Personal statement

Matthew Mazanek is a classical guitarist whose research currently explores improvisation in the nineteenth century and its applications in contemporary music making.

As a performer he specialises equally in historical improvisation and contemporary classical music and has performed throughout the UK, Europe and North America on electric guitar, mandolin, and banjo.

His writing has appeared in edited collections and he maintains scholarly and professional interests in traditional music and the experimental/avant-garde music of the late twentieth century.

Academic qualifications

  • Bachelors of Music, State University of New York at Fredonia
  • Masters of Music, Manhattan School of Music
  • Doctor of Music Performance, Royal Irish Academy of Music.

Professional memberships

  • Royal Musical Association
  • The Lute Society
  • British Academy Early Career Research Network.

Other external roles

  • President of the Board of Directors, Internal Creations
  • Deputy Musicianship Teacher, Royal College of Music.

Teaching subjects and areas of expertise

  • Guitar performance
  • Musicianship
  • Historical musicology
  • Philosophy and aesthetics of popular music
  • Community music.