Guitar Hero Connor Whyte
Ahead of this year’s Adelaide Guitar Festival, the note talks with Connor Whyte. In 2022, aged just 19, Connor won the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition – the most prestigious event of its kind in the Southern hemisphere.
Words by Zara Richards // Image by Claudio Raschella
Image supplied
Connor Whyte was eight when he learnt how to play the guitar. Like most kids, he preferred electric rock music over the classic concertos which have earned him so much acclaim.
“My older brother played the guitar and I thought he was cool,” says the 20-year-old over the phone. “I wanted to be cool, too. It didn’t really work!”
It was when he played a heavy metal version of Mozart’s Rondo Alla Turca – at the age of 10 – that Connor began to see the appeal of the classical genre. “I ended up loving the music more than I expected,” he says. “The specific challenges of classical guitar are extremely satisfying. There was nothing else I could see myself doing. Music was the only thing I cared about.”
Connor’s infatuation with the genre was matched by his innate musicianship. He was 14 when he participated in the inaugural Adelaide Guitar Festival Winter School initiative in 2016. Led by Paul Svoboda, the week-long intensive is designed to help emerging classical guitar players develop their performance skill set as part of the Guitar Festival Orchestra.
“I really enjoyed it,” he says. “As classical guitarists, we often play by ourselves – which is fine – but it’s fun to play with a large group of musicians. The environment of playing with more than 50 people is very energising.”
For Adelaide Guitar Festival artistic director, Slava Grigoryan, the Winter School program is made for engaging and inspiring young players like Connor. “The Winter School and orchestra [is] a great way of bringing people together,” he says, “not to compete, but to play, learn music and perform together.”
Connor says the biggest takeaway from the program includes enhancing his sight-reading skills, honing his live-performance abilities and networking with other emerging musicians and masters of the craft.
His maturing talent, as well as his participation in the Winter School led, him to be invited to three Adelaide Guitar Festival masterclasses. The first was with American guitarist Martha Masters, with two more under the guidance of Spaniard Jose Maria Gallardo Del Rey, a leader in classical Spanish guitar, flamenco artistry and composition. Connor’s first professional gig also emerged from his association with the festival, performing at the Backstage Sessions Live Concert in 2020.
At the same time, the guitarist was enrolled in a Bachelor of Music Advanced (Classical Performance) at the Elder Conservatorium of Music and had started competing at the annual Adelaide International Classical Guitar
Competition. Connor says after placing in the finals in 2020 and 2021, he decided to skip the 2022 competition. “I didn’t think I was at a level where I could win,” he says. “I have to thank my parents for pushing me to do it.”
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Over six months, Connor rigorously practised seven pieces he was required to perform, including a 15-minute choice repertoire where he rearranged a Bach piece originally meant for the organ. He says he wasn’t thinking about winning, but trying to become the best player he could. “I improved immensely,” he says. “I probably practised smarter than ever – playing slowly or with a metronome. I was only thinking about having the opportunity to play at such a prestigious festival.”
Slava says Connor’s 2022 competition performance was “immaculate” and that his natural musicianship, individuality and storytelling capabilities set him apart. “He’s not a follower,” the artistic director says. “He doesn’t just do what he’s told. There’s an individuality in the communication he’s capable of.”
First place at the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition is awarded $10,000 prize money, plus a Jim Redgate guitar (valued at $23,000) and a chance to perform at the following Adelaide Guitar Festival. However, winning the prestigious event has opened more opportunities, ensuring Connor will play in Sydney, Perth and Canberra later this year.
“That opportunity has been given to him at a very crucial time,” says Slava. “Everyone in the community knows this happened, people are taking notes.”
Today, Connor is using his prize money to complete his honours degree at the Australian National University in Canberra. Under the guidance of his course teacher Minh Le Hoang and private instructor Timothy Kain, his study focus is performance and arranging classical guitar pieces written for the organ. “I’m excited to be doing what I care about, which is playing for people.”
But reflecting on his journey, Connor mentions the pivotal role the Adelaide Guitar Festival and Winter School played in his development. “You learn so much in terms of how to play,” he says. “It’s an excellent step in learning how to perform with others. But I think the best way to progress as a musician is to go to concerts.
“There are so many shows to watch by world-renowned artists at the Adelaide Guitar Festival. You’re going to be inspired, you’re going to meet [players] and develop your network. The Guitar Festival is excellent at doing [that]. It draws together the greatest players together from Australia and beyond.”
The Adelaide Guitar Festival takes place between July 1–16. Registrations for the Winter School and Adelaide International Guitar Competition are now open.
