Biography: Andrew Blanch is an award-winning classical guitarist and regular performer in the Australian music scene who is “developing a reputation as one of the country's leading young classical guitarists” (Melbourne Guitar Foundation). Andrew has a Bachelor of Music with First-Class Honours from the Australian National University where he studied under renowned guitarists Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang. In 2010, Andrew performed solo in matinee and evening soirées at the Sydney Opera House’s Concert Hall as part of the ‘Encore’ series. The concert was recorded and subsequently released on CD. In that same year Andrew won first prize at the Sydney Eisteddfod Open Classical Guitar Competition. He is a two-time finalist at the Sydney Eisteddfod’s NSW Doctor’s Instrumental Scholarship open to all instruments and was a finalist at the 15th International Guitar Competition of Sernancelhe in Portugal. Andrew has appeared at a number of music festivals including Canberra’s Antarctica Music Festival of 2011, the Musica Antica Festival of Early Music of 2011, and the Canberra International Music Festival of 2014. 2015 has been a successful year for Andrew including a number of well-received solo and duo recitals with fellow guitarist Callum Henshaw, the Australian premiere of a Richard Charlton piece “Inner Voices” for Guitar Solo and Guitar Orchestra where he appeared as the soloist, performances of Latin American music with internationally renowned baritone, José Carbó, and tenor, Diego Torre, at the ‘Voices in the Forest’ concert, and first place in the Inaugural Whitworth Roach Classical Music Competition. 2015 has also seen the release of Andrew’s anticipated debut solo CD Spanish Guitar Music. In addition to his performance activities, Andrew gives masterclasses, works part-time as a private teacher and has worked as a casual conductor to the Canberra Mandolin Orchestra. He is currently a PhD candidate at the Australian National University researching tertiary classical guitar pedagogy.