Don Candy

Reviews of Don’s UK concerts have described his classical guitar playing as having both ‘warmth and delicacy’, saying he can ‘draw an audience into an intimate atmosphere’
Don graduated from the University of Western Australia and become a finalist in the Thailand International Guitar Competition in 2014. At this stage, he set his sights on further study abroad.
In 2015 he was selected as one of only 14 guitarists worldwide to undertake a course of study through the University of Alicante (Spain), in which he received intensive tuition from world-leading guitarists including David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Pepe Romero, Paul Galbraith, Paul O’Dette (lute) and Roberto Aussel. Whilst receiving tuition, Don also performed throughout the region.
Don began studying for a Masters in Performance degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2016 under the tutelage of Craig Ogden, one of the UK’s most prominent guitarists. During this time Don collaborated with a range of other musicians and engaged in masterclasses with a range of visiting artists (Henk Guittart, Ralph Kirshbaum and more). During this time he worked with several different composers premiering new solo works. He also performed in numerous concerts across the North-West of England. Performing at Haddon Hall, playing guitar for TV (Cold Feet), and playing guitar on stage in a musical (Man of La Mancha) were among the highlights.

In 2019, Don performed at Perth International Guitar Festival as a solo artist and alongside Craig Ogden as a duo.
In 2022 He was one of five finalists in the prestigious Adelaide International Guitar Competition, the largest classical guitar competition in the Southern Hemisphere. That year he also began working with the Perth Guitar Quartet, in commissioning, performing, and recording new works for classical guitar quartets. He also returned to Spain, by invitation, to perform at the Alicante Guitarra Clasica Decimo Aniversario.
This year Don was once again a semi-finalist in the Adelaide International Guitar Competition. He is also competing in the Asian International Guitar Competition, to be held in Bangkok in September this year.
Currently Don teaches classical guitar and continues to perform both as a solo artist and as a member of various duos and ensembles. He is a member of the AMEB Board of Examiners and an adjudicator at many guitar competitions and events.