Valencian Society Spanish Guitar Art Association honored Scottish guitarist David Russell this Tuesday with the Alicante Classical Guitar Award, presented for a second time to Manuel Barrueco after the first. The award has grown as a tradition since its inception twelve years ago, recognizing mastery in classical guitar.
The ceremony featured Ignacio Rodes, guitarist, graduate academic director, as the association’s president; he joined Amparo Navarro, rector of the University of Alicante, in presenting the statue crafted by Miguel Banuls. Russell, who has lived in Alicante for 45 years, was celebrated as a lifelong devotee of the instrument. His career includes roles as a performer, educator, and author, with a notable discography and multiple Grammy nominations and wins.
Rodes expressed deep appreciation for Russell’s sincere approach to the Alicante Classical Guitar project and for his ongoing commitment to performing the opening concert of the guitar cycle held at ADDA. In his remarks, he highlighted Russell’s honesty of expression, noting that his artistry leaves no room for pretense and that his musical ideas reflect a natural, unforced phrasing. The message underscored Russell’s influence on generations of classical guitarists and the enduring value of his artistic legacy.
A rector of the University of Alicante recalled that the master’s program has reached its twelfth edition, evolving from a bold experiment to a well-established initiative. Through international repertoire and collaborative work, the university has fostered fruitful partnerships with supporters who believed in the project from its earliest days.
David Russell: José Tomás taught me to play guitar and inspire others
David Russell expressed gratitude to his wife María Jesús, to Rodes, and to José Tomás, with whom he collaborated after studying at the Royal Academy in London. He stated that music is a language that speaks directly to the heart, transcending words. He described his current mission as sharing his passion with graduate students, noting that the project has grown from a utopian idea to a tangible program that has already trained 120 students. This effort now anchors at the University of Alicante and energizes the city and the world with a love for the guitar.
tribute
During a corporate event documentary, graduate students performed a guitar piece at the closing ceremony. The master’s director, UA professor Carmen Marimon, served as master of ceremonies at a widely attended event. Miguel Garcia Sala, director of the José Tomás Professional Conservatory of Music, along with Catalina Iliescu, vice rector for Culture, Sports and University Publishing, and Francisco Torres, vice rector for Studies and Quality, joined a large delegation of Classical Guitar Association members, university officials, and UA teachers and students from the Master of Classical Guitar Performance.
award-winning
David Russell is a renowned master of classical guitar. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1953, he moved to Menorca with his family at age five, discovering a lifelong love for the guitar. He now resides in Vigo. His education brought him to Alicante, where he studied at the Conservatory and later at the Royal Academy in London, where he formed a lasting friendship with Ignacio Rodes. The two remained closely connected as their careers progressed.
Russell has earned the most prestigious honors in the field, including the Julian Bream Award, the Andrés Segovia Competition, the José Ramírez Competition, and the Francisco Tárrega Competition. He is widely recognized for his technical prowess and his ability to traverse a broad repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary works, evidencing the versatility of a true master of classical music. His international tours and collaborations with renowned orchestras and artists underscore his influence in the classical music world.
With a prolific discography of more than 30 albums, each recording reflects his commitment to artistic excellence. His work has earned widespread praise from listeners around the globe. Among numerous accolades, he received a Grammy for Best Solo Instrumental Performance in 2005, was named an honorary Doctor of Music by the University of Arizona, and was inducted into the Guitar Foundation of America Hall of Fame.
His connection with Alicante remains strong since his student days. He has returned to participate in guitar cycles, taught master classes, and contributed to the Master of Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Alicante, an ongoing program which began in 2013 and continues to inspire new generations of guitarists.