Stephen Gordon studied at the Royal Northern
College of Music, graduating with Distinction. He is one of the
most active guitarists working in the UK today, his diverse
activities encompassing teaching and performance, conducting and
coaching guitar ensembles, orchestral and choral conducting, lute
continuo and music publishing.
Stephen has given recitals and taught at
festivals in the UK, Holland, France and Germany playing on
baroque, 19th century and modern guitars. He also plays theorbo and
baroque guitar continuo. He has given classes in performance,
ensemble, figured bass and fretboard harmony at the Royal College
of Music, Tilburg and Groningen Conservatoires (Holland) and at the
internationally renowned Iserlohn Guitar Symposium.
Currently Acting Head of Guitar at the Royal
Welsh College of Music and Drama, Stephen’s previous teaching
positions include Dartington College where he taught guitar and
conducted guitar ensembles from 1982 – 2005. During this time, he
gave the European premiere of Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint
with the college guitar ensemble. From 1995-2005, Stephen was
also on the music staff at Exeter College where the chamber
orchestra, under his directorship, was invited on three occasions
to perform in the Royal Festival Hall as part of the Music for
Youth Festival - on two occasions gaining the outstanding
performance award. Whilst at Exeter, he also conducted
Teignmouth Choral Society as well as Exeter College Choir,
Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra.
Stephen founded and directed the Prussia Cove
Guitar Seminar - the pioneering summer school for guitar and guitar
ensemble - and subsequently founded esgmusic to publish his guitar
ensemble arrangements of orchestral music. This has now developed
into a substantial catalogue of music used by guitar ensembles
worldwide, with items from the solo guitar catalogue appearing in
the new ABRSM guitar syllabus.