM1015) and a series of new work for guitar for BGS Records starting with 'Black Venus, new music for guitar vol.1'. featuring first performances of new work by Giles Swayne, Errollyn Wallen, Howard Skempton, Philip Cashian and Gordon McPherson, and new music by Terry Riley and Toru Takemitsu. Volume 2 is planned offering new music by Graham Fitkin, Bruce MacCombie, Steve Reich and Edward McGuire.

In the summer of 2001 he released '¡Zapateado! homage to Rodrigo' celebrating the centenary of the great Spanish composer including new work written in tribute to him by Edward McGuire, Errollyn Wallen and Howard Skempton. Cecilia Rodrigo awarded him the prestigious Joaquin Rodrigo commemorative medal for his "outstanding contribution to the dissemination of Rodrigo's work", a rare distinction awarded to a select few including Alicia de Larrocha, Pepe Romero and the Spanish Royal family.

Recent collaborations have included the City of London Sinfonia, the Composers Ensemble and the Brodsky Quartet.

Quotes

"A lot of people of seem to have missed the anniversary centenary year for Spain's best loved classical composer Joaquin Rodrigo but a few companies have managed to mark the occasion with offerings that go beyond the obvious.

Excellent and extremely enjoyable though Ricardo Gallen's playing is, Tom Kerstens on this BGS mid price CD is in a rather different league. Here we have a demonstration of the amazing expressivity of the guitar. Sometimes Kerstens manages to make his guitar sound like a harp, at other times a human voice and he can even convince you that we are hearing orchestral sonorities particularly in the piece called Tiento Antiguo that Rodrigo wrote in 1947. There are also pieces by Edward McGuire, Errollyn Wallen and Howard Skempton, written in memory of Rodrigo on this disc but it's the pieces by Rodrigo himself that really stand out.

Kerstens continues to amaze in another piece by Rodrigo called In the Wheat Fields – another example of the composer's astonishing ability to vividly conjure up a Spanish summer landscape that he'd only seen for the first four years of his very long and prolific life. Vivid, colourful guitar playing from Tom Kerstens."

BBC Radio 3 CD Review Programme 7 December 2002 by Andrew McGregor

Works

Samples of Tom's work can be found below. Select your preferred format and size:

Black Venus - Solo Op. 42

Serenade - Ständchen

Music of Dance - Chôros No. 1

¡Zapateado! - Fandango