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| Amanda Cook |
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Amanda Cook is ranked as one of the top young British guitarists of today. She began her studies, privately, with Alexander Levtov before receiving a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music Junior Department as a pupil of Charles Ramirez.
In 1994 Amanda became a full time BMus degree student at the college as a foundation scholar, where she continued to study with Mr Ramirez and later with Gary Ryan and Jakob Lindberg, graduating in 1998. While at the college she was awarded several prizes including the Jack Morrison Guitar Prize, the Peter Pears Duo Prize and the Madeline Walton Guitar Prize.
In the spring of '99, Amanda spent 2 months in New York studying with Ben Verdery with the help of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Her competition successes have included 1st Prize in the 1995 Admira Young Guitarist of the Year Award, the 1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and the 1998 Carol Evershed Martin Award, along with 3rd Prize in Krynica International Guitar Competition, Poland 2000. Her concerto work includes the Aranjuez Concierto by Rodrigo in Arundel Cathedral and the Vivaldi Concerto in D with the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra.
Amanda has performed throughout England, Ireland and Scotland, including two performances at the Wigmore Hall and recitals for the Classical Guitar Festival of G.B and the Bath International Guitar Festival. She has given concerts in New York, Sicily, Belgium, Switzerland, Hawaii, Brazil and Northern Ireland, where she played a specially commissioned piece by William Lovelady for the 1st Anniversary of the bombing in Omagh (featured on "Debut").
“.…There is something about Amanda's concentration and obvious musical depth that takes you with her on an intense musical sortie..." Classical Guitar Magazine
“…It was evident that this was a musician with great confidence and ambition...with the presence that demands attention..." Dundee Courier
“...Miss Cook played with real panache, employing a wide range of dynamics and effects..."
Plymouth Evening Herald
"...Amanda's playing is invariably beautiful. She has the ability to bring life to the music. She plays and shares her inspiration with the listeners..." David Russell
"...Amanda Cook is in the top league of the young British artists today thanks to her spontaneous and unfussy musical approach and beautiful tone. She finds a rare balance between a fluent technique and an irresistable sincerity of expression..." Fabio Zanon