Gerard Mapstone

Brisbane based guitarist Gerard Mapstone is one of Australia's finest classical and flamenco guitarists. Gerard won the Queensland Conservatorium classical guitar prize as a teenager. Upon graduating and developing his interest in flamenco he moved to Spain, whilst living in Jerez de la Frontera he studied with Jose Ignatio Franco, a renowned flamenco Guitarist in Andalucía.

Gerard then moved to England and joined flamenco fusion band Candela. Together they supported flamenco greats Tomatito and Estrella Morente at the Barbican Theatre in London, along with WOMAD in Reading and the Spiegeltent at Brighton Fringe Festival. Whilst in England, Gerard continued his studies with Carlos Bonell, guitar professor at the Royal College of Music, London.

Gerard appeared on three recordings made while living in Brighton. “Hells full of Angels” by DADGAD guitar virtuoso Lee Westwood from the album To Sleep, “The Last Reel” by flautist Philippe Barnes and All Jigged Out from the album Wish Hill, and “Jigeria” by Paul Aguilera and Candela.

Mapstone’s performances have spanned across most Australian Festivals, and since establishing the DALeCAÑA Flamenco Company have sold out shows at the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre, and around Australia. Mapstone has written for Orchestra and debuted this work at St John’s Cathedral with the Camerata of St John’s String Orchestra.

Mapstone was also a member of the renowned Doch Gypsy Orchestra, a 27 piece group of singers, brass, percussion, strings and guitarists who played Romanian and Hungarian gypsy music. Together they performed six seasons at the Powerhouse Theatre in Brisbane, collaborated with the Great Siberian Circus at QPAC in 2008 and with Vulcana Circus in 2009.  At the Sydney Festival supported the legendary Fanfare Ciocarlia and the Gypsy Queens and Kings at the Domain. 

The DALeCAÑA Flamenco Company was formed in 2007 by Mapstone, flamenco dancer Sylvia Arroyo percussionist Will Eager and violinist Michael Patterson. The group works very closely in developing their own choreography to original music. Their sound speaks to the heart of traditional flamenco and shows the same passion for its development into our contemporary life. 

EN GARDE! Featuring James Sherlock, Shenzo Gregorio and Mapstone is a guitar trio established this year and has been a feature at the Spiegeltent for the Brisbane Festival, QLD Multicultural Festival and the Q150 Shed Tour. The group brings and all guns blazing guitar extravaganza to audiences with original works fusing flamenco, Romanian gypsy music and jazz, quoting Beethoven to Paco de Lucia. EN GARDE!

Gerard teaches guitar at Brigidine College along with Kenmore State High and has given classical and flamenco guitar workshops at the Bonyi International Youth Music Festival, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries, Tyalgum Festival of Classical Music, Festival of Colour (NZ), National Folk Festival, Marist College Ashgrove, Brisbane Boys College, Villanova College and Mind Ventures at the QLD University lecturing on the history of Spanish music.