Biography
George Wills is a lutenist and guitarist based in Sydney, Australia. He has recently returned to Australia after an intensive few years performing and studying in Germany. George is an active basso continuo player specialising in theorbo and baroque guitar. He regularly performs with ensembles and orchestras in Europe and Australasia. Recent highlights include performances with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Pinchgut Opera, Lautten Compagney, Komische Oper Berlin, Deutsches Kammerorchester, The Song Company, Ensemble I Sogni, Crossroads Baroque, and Salut! Baroque.
George is a core member of various chamber ensembles in Germany. With the ensemble Crossroads Baroque, he won first prize in Il Gusto Barocco’s 2024 Nouvi Talenti competition. He also won first prize with Ensemble I Sogni in the Kulturfeste im Land Brandenburg/UdK competition in 2024. In 2016 he won 1st Place in the New Zealand Classical Guitar Competition.
George has performed in Europe, UK, USA, Australia, and New Zealand. He has appeared in performance at festivals including Bach Festival Leipzig, SPAM Alte Musik Fest, Friedenau Alte Musik Fest, and the Kulturfeste im Land Brandenburg. With Crossroads Baroque he has been broadcast live in performance by SWR radio Germany. In 2024 he completed a Master of Music degree in Early Music at the Universität der Künste Berlin, studying with lutenist Sam Chapman.
George completed a Bachelor of Music with 1st Class Honours in Classical Guitar at the New Zealand School of Music with Dr. Jane Curry in 2015. Subsequently, inspired by the rich repertoire and vast opportunities for ensemble performance, George began studying theorbo and baroque guitar while in Australia. He completed a Master of Music degree at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2019, studying with lutenist Tommie Andersson. Between 2019 and 2022 George furthered his lute and early guitar studies with Simon Martyn-Ellis.
George’s accompaniment sensibilities and rhythmic flair is also influenced by his experience with flamenco music. He studied flamenco guitar with Damian Wright in Sydney, and continued his education at the renowned flamenco school, Fundación Cristina Heeren, in Seville, Spain.
George plays instruments by Jason Petty: www.jasonpettylutes.com
George Wills 