Amanda Cook
Biographie Amanda Cook
Amanda Cook
Dubbed “The guitar queen with a silken touch” by The Independent, Amanda has appeared as a soloist in the USA, South America and throughout Europe. In the UK venues include the South Bank, Wigmore Hall, St George’s Bristol, King’s Place & The Sage Gateshead. Her highly acclaimed performances are always noted for their sensitive musicality, fluid technique, and ability to draw the audience in to her world.
Amanda’s first guitar teacher was Alexander Levtov, who she spent seven years with from the age of 7. She then went on to study with Charles Ramirez at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music, as a scholarship student. Amanda then carried on to do her music degree at the RCM, as a Foundation Scholar, continuing with Mr Ramirez and then with Jakob Lindberg and Gary Ryan. Whilst at the College Amanda won several prizes for her performances, and outside of College she won the 1995 Admira Young Guitarist of the Year, 1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and the 1998 Carol Evershed Martin Award for solo instrumentalists.
After leaving the RCM, she went onto study in New York with Benjamin Verdery thanks to the support from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.
Amanda has been broadcast on television and radio, both abroad and in the UK, including BBC Radio 3’s “In Tune” & “Late Junction”, BBC Radio 4’s “Woman’s Hour,” and Classic FM. Along with solo work Amanda has always had a passion for chamber music and has worked in various duos and ensembles through her career including the Appassionata Guitar Trio, G Plus Ensemble and more recently with the renowned soprano Bibi Heal and the critically acclaimed Vida Guitar Quartet, who regularly tour the USA, Europe and China.
Teaching has always been important to Amanda and she often gives classes at Festivals and adjudicates music competitions. Amanda was course director at the International Guitar Festival for five years and has also sat on the jury for several International Competitions including the GFA 2015 in Oklahoma and the 2019 Euro Strings Competition. Amanda is a patron of the Federation of Guitar Societies.
