Liverpool guitarist settles into life in Bermuda
Jessie Moniz Hardy, Lifestyle
Created: Mar 06, 2024 08:00 AM
Growing up in Liverpool, England, the birthplace of the Beatles, Niall Kavanagh was heavily influenced by the legendary rock group. “One of my earliest memories is of watching The Beatles Anthology on television with my family,” the Bermuda School of Music guitar teacher said. “I told everyone I had seen it.” When he got older he dreamt of being a rock star. “I told people I would be bigger than the Beatles,” he laughed. “I said I was going to be a millionaire.” Things have not yet worked out that way. He became a music instructor instead of a celebrity. “I started teaching at 14 for a charity,” Mr Kavanagh said. “I would help the younger students meet their goals. Some of them were doing grade one music and I would help them out with grade two.” He had never considered teaching before, but loved it. “The best feeling is when you give students something that they have been struggling with one week, and they come back the next week and they have nailed it,” he said. It took him a little while to get teaching down. “At first I would give students a piece to do, not realising it was too difficult for them,” he said. “I figured that if I could do it, they could do it. Later, I learnt to start small and take things in steps. That worked a lot better.” He joined the staff of the Bermuda School of Music six months ago teaching guitar, ukulele, and piano.
Later this month, he will be performing in their 19th Bermuda Guitar Festival. He said: “Myself and Walter Rodrigues plan on playing some classical guitar mixes with flamenco and some of my own original pieces. Walter will also be doing some jazz standards on the guitar.” Stephen Crawford and Johanna Pino Gonzalez will also be performing in the festival.
Read the rest at Liverpool guitarist settles into life in Bermuda - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, &
• The 19th Bermuda Guitar Festival will be held on March 20, 22 and 23 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. For the full line-up, see
www.musicschool.bm/events. Tickets are $30 available at the Bermuda School of Music and at www.ptix.bm
Bermuda Guitar Festival returns after a long Covid break Heather Wood, Lifestyle Editor
Updated: Jun 18, 2022 08:13 AM
Guitarist Steve Crawford and violist Johanna Pino Gonzalez will perform as part of the Bermuda Guitar Festival on July 2 (Photograph supplied)
The Bermuda Guitar Festival is back after a break forced by the pandemic.
Organiser Steve Crawford hopes that music lovers are as thrilled with the line-up as he is. Grisha Goryachev, Jerremiah Smith and Johanna Pino Gonzalez will join him in the festival, which takes place on June 30 and July 2 at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.
“We’re super excited to be back and I just want to encourage the public, who are probably starved of the arts and music after such a long period without. We're really eager and excited to be playing for everyone and feeling a sense of normality again,” he said.
Mr Crawford described Mr Goryachev, who has a solo show on June 30 and will host a workshop the following day, as “the most amazing flamenco guitarist” currently performing.
Read the rest at Bermuda Guitar Festival returns after a long Covid break - The Royal Gazette | Bermuda News, Business, Sports, Events, &
Young guitarist Hay will be major performer
By Michael Jones
Published May 28, 2018
15th Annual Bermuda Guitar Festival, presented by the Bermuda School of Music on Friday May 25 at the Bermuda School of Music. Conor Hay, Jerremiah Smith, Steve Crawford — guitars, La Tannia Ellerbe — violin.
Conor Hay, 16, kicked off the evening with John Dowland’s Frog Galliard, followed by two Heitor Villa-Lobos waltzes.
The music was clearly voiced and well executed and his talent has obviously been clearly identified and well nurtured.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to grow into a major performer and that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of him in future.
Read the rest at rwww.royalgazette.com/lifestyle/article/20180528/young-guitarist-hay-will-be-major-performer
By Michael Jones
Published May 28, 2018
15th Annual Bermuda Guitar Festival, presented by the Bermuda School of Music on Friday May 25 at the Bermuda School of Music. Conor Hay, Jerremiah Smith, Steve Crawford — guitars, La Tannia Ellerbe — violin.
Conor Hay, 16, kicked off the evening with John Dowland’s Frog Galliard, followed by two Heitor Villa-Lobos waltzes.
The music was clearly voiced and well executed and his talent has obviously been clearly identified and well nurtured.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s going to grow into a major performer and that we’re going to be seeing a lot more of him in future.
Read the rest at rwww.royalgazette.com/lifestyle/article/20180528/young-guitarist-hay-will-be-major-performer
Guitar festival off to a stunning start with Crawford and Palmer
By Michael Jones
Published Jun 3, 2014 at 8:00 am (Updated Jun 2, 2014 at 7:22 pm)
Review of the first day of the 11th Bermuda Guitar Festival (Performers: Steve Crawford and Matthew Palmer at St Andrews Church, Hamilton)
Bermuda punches above its weight thanks to the dedication and drive of Steve Crawford and his team at the Bermuda School of Music.
This year marks the 11th year of the Bermuda Guitar Festival where world class talent has assembled in St Andrews Church on Church Street to share music.
Mr Crawford’s guests over the years read like a global guitar who’s who: Chapdelaine, Rafferty, York, Luiz, Lora, Newman, Katona, Weinberg, Adam Brown and of course Bermuda’s own Milt Robinson and Paul Gibbons.
We’ve heard just about every hand held plucked instrument from the Afghan lute to slide guitar playing in every possible style from repertories as diverse as humanity.
Mr Crawford opened the concert with his signature programme from Spanish composers Turina, Albéniz, Tárrega and the Paraguayan Agustín Barriós.
Read the rest at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140603/ISLAND04/140609948
By Michael Jones
Published Jun 3, 2014 at 8:00 am (Updated Jun 2, 2014 at 7:22 pm)
Review of the first day of the 11th Bermuda Guitar Festival (Performers: Steve Crawford and Matthew Palmer at St Andrews Church, Hamilton)
Bermuda punches above its weight thanks to the dedication and drive of Steve Crawford and his team at the Bermuda School of Music.
This year marks the 11th year of the Bermuda Guitar Festival where world class talent has assembled in St Andrews Church on Church Street to share music.
Mr Crawford’s guests over the years read like a global guitar who’s who: Chapdelaine, Rafferty, York, Luiz, Lora, Newman, Katona, Weinberg, Adam Brown and of course Bermuda’s own Milt Robinson and Paul Gibbons.
We’ve heard just about every hand held plucked instrument from the Afghan lute to slide guitar playing in every possible style from repertories as diverse as humanity.
Mr Crawford opened the concert with his signature programme from Spanish composers Turina, Albéniz, Tárrega and the Paraguayan Agustín Barriós.
Read the rest at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140603/ISLAND04/140609948
Adam Rafferty: Returning to headline the Bermuda Guitar Festival
Guitar festival going from strength to strength
Published May 22, 2013 at 8:00 am (Updated May 21, 2013 at 5:47 pm)
By Nancy Acton
Ten years ago, Bermuda School of Music (BSM) guitar instructor Steve Crawford launched his first guitar festival with the tentative hope that it would become an annual affair.
Today, it has not only fulfilled but also surpassed that hope, and gone from strength to strength in terms of participating artists and audience growth.
“What a great journey it has been for me as the organiser,” Mr Crawford said. “To put on great concerts for the Bermuda public has been so uplifting. Every year it leaves me feeling fulfilled to see people having such a fantastic time. It makes all the hard work we have put in exceptionally worthwhile.”
The founder also paid tribute to Bermudian professional artist Graham Foster for this year’s striking poster design, and Libby Cook-Toppan for her “beautifully designed” programme.
As always, the 2013 Festival programme blends BSM guitar faculty and students with eminent professionals from overseas a combination which also pleases Mr Crawford.
“As a teacher, being able to show off some of the things the school teaches through its guitar department is great,” he said.
Marking a decade of success calls for an extra-special celebration, so in addition to four concerts, there will also be a series of free workshops which includes master classes and lectures by visiting artists.
Read the rest at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130522/ISLAND/705229985
Published May 22, 2013 at 8:00 am (Updated May 21, 2013 at 5:47 pm)
By Nancy Acton
Ten years ago, Bermuda School of Music (BSM) guitar instructor Steve Crawford launched his first guitar festival with the tentative hope that it would become an annual affair.
Today, it has not only fulfilled but also surpassed that hope, and gone from strength to strength in terms of participating artists and audience growth.
“What a great journey it has been for me as the organiser,” Mr Crawford said. “To put on great concerts for the Bermuda public has been so uplifting. Every year it leaves me feeling fulfilled to see people having such a fantastic time. It makes all the hard work we have put in exceptionally worthwhile.”
The founder also paid tribute to Bermudian professional artist Graham Foster for this year’s striking poster design, and Libby Cook-Toppan for her “beautifully designed” programme.
As always, the 2013 Festival programme blends BSM guitar faculty and students with eminent professionals from overseas a combination which also pleases Mr Crawford.
“As a teacher, being able to show off some of the things the school teaches through its guitar department is great,” he said.
Marking a decade of success calls for an extra-special celebration, so in addition to four concerts, there will also be a series of free workshops which includes master classes and lectures by visiting artists.
Read the rest at http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20130522/ISLAND/705229985
