ANDREW BLANCH / AUSTRALIAN GUITAR QUARTET

Australia

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Australian guitarist Andrew Blanch is as passionate as they come and has made it his mission to promote the unique beauty of the guitar far and wide. He is a prizewinner in more than ten music competitions, including top prizes at the Whitworth-Roach Classical Music Competition (2015), Melbourne International Guitar Competition (2016), and the Adelaide International Guitar Competition (2019) dubbed the ‘most prestigious guitar competition in the southern hemisphere.’ Andrew has collaborated with many leading artists, composers and orchestras throughout his career. His albums Alchemy (2021) with classical guitarist Ariel Nurhadi, and Suite mágica (2024) with QSO principal harpist Emily Granger reached No. 2 and No. 1 on the ARIA Classical Album charts. Andrew has worked with many leading Australian composers in commissioning or premiering new music for the instrument including Elena Kats-Chernin, Robert Davidson, Jessica Wells, Felicity Wilcox and more.

AUSTRALIAN GUITAR QUARTET

The Australian Guitar Quartet (AGQ) unites four of Australia’s most acclaimed guitarists — Slava Grigoryan, Leonard Grigoryan, Vladimir Gorbach, and Andrew Blanch — each an internationally recognised soloist and passionate advocate for the instrument. Renowned for their “glorious sound” and “oozing creativity” (Sydney Morning Herald), the quartet is celebrated for performances that combine breathtaking virtuosity and expressive warmth, bringing a fresh and distinctly Australian voice to the global stage.

In their short time together, the AGQ has quickly established itself as one of Australia’s most dynamic new ensembles. Having appeared on the nation’s most prestigious stages — including the City Recital Hall in Sydney and the Melbourne Recital Centre — and at international festivals such as the iconic Festival Internacional de la Guitarra de Córdoba in Spain, they are scheduled to appear in major festivals across Europe, the United States, and Australia in 2026, alongside the release of their debut album.

Through inspired arrangements, new commissions, and collaborations that extend beyond the traditional guitar world, the Australian Guitar Quartet continues to expand the expressive and artistic horizons of the instrument.