Christopher Keane : Associate Artist
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Random Audio Sample: Diversions : guitar ensemble by Christopher Keane, from the CD FrEternity |
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Born in Sydney, he began teaching himself guitar in his teens and
later completed a degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
During the 1980s and 1990s, he was a member of the Sydney Guitar
Quartet and toured New South Wales, performing concerts in
schools for Musica Viva. He has also played as a session musician
for theatre, television advertisements, and the soundtracks of
Australian films.
At this time, he began publishing Australian music for guitar
orchestra, mandolin orchestra, guitar ensemble, chamber music for
student groups, and solo guitar. To date, he has produced over 50
books. Some of this work has been recorded under his direction
with the Sydney Guitar Orchestra and appears on the Jade label.
In 2004, the guitar orchestra 'frEternity', of which he is a
member, recorded an entire CD of this music. A significant amount
of this music has been performed in Europe, Britain, and the USA.
Surprisingly, one of his compositions, Bondi Stomp, was performed
at the White House for President George W. Bush and staff. Bondi
Stomp was also used by the Rhine Guitar Orchestra to win a
competition in England in 2004.
In 2010, he was commissioned to compose the sight-reading test
pieces and the Classical Guitar sight-reading book for the
Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) Series Two Syllabus.
Several of his works are published in the AMEB grade books.
He was the conductor of the Sydney Mandolin Orchestra from 2000
to 2012 and supervised the production of their CD Quiver,
released in 2011. He was also a member of the chamber ensemble
Plektra, which made its debut at the Eurofestival Zupfmusik in
Germany in 2010 and was invited to perform at the 2012 Classical
Mandolin of America Festival in Minnesota. Plektra recorded a
self-titled CD, released in 2012. In recent years, he has been
performing with the mandolin ensemble Completely Plucked.
Biography provided by the composer
Selected Commissions
| Work | Commission Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond Ten : Three Works for Guitar Trio or Guitar Ensemble - with optional bass (2025) | The three separate works in this book were commissioned by Giuseppe Zangari, (Principal of the Sydney Guitar School), to celebrate the Sydney Guitar School’s Tenth Year | |
| Portraits for the SGS : four works for guitar orchestra (2025) | : The four separate works in ‘Portraits for the SGS’ were commissioned by Giuseppe Zangari, Principal, Sydney Guitar School | |
| Cabaletta : for Primary School String Orchestra, Percussion & Guitars (2016) | Commissioned in 2017 by Sydney Grammar St Ives Preparatory School - Director of Music, Martin Smith | |
| Open Grounds : for Primary School String Orchestra, Percussion & Guitars (2016) | Commissioned in 2016 by Sydney Grammar St Ives Preparatory School | |
| The Skies of Honour : concert band (2007) | Commissioned by the Thornleigh West Public School Concert Band in 2006, Giblett Avenue Thornleigh NSW 2120 | |
| Four for four : guitar ensemble (1994) | Commissioned and first performed by the Cranbrook Guitar Orchestra |