Jonathan Fitzgerald, classical guitarist

Guitar at the UWA Conservatorium of Music

At the University of Western Australia, guitar students thrive in a vibrant and supportive environment that combines world-class training, performance opportunities, and academic flexibility. Led by Dr Jonathan Fitzgerald — Chair of Guitar and recipient of multiple awards for teaching excellence — the UWA Guitar Program nurtures developing musicians into artists who are both technically accomplished and artistically expressive.

UWA is the only tertiary institution in Western Australia where you can pursue a performance degree alongside a second major in another field — giving you the freedom to design a degree that reflects your passions and career goals.

Performances & Masterclasses

Performance is at the heart of the UWA Guitar experience. The UWA Guitar Studio is among the most active in Australia, with nearly a dozen concerts each year — from solo and chamber recitals to collaborative projects with other departments. Since 2017, students have toured extensively across Western Australia’s South West and Great Southern regions, as well as performing interstate. These experiences provide invaluable real-world performance training and professional exposure.

Guitar students receive:

• 12 hours of one-to-one expert tuition per semester
• Weekly Guitar Performance Class and Chamber Music coaching
• Regular masterclasses with national and international artists, with recent guests including Petra Poláčková, Colin Davin, Pavel Ralev, Craig Ogden, Karin Schaupp, and Josinaldo Costa

In recent years, UWA guitar students have achieved outstanding results, with four reaching the finals of the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition, two appearing as finalists in the Vose Concerto Competition, and one taking out first prize in the MCM Altamira Guitar Competition — demonstrating the program’s ongoing commitment to artistic excellence.

Ensembles

The Moretti Ensemble, UWA’s large guitar ensemble, performs a wide range of repertoire—from the Baroque works of Vivaldi and Scarlatti to contemporary compositions by Nigel Westlake, Terry Riley, and Steve Reich.

Students also form small chamber groups and collaborate with composers and performers across the Conservatorium, creating rich and diverse musical experiences through joint projects with percussion, winds, bowed strings, and voice.

Why Study at UWA?

• Ranked among the world’s Top 100 universities
• #1 in WA for Performing Arts (QS Rankings)
• More classical performances than any other WA tertiary institution
• Flexible degree structures that let you combine performance with another major

Join a program where creativity, excellence, and community come together—and take your place in a studio that is shaping the next generation of Australian classical guitarists.

👉 Learn more at music.uwa.edu.au
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