“The strengths of Contra are well established: thoughtful, elegantly shaped phrasing, effortlessly nimble passage work, and a capacity to draw out, and add colour to, harmonic motion.”
- Philip Pogson, The Music Trust
Opposing yet complementary performers can create thrilling artistry - this is the basis on which Contra Guitar Duo was formed by Hamish Strathdee and Emma-Shay Gallenti-Guilfoyle.
The pair met at their university auditions in 2011 and have been making music together ever since. Their contrasting musical personalities and charming personal chemistry bring a dynamic spin to the fantastic combination of two guitars. United by their passion to bring audiences music they love, Hamish and Emma-Shay are excited to showcase the varied and rich expressive capabilities of the guitar duo as an ensemble.
Brisbane-based Contra Guitar Duo has performed extensively in Europe and Australia. Performance highlights include the Dubai World Expo, Staatsoper Hamburg, Melbourne Guitar Festival and the Darmstädter Gitarrentage. The duo released their debut EP on Move in May 2023 and have numerous concert appearances across Australia.
CONTRA
LATEST RELEASE
Contra Guitar Duo’s debut recording showcases their musical personality and the elements they most enjoy about playing as a duo - lyricism, complex rubato and colour. Featuring works by Segovia, Houghton, Puccini, and Tansman.
“the tone is liquid amber ... the phrasing is quite exquisite”
- The Music Trust
“flawless confidence in each other”, “sensitively structured partnership”
- O’Connell the Music
