About John Walsh
Ireland should be proud of John Walsh, who has gained eminence in Spain, and indeed further afield for his brilliant mastery of Flamenco guitar
- Paddy Kehoe, RTE.ie Entertainment
John Walsh is Ireland’s leading Flamenco Guitarist.
An accomplished musician and composer, John has been performing solo since 2006.
After obtaining a Diploma with distinction in classical guitar from Trinity College London in 2006, John dedicated his studies exclusively to Flamenco guitar. He studied with guitarist Francisco Garcia in Dublin before travelling to Algeciras, Spain, home of the legendary Paco de Lucia to study with Salvador Andrades. He has since studied with other masters of Flamenco such as Jose Manuel Leon and Juan Antonio Suarez.
John was one of the 10 musicians (and the only guitarist) chosen for the 2009 ‘Musicians of the Future’ concert in the National Concert Hall performing 2 original compositions composed specially for the concert.
Along with performing concerts throughout Ireland and venues in Spain and the UK, he has performed in one of the most historically important flamenco venue’s ,’El Candela’ in Madrid, as well as being the invited International Artist for the 2014 Flamenco Festival Flamenco de Consuegra.
In 2015 he had the honour of being invited to play at the 2nd International Paco de Lucia Guitar festival, a major flamenco festival in honour of the great Paco de Lucia, in the Maestro’s hometown of Algeciras
He has composed music for and performed with the National Ballet of Ireland, Bill Whelan’s Riverdance & Michael Rooney’s De Cuellar Orchestra among others and performed for the Irish President Michael D Higgins.
He has performed onstage with many acclaimed artists including Salvador Andrades, Jose Manuel Leon, Maria Delgado, Alicia Carrasco, Karen Lugo, Luis de Luis, Antonio Sanchez, Juan Ignacio Gonzalez, Gines Pozas, Jaime Salazar Losada, Jaime Nadal Perez, Jose Torres, David Avila, Olayo Jimenez, Lucas Gonzalez, Mercedes Garcia Lopez, Pepe de Algeciras.
In 2020 John formed an exciting new trio with Uileann Piper David Power and Baroque Violinist Marja Gaynor. The trio perform a programme featuring their own arrangements of traditional Irish tunes, contemporary music as well as music from the Baroque period and the 19th century.
Aside from performing, John has a special passion for music education and with raising the profile and knowledge of Flamenco in Ireland. He regularly gives Flamenco Workshops & Masterclasses throughout Ireland, at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and in the UK.
In 2020 John released his debut album ‘Irlandalucía, which received widespread critical acclaim both Nationally and Internationally.
Containing 7 original and spellbinding Flamenco guitar compositions composed by John over the last number of years, features collaborations from percussionists from Spain & the Netherlands.
Although a little over a week old at the time, the album was featured by Ellen Cranitch on Ireland’s national classical music radio station Lyric FM as one the ‘best albums of 2020’ as well as receiving airplay in Spain & the USA.
You can listen to John speak about the album here on RTE Arena with Sean Rocks.
Besides music John has a keen interest in Astronomy and Science, holding a BSc in Applied Physics.
