Vincenzo Martinelli

Born in Australia of Italian parents, Guitarist Vincenzo Martinelli was brought into the magical world of music as a young boy through the influence of his father, a mandolin player from the region of Abbruzzo in central Italy, famous for its mountain air, fine food and wine. Vincenzo began his early musical training on acoustic and electric guitars, studying with a friend of his grandfather, who left his tiny village of Lettopalena in Abbruzzo to study music in the United States before migrating to Australia

Vincenzo first studied Classical guitar at Academy of Guitar in Sydney and subsequently at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, graduating with a Diploma of the State Conservatorium of Music and a Bachelor of Music Degree. In his final year he was awarded the highest honour for a graduating student, the Keith Noake Memorial Prize. Soon after, Vincenzo was awarded an Italian Government Scholarship which led to a period of instruction under the celebrated Maestro Lucio Dosso at the Centro Romano Della Gitarra in Rome, a school established by the legendary Andrés Segovia.

Upon his return to Australia, Vincenzo was invited to premiere a new work by composer Phillip Houghton at the International Guitar Festival held in Darwin in the Northern Territory of Australia. Present at the festival was world-renowned virtuoso guitarist John Williams. So impressed was Williams on hearing this performance that he requested permission from the composer to record it himself.

Vincenzo has performed with national and international acts and as special guest of Welsh singing sensation Dame Shirley Bassey. Besides a busy touring and recording schedule, Vincenzo is highly sought after as a Headline Act in the Luxury Cruise Line industry and regularly performs on the world's finest ships.

In recent years, Vincenzo has continued his study of guitar through the introduction of Spanish Flamenco & Nouveau Flamenco music. He has studied and performed with world-acclaimed Flamenco guitarist Robbie Varga and the Flamenco Dance Group "Luna Nueva." He holds a Masters Degree in music and has recently released his fourth album, "El Toro," to world-wide critical acclaim,

"What comes with the joy of performing in most parts of the world is an ability to create and re-create highly personal and unique performances over and over again. They touch the soul with the spirit of a gypsy dancer and the fire of the raging bull' - Vincenzo