Duo Jackson
Old School Arts Centre, Stewart St, Raglan
8.00pm Friday 1st November. $20.
Duo Jackson are unique: Classical guitar and violin are an unusual combination of strings. The diverse range of music styles featured in the duo’s repertoire and the authenticity of their performance creates a unique musical flavour and style. Margaret and Miles have performed in many countries and extensively throughout Australasia. They have made a number of programmes for radio and television and have made many recordings. Over forty years of performance and life together have formed a rapport, which is enchanting to experience. Margaret and Miles live in Nelson and both teach at the Nelson School of Music. Their own compositions which have a very original style, usually feature in their performances and have been extremely well received. They have given special performances for the New Zealand Embassies in Singapore and Spain and their last international tour was in 2013with concerts and workshops in Singapore England France and Spain. Their 2012 Concert for the Nelson Winter Festival drew a full house and a standing ovation.
Margaret began her violin studies at the age of seven in Dunedin. In 1972 she was accepted to study with Glynne Adams at Auckland University. Further study continued with the great Czech teacher Jan Sedivka at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, resulting in invitations to tour in Australia. Margaret has a natural ability to convey the subtleties and virtuosity of the classics, to captivate the soul with Gypsy music and to improvise with natural creative flair in Jazz idioms. Four years of advanced and intensive study at Canterbury University under Polish Master Jan Tawroszewicz have resulted in an impressive technique and profound musical sensitivity.
Miles began his musical training on the violin, changing to classical guitar in 1965. He has studied with a number of distinguished teachers and several periods in Spain have allowed him to explore and develop Flamenco techniques. An intense period of study with world-renowned Czech guitarist Vladimir Mikulka took place in the summer of 1982. This was followed with three years of study with the English master guitarist John Mills, which has provided Mileswith a technical facility and musicianship of the highest standard. He has been working as a professional musician and teacher for over 40 years. Apart from solo performances, he has performed with many different Chamber musical combinations. Miles has also been a member of The John Mills Guitar Trio and the Delphinos Guitar Duo. However most of his work for the last 40 years has been with violinist Margaret Jackson as Duo Jackson. In 2009 he received a creative New Zealand grant to undertake further study of Flamenco in Spain.