Classical guitarist, Hamish Strathdee, is building a reputation as an "excellent young Australian performer" (Limelight Magazine Dec. 2017). Hamish's debut recording, Impressions of Spain, was release to critical acclaim both domestically and internationally in August 2017. Hailed as; "an excellent debut.. and "a thoroughly engaging album" (Classical Guitar Magazine, Recent Releases Tuesday 12 Sep. 2017).

A recipient of numerous awards and prizes, Hamish has received 2nd Prize in the 2016 Whitworth Classical Music Competition, and the Peter and Lena Karmel Honours Scholarship awarded to "the most outstanding student in music commencing an Honours year at the ANU School of Music." Additionally, Hamish was twice awarded first prize in the ANU Chamber Music Competition, in 2016 in Gallenti-Strathdee guitar duo and, in 2013 as a member of the Wattle Guitar Quartet. Hamish was also the inagural recipient of the Fankhauser Travelling Fellowship in 2015.

Hamish holds a Bachelor of Music with First Class Honours from the Australian National University. His major academic research was concerned with creating a new performance edition of Antonio José's Sonata para Guitarra, by consulting various manuscript sources and modern editions. " ... Strathdee has developed a new performance edition of the work, using multiple sources. It will come as no surprise, then, that his performance is of the highest standard, with each moment made very much his own, outstanding both in lyrical and virtuoso sections." (Soundboard Magazine (USA), Vol. 43 No. 4).

During his studies, Hamish was fortunate to be mentored by world renowned pedagogues and performers Minh Le Hoang and Timothy Kain, prior to his studies at the ANU, Hamish received significant guidance from Adrian Roll, Angelina Ellis and Isolde Schaupp. Hamish has also received guidance through participation in masterclasses and lessons with Paolo Pegoraro, Ricardo Gallen, Judicael Perroy, Olaf Van Gonnissen, Paul Galbraith, Cecilia Siqueira and Fernando de Lima. Hamish has also received support from the PPCA Performers Trust Foundation to help further his musical studies at the Akademie für Tonkunst, in Darmstadt Germany, under the tutelage of Guitarist, Musicologist and Composer Dr. Tilman Hoppstock.


Hamish currently performs on a guitar by Greg Smallman and Sons.

Impressions of Spain is a collection of some of the classical guitar's most beautiful works in the repertoire. The program of the recording displays a large variety of the instrumental colours and textures in the Spanish musical idiom.