About us
Eden Stell Guitar Duo
The Eden Stell Guitar Duo (Mark Eden and Christopher Stell) are one of the most innovative guitar ensembles in the world. Their dynamic performances have won great acclaim and delighted audiences whether they perform a baroque transcription or a new contemporary commission.
The duo have recorded six CDs, performed in over 20 countries, had concerto engagements with renowned ensembles such as the Prague Chamber Orchestra, and are the only guitarists since Julian Bream to receive an ‘Editor’s Choice’ in Gramophone Magazine.
Both hold teaching positions at the Royal College of Music and Birmingham Conservatoire. Mark and Chris were elected Associates of the Royal Academy of Music in recognition of their performing achievements. The duo are D’Addario string sponsored artists.
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Our un-official biog and Eden Stell trivia by Mark Eden
BD – before duo!
We both grew up playing classical and electric guitar, interspersed with some dodgy piano playing and a serious amount of drumming.
Chris had his first classical guitar lesson in Bath with Margaret Dornay who had studied with one of Tarrega’s pupils. She was quite a character and told Chris that if he was ever asked he should say he was learning the ‘Tarrega school!’
I grew up on the Isle of Wight, learning ‘Apache’ by the Shadows in my first guitar lesson – which I can still remember. It’s my dad’s biggest regret that I’ve never made it as big as the Rolling Stones!
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The Duo’s early days
We met as two fresh-faced first years at the Royal Academy of Music and started to play little pieces together for fun.
Things got a bit more serious when Michael Lewin asked us to perform Stephen Dodgson’s ’Promenade’ at the RAM’s Dodgson festival. It was our first large work and the start of our connection and enthusiasm for Stephen’s music, resulting in future collaborations.
We finally left the RAM in 1994 graduating with the Dip RAM, (the Academy’s highest performing award) the Principal’s Prize for achievement, and the Julian Bream Prize.
The Worshipful Company of Musicians then funded our further studies with Sergio and Odair Assad in Brussels – a truly inspirational point in our duo’s development!
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In the big wide world
We started to make our way in the big wide world and early successes included winning the South East Music Scheme‘s Young Musicians Platform, debuting at the South Bank with the Park Lane Group Young Artists Platform Series, and cutting our first recording on cassette tape (for those of you who remember the days before CDs).
We spent a few years performing throughout the UK with Yehudi Menuhin’s Live Music Now! scheme with memorable highlights including performances in a Belgian prison and a bread museum!
We were also invited to perform at some of the major international guitar festivals in Europe like the Iserlohn Guitar Symposium, Germany and made our first appearances on radio and TV.
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