Rossini Hayward
Biography Rossini Hayward
Rossini Hayward
One of the most creative guitarists of his generation, Rossini Hayward is becoming increasingly well-known for his expressive performances, which are often full of his own arrangements of works never before attempted on the guitar. Classical Guitar Magazine writes: 'Hayward is a skilful and unpretentious arranger with an ear to material that fits the guitar well. He's not out to dazzle us with impossible fingerings, though he is clearly a very skilled player. Rather he understands the charm and power of simplicity.’
His first CD Pieces of Mind: Classical Guitar Compositions and Arrangements (2018) features exclusively new and previously unrecorded works. His second recording Stille Nacht: Christmas Carols for Guitar (2020) was released under the label NAXOS and comprises of his own arrangements of popular Christmas carols. In addition he has had a number of compositions published by Edition Margaux. His volume of arrangements Christmas Carols for Guitar (2020) has been published by Ut Orpheus.
Rossini was born in London in 1981. It was not until his twentieth birthday, whilst studying for a degree in Engineering Science at St. Anne’s College, Oxford University that Rossini got his first classical guitar. He immediately became absorbed in the instrument and a year later as a result of being awarded a Music Bursary from Oxford he started lessons with Gilbert Biberian. He improved at an quickly and before long was playing the Preludes and Studies of Villa-Lobos, the works of Fernando Sor and whole Bach Suites. In his third year he almost quit his studies in Oxford in order to pursue the classical guitar but was persuaded to carry on.
In 2005 he graduated with a First in Master of Engineering and was immediately approached by Rolls-Royce and offered a fully funded PhD to research into jet engines. He declined and instead applied to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to study a Bachelor of Music in the classical guitar with John Mills, gaining a place in 2006 with a Major Scholarship. Four years later he successfully auditioned to continue his studies at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany, where he spent two years studying with Sonja Prunnbauer. Rossini graduated with a Master of Music in 2012 with the highest honours.
Since then he has performed in many countries throughout Europe as a solo guitarist and as a soloist with orchestra. In recent years he has consciously moved away from playing the so-called standard repertoire in concerts and instead devotes his time to arranging and composing new works, which he regularly performs. In particular his Wagner arrangements have brought him attention from outside the guitar world.
