19 Highlights in the Life of David Russell

1953: Born in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.
1958: His family moved to Es Migjorn Gran, Menorca (Balearic Islands), Spain. There he became interested in the guitar, being his father (an amateur) his first teacher. Before he could read music, he was already playing by ear pieces heard in recordings by Andrés Segovia.
1966: His family returned to Glasgow, where he continued to take lessons from a private guitar teacher.
1969: He enrolled at the Royal Academy of Music in London, living as a student in the house of Emanuel Hurwitz (first violinist of the English Chamber Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra).
1971: Was awarded the Julian Bream Award for the first time — provided by the Royal Academy of Music and adjudicated by Julian Bream himself.
1972: Julian Bream Award for the second time.
1974: Graduated with a Ralph Vaughan Williams Trust Scholarship.
1975: The Government of Spain granted him a special scholarship to return and continue his studies with José Tomás in Santiago de Compostela. The same year he won the José Ramírez International Guitar Competition in Santiago.
1977: Won the Spanish competitions Andrés Segovia in Palma de Mallorca and Francisco Tárrega in Benicasim.
1981: Debuts in New York and London (Wigmore Hall), kicking off a career full of memorable recordings and performances worldwide.
1995: Signed a contract with Telarc International — his collection on this label now includes seventeen CDs.
1997: Was named a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music.
2003: Was made “Adopted Son” of Es Migjorn Gran — the town on Menorca where he grew up, and was given the Medal of Honour of the Conservatory of the Balearics.
2004: Won a Grammy in the category of Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra) for his album Aire Latino.
2005: The municipality of Nigrán, Vigo — where he resides in Spain, gave him the Silver Medal of the city. Besides, the Conservatory of Vigo inaugurated its new auditorium, calling it Auditorio David Russell.
2009: Was named honorary member of the Sociedad Amigos de la Guitarra (“Friends of the Guitar Society”) — the oldest guitar society in Spain.
2014: Honorary Doctorate in Music by the University of Arizona in Tucson, USA.
2018: Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America.
2021: Released his latest album, Cantigas de Santiago (Azica Records, 2021).

Content Featuring David Russell

Interview (April 14): “If You Are Not Confident in What You Intend to Offer, Then You Will Find It Difficult to Inspire Confidence in Others”
Release (April 21): David Russell — “Cantigas de Santiago” (Azica Records)

Content Featuring David Russell

Links