David Reaston : Associate Artist
Photo: Simon Pope
David Reaston is a guitarist, composer, and academic who creates
and improvises music across multiple genres. His work has been
featured on albums by artists such as the 10 Guitar Project, Song
Fwaa, Ensemble Sooon, Véronique Serret, and others. It has been
described as "other-worldly" (Jazz Local 32) and "individual and
fresh" (The Music Trust). Critics have referred to him as a
"madman/prophet" (Sydney Morning Herald) and a "dazzling
technician" (Cadence Magazine, USA). His guitar playing has been
praised for its "signature sound" (Alternative Media Group),
demonstrating "great technique and a very different sensibility"
(Canberra Jazz Blog).
Reaston studied composition at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
(2003-2006, 2014-2019) and guitar at the Central Queensland
Conservatorium of Music (1999-2001), completing a PhD at the
University of Sydney in 2019. Over the past 20 years, he has
taught music in the tertiary education sector. He is currently a
Lecturer in Music at CQUniversity and is based in Mackay,
Australia.
Biography provided by the composer — current to August 2025