Guitarist Craig Ogden has sold a million albums and hit the Number One spot in the Classical Chart several times. Jane McGowan digs into his origins as he comes to St Mary Barnes
He regularly tours the globe with his blend of contemporary and classical guitar and this month he is bringing his not inconsiderable talent to St Mary Barnes.
The musician, often hailed as the most gifted classical guitarists of his generation, began playing at the age of five in his hometown of Perth in Western Australia.
“It was all down to John Denver,” he laughs. “We had his albums at home and I would nag my parents to play them. Then I began to nag them for a guitar.”
By the age of 14, Ogden says he knew his career would be in music, a decision that would inevitably take him away from his family and indeed his country.
“Perth is just so isolated, so there was no choice really,” he explains. “I knew if I wanted to play professionally, I had to be in Europe.”
Ogden opted to continue his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where in 2004 he was given a fellowship in recognition of his achievements – the youngest instrumentalist ever to do so. He is now the college’s principal guitar lecturer as well as a visiting lecturer at London’s Royal College of Music.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Ogden records on average one album a year, tours for several weeks at a time and runs an annual music festival with his wife. Oh, and he is also dad to two young children.
“I have never taken my career for granted,” Ogden states. “I just say ‘Yes’ to everything and then run round like mad trying to do them all. It’s manic and that’s why we live in Oxfordshire, so I can get north or south, east or west very easily.”
Yet despite such a hectic schedule, the thrill of the performance has lost none of its potency for Ogden.
“That’s one of the great things about the UK, there are so many venues and whether it’s a village hall or the Wigmore Hall, I appreciate them all.”
The success of such albums as Summer Guitar which has seen Ogden record pieces as diverse as the Beatles’ Here Comes the Sun to Bizet’s Habanera, means audiences can enjoy the full array of the instrument.
“I have always enjoyed playing a wide range of music and for Camberley it’s a real mixture, some songs from the latest album, a little jazz and a three-movement sonata. I have enjoyed putting it together and really hope there is something for everyone.”
Craig Ogden will play St Mary Barnes on March 12
