Paul Gaibraith

Paul Galbraith is internationally recognized as one of the most important guitarists of today. His revolutionary approach to the guitar, combined with the subtlety and depth of his interpretations, has made him an immediately recognizable figure in the world of classical music. Paul uses an unusual 8-string guitar developed in 1993 with the legendary luthier David Rubio. Rubio's design departs from the traditional format by employing the radical stringing asymmetry of the 'Orpharion,' a Renaissance instrument from the lute family. The instrument was nicknamed the 'Brahms Guitar' because of its wide tessitura and richness of sonic possibilities. Paul's particular approach to guitar technique comes from an idea he had in 1984 that allowed him to free his right arm from supporting or resting on the instrument. The resulting freedom provides greater fluidity between movement and sound. Paul continued to develop and refine his new way of playing until 1987, when he developed the cellist posture with which he is associated today. Paul began performing during his teens, attracting public attention in Great Britain through a series of successes in televised competitions. In a statement to the press after the 1981 Leeds Castle Segovia competition, in which Paul was awarded the silver medal, Segovia raised his hand and exclaimed: “Paul is magnificent. He will be a great artist.” Since the 1990s, Paul has toured annually in the United States and performed in the United Kingdom and the European Union, as well as in China, South America, Russia, Norway, Australia, Canada, India, etc. He has also performed with several of the leading orchestras and chamber groups in England and Europe, such as: BBC Orchestras, Royal Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Quartet, English Chamber Orchestra, Halle, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, European Chamber Orchestra, Moscow Chamber Orchestra and Shanghai Quartet.