Nigel North BiographyNigel North was born in London in 1954, and has been playing the lute professionally now for over thirty years. Initially inspired into music at the age of seven by the early 1960s instrumental pop group The Shadows, he studied classical music through the violin and guitar, eventually discovering his real path in life, the lute, when he was fifteen. Basically self taught on the lute, he has developed a unique musical life which embraces activities as a teacher, accompanist, soloist, director and writer.
His achievements include the publication of a basso continuo tutor (Faber 1987), representing his work and dedication for this subject, and a four-volume CD recording Bach on the Lute (1994-1997). Together with Andrew Manze (violin) and John Toll (harpsichord and organ), he formed the ensemble Romanesca, and for ten years, from 1988 to 1998, they explored, performed and recorded seventeenth-century chamber music, winning several international awards for their recordings. Nigel North also enjoys accompanying singers and is an enthusiastic teacher. For over twenty years he was Professor of Lute at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, and from 1993 to 1999 he was Professor at the Hochschule der Künste, Berlin. Since January 1999 he has been Professor of Lute at the Early Music Institute of Indiana University, Bloomington in the United States, and from January 2005 has also taught the Lute at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. www.nigelnorth.com