Nigel North

Nigel North

Nigel North was initially inspired into music by the early 60's instrumental pop group ‘The Shadows', and went on to study classical music through the violin and guitar, eventually discovering his real path in life, the lute, when he was 15. Basically self-taught on the lute, he has for some 20 years developed a unique musical life which embraces several and varied activities as a teacher, accompanist, soloist and writer. He published a continuo tutor (Faber 1987) representing his work and passion for this subject.

The ensemble Romanesca was formed by Nigel, together with Andrew Manze (violin) and John Toll (harpsichord & organ) and for ten years (1988-1998) they explored, performed and recorded 17th century chamber music winning several international awards for their recordings.

Nigel North also enjoys accompanying singers and is an enthusiastic teacher. For over 20 years he was Professor of Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, in London; from 1993-1999 he was Professor at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin and since January 1999 Nigel North has been Professor of Lute at the Early Music Institute of Indiana University, Bloomington in the USA.

New recording projects include, for NAXOS, the complete lute works of John Dowland (4 CDs); for ATMA Classique, a series of CDs of music by the 17th Cebtury French Lutenists; for ECM, Robert Dowland's "A Musical Banquet" with soprano, Monika Mauch.

From January 2005, in addition to his post in Bloomington, Nigel will also be teaching the Lute at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag, the Netherlands, and will be spending a little more of his  time back in Europe.