BREW GUITAR DUO
DownloadDescribed by the Victorian Classical Guitar Society as 'a significant addition to the guitar landscape in Australia,' the BREW Guitar Duo has delighted audiences all over the country with its impeccable ensemble skills and captivating stage presence. Based in Canberra, Australia, Matthew Withers and Bradley Kunda also comprise one-half of Australia's leading guitar quartet, Guitar Trek, which for over two decades has pioneered new repertoire for the guitar family under the leadership of Tim Kain. The Brew Guitar Duo's debut album, Songs and Dances, was released in November 2009, followed by a successful tour of ACT/NSW. Their second album, Landscape, will be released later this year. It will comprise all Australian guitar duo works. Over the past seven years, the duo has performed widely throughout Australia, giving concerts for the Canberra Classical Guitar Society, Sydney Guitar Society, Queensland Guitar Society, Victorian Classical Guitar Society and Darwin International Guitar Festival. In 2009, the duo gave a concert as part of ABC Classic FM's Sunday Live series from Llewellyn Hall in Canberra. They are frequently heard on ABC Classic FM's "Drive" programme with Julia Lester, and have been featured on ABC Radio's Australia All Over program. The duo was profiled on the ACT edition of Stateline on ABC TV in September 2008. Their performance at the 2007 Sydney Guitar Society's annual Summer School received the following praise: 'An air of enjoyment motivated the performers and was transmitted to an appreciative audience' (Fred Blanks, North Shore Times). In 2006, the duo placed first in both the 'Instrumental Duo' and 'Chamber Music with Guitar' divisions of the Sydney Cultural Council's McDonald's Performing Arts Challenge (formerly Sydney Eisteddfod). The BREW Guitar Duo prides itself on featuring new Australian music in its programs. In 2008, the duo commissioned a six-movement work by Australian composer Richard Charlton. In 2009, the duo worked in conjunction with notable Australian composer Robert Davidson to arrange a guitar duet of one of his works. This composition, entitled Landscape, is the title track on the duo's upcoming album of Australian music (to be released early 2010). In addition, the duo performs specially written works by young Australian composers including Canberra guitarist Harold Gretton and the duo's very own Bradley Kunda.
Matthew WITHERS
Matthew Withers is a graduate of the Australian National University (ANU) School of Music and is currently studying for his Masters in Classical Guitar Performance under the renowned pedagogue, Timothy Kain.
As well as launching his performing career with the Brew Guitar Duo and Guitar Trek, Matt has had considerable success as a soloist. After learning classical guitar for only 4 years, he won the title “Best Young South Australian Guitarist” in the Australian National Open Guitar Competition. The same year, Matt advanced to the second stage of the ABC Young Performers’ Awards. In 2006, he was placed first in the “Open Solo” event of the McDonalds Performing Arts Challenge, which led to a performance at the Sydney Guitar Society Summer School in 2007.
As part of both Guitar Trek and Brew Guitar Duo, Matt has given live, nationwide broadcast concerts for ABC Classic FM Radio as well as many concerts throughout Australia. Matt is an artist of diverse talents. He has become proficient as a recording technician whilst working as the assistant to Niven Stines (Technical Manager) at the ANU. In this role, Matt has recorded many quality guitarists including Timothy Kain, Harold Gretton and Minh Le Hoang as well as two discs for the Brew Guitar Duo.
Matt studied under the successful classical teacher, András Tüské, prior to his tertiary studies. During this period, he also participated in the Suzuki Autumn Schools and became a role model for the younger players as leader of the South Australian Youth Guitar Ensemble.
Bradley KUNDA
DownloadBradley Kunda started playing the guitar at the age of six. Born and raised in Adelaide, he studied flamenco guitar for four years before furthering his classical studies with Hungarian-born guitarist András Tüské. In 2005, Bradley won the coveted National Undergraduate Scholarship at the Australian National University, where he completed a bachelor degree in music with first class honours under prominent Australian guitarist Tim Kain, while also studying for a bachelor degree in law. Bradley is currently a PhD candidate in guitar performance at the Australian National University, where he is working closely with Professors Tim Kain and Geoffrey Lancaster to conduct research into historically inspired performance practices relating to the 19th century guitar. Bradley has won first prize in the Fifth International Competition “Festival de Córdoba” (Spain), and the audience prize in the Nikšic International Guitar Competition (Montenegro), determined by voters on live satellite television. He was awarded the 2007 Erika Haas Award for the most outstanding instrumental performance student at the Australian National University. He is currently the recipient of an Australian Professional Award. Bradley is actively engaged in bringing chamber music to new audiences. As a member of the BREW Guitar Duo and contemporary music septet dominantSEVEN, he has commissioned significant new works by Australian composers including Robert Davidson and Richard Charlton. As a soloist and chamber musician, Bradley has given radio broadcasts and performances nationally and internationally, including concerts at the Córdoba International Guitar Festival (Spain), the Canberra International Chamber Music Festival and the Darwin International Guitar Festival (Australia). In 2009, Bradley joined Australia’s leading guitar quartet, Guitar Trek, which has pioneered new repertoire for the guitar family for over two decades under the leadership of Tim Kain. Bradley’s engagements for 2010 include concerts with Guitar Trek for Musica Viva and ABC Classic FM, a series of twelve solo performances in the Australia Pavilion at the World Expo in Shanghai (China), a European tour with soprano Rebecca MacCallion, with concerts at the Nikšic International Guitar Festival (Montenegro) and the Festival of Classical Music in Auzat and Vicdessos (France), and the release of the Brew Guitar Duo’s second album, Landscape, containing new works by contemporary Australian composers. Bradley also pursues an interest in composition and arranging. His works have been finalist entries in the 3rd International Australian Guitar Composition Competition, and the ASME Young Composers’ Awards. Bradley’s compositions have also enjoyed national radio play on Australia’s premier classical music station, ABC Classic FM.