Joan Furió Vivas
Classical Guitarrist
About
Joan Furió Vivas has performed as a soloist across Europe and the United States, in prestigious venues such as the Milton Court Concert Hall, the Eduard Toldrà Auditorium at the Conservatori Municipal de Música de Barcelona, Auditori Viader in Girona, Casa Luthier, Casa Elizalde, St. James's Piccadilly, and The Bitter End in New York City. His performances have been featured in festivals and concert series including the Festival de Guitarra de Girona, Festival de Música Religiosa de Vic, Festival de Música de Rialp, Dijous Concert (CMMB), Barnes Music Festival, Ely Arts Festival, Strings @ Eight (GSMD), and the British Spanish Society.
Passionate about collaborating with other musicians, Joan frequently performs in chamber music formations. He has formed successful duets with violin, voice, guitar, and harp, recorded the album Acordándonos with mezzo-soprano Sofia Llovet, and has been actively performing with soprano Maud Niklas in the UK, Spain, and Switzerland.
Recent highlights include his debut with orchestra, playing the Malcolm Arnold Guitar Concerto with the Silk Street Sinfonietta conducted by Antoine Veillerette in London. He will perform it again with the English Chamber Orchestra at the English Music Festival in 2028.
Joan was a Junior Fellow at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 2024-2025 and a postgraduate student at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst Wien (mdw) in Vienna, under Professor Alvaro Pierri.
He holds a Master of Performance with Distinction and a First Class Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, where he was a scholar studying under professors Robert Brightmore, Sean Shibe, Sasha Savaloni, and Toby Carr. He has received important guidance from Alvaro Pierri and has participated in lessons with many leading guitarists, including Leo Brouwer, Roland Dyens, David Russell, Manuel Barrueco, Carles Trepat, Margarita Escarpa, and Sergio Assad. His studies have been generously supported by GSMD, Help Musicians UK, the Spanish Society of Performers, Pedro Pons, and Eurostrings.
He won the chamber and solo honorific prizes at Barcelona’s Conservatoire CMMB, where he studied with Joan Furió Navarro.
Committed to the promotion of music in society, Joan is the organiser and artistic director of the international Villa Margarita Music Fest in Spain since 2021, now supported by a broad range of public and private partners.
Learn with me
Teaching is a vocation that has accompanied me throughout my musical life. Coming from a family of music teachers, I grew up surrounded by the values of curiosity, discipline and a genuine love for learning, and I have been teaching guitar for over ten years alongside my performing career. During this time, I have worked with children, teenagers and adults in Spain, the United Kingdom and Austria, helping students of all levels achieve their individual goals, from playing for enjoyment to preparing examinations, auditions and professional studies. I also organise an annual student concert, creating opportunities to perform and gain confidence on stage.
My teaching draws on a unique combination of traditions and influences. I studied with Álvaro Pierri, one of the leading heirs to Abel Carlevaro’s influential technical school, as well as with Robert Brightmore, a student of Julian Bream, and Sean Shibe. Beyond my formal studies, I have spent years learning from and observing some of the world's leading guitarists and pedagogues, including Leo Brouwer, Roland Dyens, David Russell, Manuel Barrueco and Sergio Assad. As a Junior Fellow at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and through my work with music schools and the Guildhall Young Artists Centre, I have developed a flexible and highly individual approach, drawing on the best aspects of the Spanish, British and Austrian traditions. Above all, I take particular satisfaction in helping students discover confidence and enjoyment in their playing.
I offer one-to-one lessons online and in person in Vienna. Whether you are taking your first steps on the guitar, returning to the instrument after a break, preparing for ABRSM or conservatoire auditions, or simply looking to deepen your musical understanding, I would be delighted to help you develop your playing in a supportive, inspiring and enjoyable environment.
