Esteban Antonio began playing the guitar at the age of 3, was composing by the age of 4 and was awarded a scholarship to the Royal College of Music at 9.
Esteban studied Classical and Flamenco guitar in parallel. Followed masters John Williams, Paco de Lucia and Manolo Sanlucar.He was personally tutored at and mentored at the Royal College by world-renowned guitarists, Douglas Rogers and Carlos Bonell – their tutelage was the cornerstone of his playing and both of them have been a huge inspiration to Esteban throughout his career.
Wrote his first E minor prelude and suite for guitar by the age of 7 + was also transcribing classical works from orchestra and piano which were then unknown as possibilities on the guitar.
At the age of 11 was acclaimed as the youngest guitarist to perform the ‘CONCIERTO DE ARANJUEZ” by Rodrigo.
Did his own series of music transcriptions by Issac Albeniz, Bach, Granados+ Manuel de Falla whilst still studying composition at the Royal College of Music.
Completed his studies at Royal College aged 18, majoring in classical guitar/ classical composition, piano and violin orchestral composition and performance.
Has toured extensively including a 40 date concert tour in Japan, throughout Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia + USA + Canada Has composed music for TV + film + collaborated on various projects both solo and with other instrumentalists, concert pianists + composers. Has won acclaim internationally as a ground-breaking composer and performer
Has been lauded as one of the greatest living flamenco guitarists. Has composed many flamenco dance theatre productions in Germany, France North America, Finland and Japan.
He has worked with many world renowned artists, Juan Paredes and Jose Ortega from Christina Hoyos Dance Company and also has performed and recorded with Jonny Depp and George Michael.
“I have evolved a new style of playing by using new tuning and compositional strategies – I wanted to bring surrealism into the art of flamenco/classical acoustic performance of this instrument.”
“I have just invented with guitar making hero, Stephen Hill, a 17 string double-necked guitar with a harp section called ‘HA-SHEM’ which is a Hebrew word. I will be premiering this guitar in Hong Kong this year which I am really looking forward to. This is the only guitar of its kind in the world!!!!”
The Ha Shem is the first GRAND CONCERT CLASSICAL HARP GUITAR in the world designed by Esteban. Acoustic model built by renowned English guitar maker, Stephen Hill + Electric model built by Christopher Wood, patented worldwide in September 08.
Esteban wanted to push the boundaries of a fretted instrument and the representation of stringed music.
The Ha Shem was ready to play in April last year. Since then Esteban has taught himself to play it + recorded these new compositions that until now, have only been stored in his mind because the Ha Shem didn’t previously exist.
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