Classical guitarist John Williams interview on topics of John Williams interests.

For information regarding private guitar instruction, consulting and career guidance at his studio in Melbourne email: Ron Payne or Telephone: (03)9852 1111 [Fees are $50.00 per hour]

"I started taking lessons with Ron Payne to improve my finger-picking technique, but enjoyed it so much
that I continued on to complete the Grades up to Grade 8, and recently was admitted as an Assoc. Diploma in Classical Guitar. In that time, Ron has been a great inspiration that kept me progressing towards my goals. Gaining better technique, reading skills, understanding and interpretation of music, has given me a confident professional approach to guitar playing. - Louis Arcoraci

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ARIA WINNERS SAFFIRE AND ANDREA KELLER

Artists from the ABC Classics and Jazz roster took out both the Classical and Jazz ARIA Awards in a ceremony at the Sydney Superdome.

Saffire's debut album was named winner in the Best Classical Album category, in a strong field that included CDs by bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes, harpist Marshall McGuire, and previous winner's soprano Yvonne Kenny and Slava Grigoryan in duo mode with brother Leonard Grigoryan.

The guitar quartet Saffire was formed in 2002 and brings together Australia's four leading classical guitarists - Slava Grigoryan, Karin Schaupp, Antony Field and Gareth Koch.

Saffire hit the road last July for a national tour and released their first recording, topping the ARIA Classical Chart and peaking at #6 on the ARIA Australasian Album Chart, alongside the country's hottest pop acts.

The fab-four hit the road again last November for concerts on the NSW Central Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and at the Queenscliff Music Festival. There will be more national touring and a new album this year.

After taking out the ARIA in the same category in 2002, Best Jazz Album winner Andrea Keller has cemented her standing as one of Australia's pre-eminent jazz musicians. The album Mikrokosmos has given a fresh contemporary take on the music of Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Mikrokosmos was also the recipient of the Best Contemporary Jazz Album award at the Melborune Jazz Awards earlier last year.

Andrea is a brilliant pianist and improviser, visionary composer and teacher in her own right who has ancestral ties to the land and music that first captured Bartók's imagination 100 years ago.

When Mikrokosmos was released Ashleigh Wilson of The Australian said, "Keller is becoming one of those musicians whose CD you can buy without a listening test because you are assured of getting something special."

The final five-nomination list in the jazz category was also strong and included Kevin Hunt, The Necks, The World According to James and Andrew Robson for the ABC Jazz album ON.

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