Gerard Mapstone

Gerard Mapstone trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music and won its classical guitar prize at nineteen. Flamenco pulled harder, so he moved to Jerez de la Frontera to study with Jose Ignacio Franco, one of the best known flamenco guitarists in Andalucia. In England he joined the flamenco fusion band Candela, who supported Tomatito and Estrella Morente at the Barbican in London and played WOMAD in Reading, Brighton Fringe Festival and the Dali Gallery, plus live sessions on Juice FM and BBC Radio. He also continued studying with Carlos Bonell of the Royal College of Music. Back in Australia he's played the Woodford Folk Festival, the Queensland Music Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival, Tyalgum Classical Music Festival and the Festival of Colour in New Zealand, appeared as guest soloist with members of The Queensland Orchestra, and performed live on ABC Classic FM.