Priestley, Jonathan

Jonathan Priestley was given his first guitar when he was eight years old and his formal classical guitar lessons started at the age of fourteen with Robin Pearson at the Spanish Guitar Centre in Nottingham. He continued his studies with Carlos Bonell in London since the 1980s.

Jonathan started a private teaching practice in 1976, later gained a teaching diploma from the Guildhall School of Music, and worked as a peripatetic classical guitar teacher in Derbyshire schools – a job from which he retired recently.

He has always enjoyed arranging or transcribing music for his students and his collaborations with other musicians, however, it was not until his early 50s, that he acted upon his desire to begin composing. Jonathan is often inspired by the natural environment or his own experiences and finds walking in Derbyshire, where he lives, very helpful for his creative process.

In addition to composing and teaching, Jonathan enjoys performing as a soloist and also with other musicians and, alongside the classical guitar he also plays the renaissance lute and cello.

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