Zoe Barnett
“Her performances are marked by artistry, imagination, and a distinctive approach that continues to captivate audiences.”
About
Zoe Barnett is a leading voice among a new generation of classical guitarists, known for her captivating artistry and her ability to bridge the gap between the traditional concert hall and a global digital audience.
A graduate of the Royal College of Music, where she completed her Master of Performance with First Class Honours, Zoe studied under the renowned tutelage of Gary Ryan and Christopher Stell. Her technical brilliance and sensitive interpretation have earned her top honours at multiple international competitions, including first prizes at the Harmonia Cordis International Guitar Competition (Romania), the Twents Festival (Netherlands), and the Aalborg International Guitar Competition (Denmark).
Zoe’s performance career is truly international, with recent appearances at Wigmore Hall, Kings Place, and the Shanghai Grand Theatre. As a D’Addario Artist, she has cultivated a significant online presence, reaching over 85,000 followers on Instagram. By sharing her musical journey and technical insights, she has built a dedicated community of listeners, making classical guitar more accessible to a modern, digitally-native generation.
Known for her distinctive "standing" performance style, Zoe’s playing is characterised by a unique physical intimacy and dance-like movement, bringing a fresh, contemporary energy to the classical repertoire.
The Standing Perspective: A Solo Recital
This flagship programme serves as a definitive showcase of Zoe’s versatility, moving seamlessly from the rigorous technical demands of the classical canon to evocative contemporary works. Performing in her signature standing style, Zoe offers a performance that is as visually engaging as it is musically profound, allowing for a level of physical expression and audience connection rarely seen in classical guitar recitals.
The repertoire is curated to highlight the instrument’s incredible range. It features pillars of British contemporary music, such as Sir William Walton’s Five Bagatelles, alongside the baroque masterworks of Bach and the quintessential Spanish romanticism of Albéniz. Zoe balances these established works with a deep commitment to exploring more diverse soundscapes, including Lily Afshar’s arrangements of Persian folk songs and modern pieces that push the guitar’s percussive and melodic boundaries.
This project is designed for venues and festivals seeking a performance that feels fresh and revitalised. It is a programme of contrasts—at once intimate and expansive—making it equally suitable for the precision of a recording session or the grand atmosphere of a concert hall. By reimagining how the classical guitar is presented, Zoe delivers a recital that is both an homage to the instrument's heritage and a bold step into its future.
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