I used to play the guitar quite seriously as a kid, but put it down when life got busy with work and everything else...

WiGS has encouraged me to reconnect with my passion and given me the chance to perform— something I’d really missed and struggled to find elsewhere.

​

I have a concerning obsession with John Dowland, and am learning his Fantasia no. 7, which I'll be performing at a friend's wedding.

WiGS has provided a great environment to try out new pieces and temper my nerves.

I learned the guitar in my teens, but study and work took over. My guitar stayed with me - I never accepted that I'd given up completely. A recent chance meeting with a musician made me realise how much I missed the guitar. 

WiGS led to me lessons with Brad Johnson and two personal firsts: performing in front of an audience, and as the first to play a left hand-only piece at WiGS (thanks to a broken right wrist and lots of help from Brad on technique!).

I'm now working on my Trinity Grade 3 (with both hands) and look forward to playing at many more WiGS sessions.

I started guitar at age 9 in Tehran, where the Iran-Iraq war made a portable instrument the practical choice. The first six months were tough - aching fingertips and all - but I loved playing, though carrying a “western” instrument in public wasn't easy. With wonderful teachers, I reached grade 6 before moving to London and life taking over.

​​

WiGS inspires me to keep guitar in my life, even when things get busy. I really value the supportive, welcoming atmosphere and the joy of playing together.

​

I’m also the founder of Play2Festival, a youth guitar festival in Armenia, and I’m grateful to WiGS and its members for their encouragement and support in sharing the love of music.

I played the guitar in my teens, but persuaded my classical teacher to help me with Dylan classics, establishing questionable technique, which Mohie Elsayed, Dorian Demeny, and now Brad Johnson have battled to correct ever since.

I don't have a grade to my name (I wanted a later life hobby that isn't measured) but I enjoy playing Villa-Lobos and Barrios - the third movement of La Catedral is the life project that I may never finish.

I'm now working on a programme of Elsayed studies for Playfest at the Wimbledon International Music Festival, my third year there, thanks to WiGS.

I got my first guitar aged 15. Before I could strum 3 chords my brother pushed me to join a local band. Later I turned to singing French poet singers' songs: Brassens, Ferrat, Beart and Brel.

​

Studies, work and family life took over and there was little time for guitar playing, though I developed a taste for classical guitar and became a fan of Bach and John Williams. After I retired, 10 years of one to one and ensemble tuition took me from non-existent technique to where I am now.

​

Most important were the friends I made in the process, most of whom are now part of WiGS. I'm not a great performer, but the enjoyment I get from playing the guitar and sharing with my WiGS friends is irreplaceable.

I started playing a long time ago. In the 1970’s and 80’s I played electric guitar in various bands, and then later performed as a singer-songwriter.

​​

I didn’t really focus on the classical guitar until I started making them. Someone who bought one of my guitars played a concert at WiGS and so I discovered this vibrant society!

I never learnt to read or write music, but I have worked out by ear some simple pieces by Bach and Vivaldi, and also perform some of my own short compositions. And I'm delighted to have found a willing and appreciative audience at WiGS.