Marc Ongley

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Marc Ongley (born 13 December 1952) is an Australian classical and jazz guitarist, composer, and teacher. He lived in the United Kingdom from 1991 to 2019. Born in Maitland, New South Wales, he became the first Australian to be awarded the Licentiate of the Trinity College of Music, London (LTCL) and the Fellowship of the Trinity College of Music London (FTCL), in 1974 and 1977 respectively. [1] The Sydney Morning Herald described Ongley as "one of Australia's finest classical guitarists". [2] Ongley studied with the renowned Australian music educator Don Andrews and famous classical guitarists Alirio Diaz and Turibio Santos, students of Andrés Segovia. He recorded and released several classical and jazz albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, Ongley released albums in the genres of blues and rock.

Contents

Career

Marc Ongley started his career as a rock guitarist in the band Maya, from Newcastle, New South Wales. [3] The group was an opening act for the Beach Boys at two concerts during their 1970 tour of Australia. [4] Maya finished fourth in Hoadley's Battle of the Sounds in 1970 at the Capitol Theatre, Sydney.

Ongley's first transcription for solo guitar was published in 1973 by J. Albert and Son, an interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise". [5]

In 1979 Ongley performed for the Australian High Commissioner, Gordon Freeth, at Australia House, London, playing the piece "Cello Suite No.1" by Johann Sebastian Bach. [6] His first public professional performance in the UK took place on 6 September 1981 at the Wigmore Hall, London. [7] This concert received attention in the Australian press. The Sydney Morning Herald noted that "Australia, with a few exceptions such as John Williams, is not known for its classical guitarists" and therefore it was a "high honour" for Ongley to perform at the Wigmore Hall. [2]

In 1993 Ongley collaborated with British trumpeter Steve Waterman and bass player Laurence Cottle to release his first jazz record, Song for Ros, recorded at Abbey Road Studios on 24 April 1993. Gramophone reviewed the record, writing that "Ongley is a young...guitarist who plays clean, inventive lines with gentle good taste and minimum amplification". The review went on to recognize "Ongley's most welcome new talent". [8] The 1994 edition of The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD rated the album 3 stars, describing Ongley as "a decent writer in a romantic vein. The title piece and 'My Funny Valentine' are both nice performances, but he's probably at his best in a medium tempo...Respectably produced as well". [9]

Education

Ongley gained a Licentiate (1974) and Fellowship (1977) in the discipline of music, awarded in Sydney by an international examiner from the Trinity College of Music, London. He studied with Don Andrews and two renowned students of Andrés Segovia: Alirio Diaz and Turibio Santos. [6]


Discography

TitleYearRelease type
Cantabile for Strings1974Single
The Marc Ongley Jazz Quartet ‘A Day at Abbey Road, Pt.2’1993EP
Guitar Recital1998Album
Gentle Rain1998Album
Moonlight Sonata2000Album
When I’m Sixty-Four2000Single
Symphony No.1 in C Major ‘Alpha’2002Single
String Quartet No.1 in C Major ‘Spifire’2002Single
Guitar Recital 22002Album
You Are the Sunshine of My Life2002Album
The Awakening2008Album
Where I Could Not Follow2013Single
Summer Song2013Single
When Two Worlds Meet (feat. George Golla)2013Single
The Marc Ongley Jazz Quartet ‘A Day at Abbey Road’2013EP
The Girl from Ipanema2014Album
Twenty First Century Blues2014Album
New Guitar Concerto 2018 - Concerto pour Laube2018Single
My Music For Classical Guitar2018Album
My Latin and Swing Tunes2018Album
Lullaby for Jess2018Single
Till There Was You2019Single
Symphony No.2 in F Major ‘Spring’2020Single
Ten Thousand Miles2021Album
How High the Moon2022Album
Swing Along2022Album
Solaris2022Album
African Adventure2022Album
Autumn in the Valley2022Album
In a Musical Moment2022Album
Touches of Spain2022Album
Purple2023Album
Steel Spring2023Album
My Duets for Guitar and Other Stringed Instruments2023Album
Pure2023Album
My Jazz Ballads2023Album
My Music for Flute and Guitar2023Album
Train Ride2023Album
July2023Album
Free Falling2023Album
Native American2023Album
Inner Space2023Album
Nylon String Blues2023Album
Me and My Guitar2023Album
Romance2023Album
Ninety Five Degrees2023Album
Summer Rise2023Album
Waves in the Sand2023Album
Classic Improvisations2024Album
Classic Improvisations, Pt. 22024Album
Sailing2024Album
An Intimate Space2024Album
In the Live Room2024Album
Merci Beaucoup2024Album
I Wonder2024Album
Mosaic2024Album
In the Positive2024Album
Rainbow2024Album
Más España2024Album
Festa de Rua2024Album
Nineteen Sixty Eight2024Album
Feliz2024Album
Espana2024Album
Shades of Django2024Album
Contemporary Classical Classical Improvisations2024Album
My Jazz Waltzes2024Album
Inspiration from Brazil2024Album
The Old Bridge2024Album
Electric October2024Album
Chasing the Rainbow2024Album
Majestic Sunset2024Album
Canzone2024Album
C’est 122024Album
Diversão2024Album
Spring in the Valley2024Album
Acoustic Journey2024Album
Blues 722024Album
Mysterious Island2024Album
Just for Johnny2024Album
Out of Somewhere2024Album
In the Mid Distance2025Album
Weekend Chill2025Album
Solitude2025Album
The Church2025Album
Molto Bella2025Album
Singing Octaves2025Album
Ad Libitum2025Album
Le doux reve2025Album
Latin Afternoon2025Album
Down by the Lake2025Album
Atmospheric2025Album
100 Times Over2025Album
Symphony No. 3 in Bb Major ‘The Jazz’, Symphony No. 4 in D Minor ‘Winter’2025Album
Sextet in D Major - Quintet in F Major2025Album
Expo 882025Album
Delightful Jazz Duets2025Album
Musings2025Album
Electric Pursuit2025Album
Luz do Dia2025Album
Steel on Wood2025Album
Up Close2025Album
Just Solo2025Album
In the Middle2025Album
Unaltered2025Album
Sunny Blue2025Album
A Lovely Journey2025Album
La Dolce Notte2025Album
Up Jumped Summer2025Album

Books

References

  1. ↑ Australian National Bibliography. National Library of Australia. 1975. p. 415.
  2. 1 2 Dunn, Ross (1981). "Marc Takes a Step Up International Music Ladder". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  3. ↑ "Newcastle Bands Database: Maya". Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  4. ↑ "Marc's Mission to encourage guitarist to take note". Richmond & Twickenham Times. 28 May 2004. Archived from the original on 12 October 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  5. ↑ Sydney Conservatorium of Music. "Für Elise [music] / Beethoven; transcribed for solo guitar by Marc Ongley" . Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 Natural Light Records. "Biography: Marc Ongley". Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  7. ↑ Barton, Marianne, ed. (1984). British Music Yearbook. University of California. p. 19. ISBN   978-0-946890-03-3.
  8. ↑ "Song for Ros". Gramophone. 71 (845–847): 150. 1993. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Richard Cook & Brian Morton (1994). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. London: Penguin Books. p. 993. ISBN   0-14-017949-6.
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