:Music Research Group

Qualifications

Doctorate of Musical Arts - Performance and Literature (guitar) - Eastman School of Music (2003)
Master of Arts - Pedagogy of Music Theory - Eastman School of Music (2002)
Master of Music - Performance and Literature (guitar) - Eastman School of Music (1998)
Performer’s Certificate - Eastman School of Music (1998)
Bachelor of Music (1st class honours) - Performance ( guitar) - University of Western Australia (1996)
Certificate IV - Workplace Assessment & Training - Challenger Tafe

CD Recordings

Midsummer’s Night: Music of Barrios, Walton, Sculthorpe, and Bellinati. Melbourne: Move Records, 2008. Solo CD recording.
Kaleidoscope: A Colourful Selection of Guitar Music from Around the World. Perth, 2002 [Self-publication]. Solo CD recording.
Selected tracks on “Coming Home for Christmas.” Australia: Tempo Communications Pty Ltd, 1995.

Radio

CD recordings played on ABC fm Classical, 2MBS fm (Sydney), and RTR fm (Perth)
Live performances for ABC fm (Classical), 2MBS fm (Sydney), RTR fm (Perth), ABC National (Australia), ABC 720 (Perth), plus television appearances in USA and Australia

Recitals

Performed extensively throughout Australia, including Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Darwin, Canberra, Newcastle, Albany, Denmark, Busselton, Bridgetown. In the USA in Rochester (NY), New York City, Ithaca (NY), Potsdam (NY), Livingston (AL), Bay City (MI)

Competitions

Shell Darwin International Guitar Competition (1st Prize, Darwin, 1997); Rantucci Competition (1st Prize, Buffalo, NY, 1999); Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Competition (4th Prize, Charleston, 1999); Jose Ramirez Australian Guitar Competition (1st Prize, Sydney, 1995); Vose Memorial Prize for most outstanding Concerto performance (University of WA, 1995); Australian Guitar Competition Under 18 Division (1st Prize, Sydney, 1990)

Festivals

Perth Concert Hall Summer Series (2008), Shell Darwin International Guitar Festival (2007, 2005, 1999), Festival of Perth, Western Australia (2004), Blackwood River Chamber Music Festival (2004), Ithaca College Winter Guitar Festival (2002), Eastman GuitarFest (2000), York Winter Music Festival (Western Australia, 1993). WA International Classical Guitar Society Ensemble Festival (2004-present)

Concerto Soloist Appearances

Darwin Festival Orchestra (2007), Faith Court Orchestra (2007), Eneksis Ensemble (2006), Faith Court Orchestra (2006), Eastman Chamber Orchestra (2000), Rochester Philharmonic (members concert, Nov 1999), Darwin Symphony Orchestra (1997, 1995), Western Australian Symphony Orchestra (concerto workshops: 1995, 1993), University of Western Australia Symphony Orchestra (1994)

Orchestral & Chamber Music Engagements

Has performed with international-calibre artists such as Pavarotti, Slava Grigoryan (with Saphire, the Australian String Quartet), Stewart Smith (harpsichord), Mary-Anne Blades (flute), Sara McCliver (soprano), Paul Wright (violin), Aaron Brock (guitar), etc.
WA Symphony Orchestra (numerous engagements), WA Opera (Rossini, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, 2008), as theorbist with UWA School Music (Purcell, Dido & Aeneas, 2008)

Scholarships

Fulbright Postgraduate Award (1997); Hackett Studentship (1998–2001)[3-year grant, $30,000 per year); Commonwealth Scholarship (unable to accept in conjunction with Fulbright); Graduate Award at the Eastman School of Music (1997–2002)

Academic Honours

Andres Segovia Award for musical accomplishment and human endeavor (Eastman School of Music, 2003);
Dux/Valedictorian of the University of WA (J.A. Wood Memorial Prize, 1996); Dux/Valedictorian of the School of Music, University of WA (Lady Callaway Medal, 1996); Edith Cowan Prize (1996), Vose Memorial Prize (1995), University of WA Choral Society Prize for Music Literature (1994, 1995), Graduates (alumni*) Association Award for most outstanding student in the Music Department (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996);
State-wide Dux/Valedictorian in the 1992 University Entrance Examinations for Western Australia (Beazley Medal, General Exhibition, Chemistry Exhibition, Australian Students Prize)

Written Publications

“Midsummer’s Night,” CD sleeve notes “Midsummer’s Night: Music of Barrios, Walton, Sculthorpe, and Bellinati.” Melbourne: Move Records, 2008.
Numerous reviews for GuitarWA: including “Francesca Torelli, Theorbo: A Rare Treat,” GuitarWA 1/4 (November 2003); “Milica Rides Wave of Success,” GuitarWA, 3/4 (August 2005): 12; “Ensemble Festival Bigger than Ever,” GuitarWA, 3/4 (August 2005): 5, “Recollection of the 2005 Darwin Festival,” GuitarWA, 3/4 (August 2005): 8-9; “Preparing for the 18th International Classical Guitar Ensemble Festival,” GuitarWA, 4/2 (June 2006): 3; “Rare Opportunity to Hear Sculthorpe Concerto,” GuitarWA, 4/1 (March 2006): 4; “The 2006 Ensemble Festival,” GuitarWA, 4/3 (August 2006): 3.
The Guitar Music of Peter Sculthorpe, [DMA doctoral essay: Eastman School of Music, 2003

Arrangements

Sculthorpe, Tropic, arr for 4 guitars (2007-08); premiered at GuitarFest 2008.
Villa-Lobos, Bachianas Brasilieras No.5 (“Cantilena”) arr for 3 guitar, cello, and soprano, 2008
Beethoven, Moonlight Sonata [1st movement], arr for 2 guitars (1998)

Ongoing Research
Principal investigator, “The Western Australia New Music Archive: 1970 - Today: Accessing, Remembering, Performing,” recipient of an ECU Industry Collaboration Scheme research project grant
Principal investigator(for an ECU Teaching and Learning Grant), examining the interaction of creativity and written research in honours courses within the faculty of Education and Arts, ECU

Other Professional Engagements

Chief Examiner, TEE Music Examination for Western Australia (2007-present). Responsible for the publication of the TEE Music Examination in Western Australia for 2007 and 2008.
Australian Music Examinations Board, 2003—present; UWA (final recitals); WAAPA (final recitals, 2003-present); John 23rd College Eistedfodd (2004—present); TEE examining
President of the Classical Guitar Society of Western Australia, Inc., 2005—present

Research Supervision
Curran, Kelly. Postmodernism and the Professional String Quartet. Bachelor of Music (Honours), Edith Cowan University, 2008.
Pettemerides, Emma. Preparing the Role of Tytania in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Handbook for Singers. Bachelor of Performing Arts (Honours), Edith Cowan University: 2007
Sardi, Jessica. An Investigation of Music Life and Music Societies in Perth (Western Australia): 1900-1950. Bachelor of Performing Arts, Edith Cowan University: 2007.
McCulloch, Sacha. Creative Interpretation and Cello Technique: A Pedagogical Handbook in the Tradition of Michael Goldschlager and Bernard Greenhouse. Bachelor of Performing Arts (Honours), Edith Cowan University: 2006.
Gardiner, Duncan. The Classical Guitar in Paris: Composers and Performers ca. 1920-1960. Bachelor of Performing Arts (Honours), Edith Cowan University: 2006

Press Quotes

“There can be no doubting Paget’s technical mastery of his chosen instrument and his interpretative accuracy as demonstrated in this splendidly recorded recital”
John Barns, 3MBS Libretto Magazine (2008)

“Paget demonstrated a near-peerless command of the instrument which, in his hands, seemed not so much an inanimate construction of wood, varnish and glue than an extension of his musical being.”
“A model of grace and charm.”
The West Australian (January 23rd, 2008)

“Of particular interest was Jonathan Paget’s recital with harpsichordist Stewart smith, in which the Duo Concertante by Stephen Dodgson was revived alongside a novel reworking of Fantasia para un gentilhombre.”
Classical Guitar (October 2007)

“I was converted utterly to this re-ordering of Rodrigo’s masterpiece. In fact, I cannot too highly praise both the work of those who arranged it and the musicians who breathed life into it at a performance that I shall not easily forget - and for all the best reasons.”
Ozartsreview (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ozartsreview/), 2007

“Jonathan Paget played, as ever, with commendable musicality and intonational security”
Ozartsreview (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ozartsreview/), 2006

“Paget acquitted himself admirably here in a performance that was in the best sense tonally satisfying, intonationally exact and interpretatively probing”
Ozartsreview (http://members.ozemail.com.au/~ozartsreview/), 2005

“a superb chamber recital”
“extensive and rewarding innings”
Classical Guitar (Jan 2006)

“subtle, intimate artistry. His years of study in the United States have added another layer of professionalism to all he touches”
The West Australian (July 5th, 2004)

“There’s an understated artisty about the playing that is impressive”
The West Australian (July 5th, 2004)

“One of the country’s outstanding guitarists”
The West Australian (June 30th, 2004)

”Continues the run of world-class guitarists bred in this city [Perth]… Paget’s material ranges from five tracks devoted to Villa-Lobos’ Preludes to the seven minutes of unadulterated listening pleasure in Yuquijiro Yocoh’s Sakura: Theme and Variations. There is also an engagingly spontaneous account of Californian composer Andrew York’s Sunburst. Paget’s gifts as a guitarist are well displayed, with the sound throughout possessing a pleasingly natural quality. Recommended.”
The West Australian (June 15th, 2002)

“A very relaxing experience and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.”
The Life, University of West Alabama (April 25th, 2002)

“Paget is a fine musician with brilliant technique. His Bach was strong and steady… his Walton uncannily free of left-hand squeaks (how does he do that?), his Barrios brisk and lovely–a strong finish to a good performance”
Soundboard (Winter/Spring 2000)

“One of the finest and warmest recitals anyone could hope to hear”
“One could only marvel at the guitarist’s smooth phrasing and delicate touch”
“Bach’s technically challenging four-part Sonata No.1 was a study in elegant restraint and perfectly gauged dynamic variations”
The West Australian (July 1998)

“A Darwin veteran whose carefully planned interpretations are fully supported by a comprehensive armory of technical skills”
“It was Paget who finally won the day. In the first two movements of Ross Edward’s Concerto for Guitar and Strings, Paget remained master of his instrument and successfully maintained an unbroken dialogue with the orchestra.”
Classical Guitar (Dec 1997)

There was much to admire in the physical skill and expressiveness with which Paget etched the melody line to a rapid-figuration accompaniment in Barrios’ Dream in the Forest . . And in the villainously difficult Hungarian Rhapsody by Johann Mertz, subtle tonal shadings, sensitive rubato and, in the latter half of the piece, flashes of virtuosity and a passionate close . . . Paget’s playing is largely free of the squeaks and clanks that bedevil the playing of even the most experienced guitarists.”
The West Australian (June 1997)

“Paget took over from Graham Ashton at two hours notice… The young musician convincingly demonstrated the form that gained him top prizes at the Sydney competition”
The West Australian (March 1995)

“One of Australia’s top classical guitarists”
Albany Advertiser (Albany, Western Australia, 1995)

“One of the few guitarists whose musical ear is impeccable, and whose attention to details makes for a polished, professional performance”
WA Classical Guitar Society Newsletter, 1995

Excerpt of Cantando, 4th movement - Kakadu by Sculthorpe