Charles Ramirez
Encyclopedia
Charles Ramirez is a concert guitarist based in London. He is also Professor of guitar
at the Royal College of Music
.
. He studied with William Gomez MBE (a student of Narciso Yepes
) who gave him his first lessons and such was his aptitude that, just two months later, he gave his first performance live on local television
(Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation
). He was a regular performer on Gibraltar television and radio prior to moving to London to study.
as a student
, where he studied guitar with Patrick Bashford and composition with Stephen Dodgson
. Whilst at college, he won the Jack Morrison guitar prize. He was the first ever guitar student at the Royal College of Music to be invited to play with the full orchestra and he gave his first performance of Rodrigo
's Aranjuez Concerto in June 1973. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) in April 1974. Whilst still a student of the college he gave his debut at the Purcell Room
.
Ramirez was appointed Professor
of Guitar at the Royal College of Music in 1978 (age 25) and also teaches in the College’s Junior Department. He was invited by Trinity College of Music
to devise the syllabus
for their international guitar grade examinations. This also led to the publication of his Technical Development for Guitarists that has been used by Trinity for over a decade.
Charles Ramirez organised a tribute to Segovia
at the Royal College of Music in 1987 and performed alongside John Williams and Carlos Bonnell, where he played Rodrigo's 'Fantasy for a Gentleman', conducted by John Forster.
’s South Bank
while still a student and has since given many concerts and master classes both in Britain and abroad. He has broadcast regularly for Radio 3
, his first programme being chosen for 'Pick of the Week'. He has a special interest in modern contemporary music and has given world premiers of several contemporary works, including 'Nick's Lament' by Erika Fox, 'Sonetos y Casidas del Amor Oscuro' by Jeremy Dale-Roberts (both commissioned with funds from the Arts Council of Great Britain), 'Shades V' by Naresh Sohal, 'Toccata" by John Lambert and 'Serenata for Guitar' by Jesus Eduardo Alvarez, which was dedicated to him.
at the Purcell Room in 1975. BBC Radio 3 later broadcast a live performance with a studio audience. The duo went on to premiere Charles Ramirez' transcription M de Falla's ballet 'El Amor Brujo', also broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Andres Segovia
on one of his annual visits to London asked the Duo to give a private performance of the Goldberg Variations.
Classical guitar
The classical guitar is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones...
at the Royal College of Music
Royal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
.
Early life
Charles Ramirez was born on 2 September 1953 in GibraltarGibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
. He studied with William Gomez MBE (a student of Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes
Narciso Yepes was a Spanish guitarist.-Biography:Yepes was born into a family of humble origin in Lorca, Region of Murcia. His father gave him his first guitar when he was four years old. He took his first lessons from Jesus Guevara, in Lorca...
) who gave him his first lessons and such was his aptitude that, just two months later, he gave his first performance live on local television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
(Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation
Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation
The Gibraltar Broadcasting Corporation is Gibraltar's public service broadcaster. It has provided the community with a radio and television service since 1963.-History:...
). He was a regular performer on Gibraltar television and radio prior to moving to London to study.
Royal College of Music
In 1971, Charles Ramirez entered the Royal College of MusicRoyal College of Music
The Royal College of Music is a conservatoire founded by Royal Charter in 1882, located in South Kensington, London, England.-Background:The first director was Sir George Grove and he was followed by Sir Hubert Parry...
as a student
Student
A student is a learner, or someone who attends an educational institution. In some nations, the English term is reserved for those who attend university, while a schoolchild under the age of eighteen is called a pupil in English...
, where he studied guitar with Patrick Bashford and composition with Stephen Dodgson
Stephen Dodgson
Stephen Dodgson is a British composer and broadcaster.- Biography :During World War II, he served in the Royal Navy. From 1947 to 1949, Dodgson studied at the Royal College of Music, where he later taught composition. In 1950, he visited Italy on a travelling scholarship, after which he taught in...
. Whilst at college, he won the Jack Morrison guitar prize. He was the first ever guitar student at the Royal College of Music to be invited to play with the full orchestra and he gave his first performance of Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquis of the Gardens of Aranjuez , commonly known as Joaquín Rodrigo, was a composer of classical music and a virtuoso pianist. Despite being nearly blind from an early age, he achieved great success...
's Aranjuez Concerto in June 1973. He became an Associate of the Royal College of Music (ARCM) in April 1974. Whilst still a student of the college he gave his debut at the Purcell Room
Purcell Room
The Purcell Room is a concert and performance venue which forms part of the Southbank Centre, one of central London's leading cultural complexes. It is named after the 17th century English composer Henry Purcell and has 370 seats....
.
Ramirez was appointed Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Guitar at the Royal College of Music in 1978 (age 25) and also teaches in the College’s Junior Department. He was invited by Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music
Trinity College of Music is one of the London music conservatories, based in Greenwich. It is part of Trinity Laban.The conservatoire is inheritor of elegant riverside buildings of the former Greenwich Hospital, designed in part by Sir Christopher Wren...
to devise the syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
for their international guitar grade examinations. This also led to the publication of his Technical Development for Guitarists that has been used by Trinity for over a decade.
Charles Ramirez organised a tribute to Segovia
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Torres Segovia, 1st Marquis of Salobreña , known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain...
at the Royal College of Music in 1987 and performed alongside John Williams and Carlos Bonnell, where he played Rodrigo's 'Fantasy for a Gentleman', conducted by John Forster.
Performing career
Charles Ramirez made his professional debut on LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
’s South Bank
South Bank
South Bank is an area of London, England located immediately adjacent to the south side of the River Thames. It forms a long and narrow section of riverside development that is within the London Borough of Lambeth to the border with the London Borough of Southwark and was formerly simply known as...
while still a student and has since given many concerts and master classes both in Britain and abroad. He has broadcast regularly for Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, his first programme being chosen for 'Pick of the Week'. He has a special interest in modern contemporary music and has given world premiers of several contemporary works, including 'Nick's Lament' by Erika Fox, 'Sonetos y Casidas del Amor Oscuro' by Jeremy Dale-Roberts (both commissioned with funds from the Arts Council of Great Britain), 'Shades V' by Naresh Sohal, 'Toccata" by John Lambert and 'Serenata for Guitar' by Jesus Eduardo Alvarez, which was dedicated to him.
Duo
Charles Ramirez and Helen Kalamuniak (a student of John Williams) formed a Guitar duo in 1974. They premiered their transcription of Bach's Goldberg VariationsGoldberg Variations
The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, is a work for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, consisting of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form...
at the Purcell Room in 1975. BBC Radio 3 later broadcast a live performance with a studio audience. The duo went on to premiere Charles Ramirez' transcription M de Falla's ballet 'El Amor Brujo', also broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Andres Segovia
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Torres Segovia, 1st Marquis of Salobreña , known as Andrés Segovia, was a virtuoso Spanish classical guitarist from Linares, Jaén, Andalucia, Spain...
on one of his annual visits to London asked the Duo to give a private performance of the Goldberg Variations.
Personal life
Charles Ramirez met his wife Helen Kalamuniak at the RCM and married in 1975. They have three children and two grandchildren.External links
- Charles Ramirez Official Site
- Maestro Workshop
- List of Gibraltarians
- Music of GibraltarMusic of GibraltarGibraltar is a British overseas territory with many musical influences. Rock based music is undergoing a renaissance with a multitude of local bands playing original material and covers...