Plymouth graduate named among guitar world's rising stars

A Plymouth University graduate has been ranked among the most promising young guitarists on the planet.

Will McNicol is listed alongside international superstars including Ed Sheeran and Laura Marling as one of Acoustic Guitar Magazine’s “30 Great Players Under 30”.

The list aims to recognise a new generation of guitarists helping to transform the way the instrument is being played, and commended Will’s style of playing for being “at once soothing and uplifting”.

It is the latest accolade for the 24-year-old, from Wimborne in Dorset, who was named Acoustic Guitarist of the Year by Guitarist Magazine in 2011, and is about to embark on a 10-date tour across the south of England.

“Being named alongside some of the world's finest and most revolutionary players is really very humbling. It's not something I ever consider as I'm writing or performing – I just write my music because I love the process – but for it to be recognised by my peers as being up there is incredibly gratifying,” said Will, who graduated from the BA (Hons) Product Design programme in 2012 and currently balances his busy performance schedule with teaching classical and acoustic guitar in schools across Dorset.

“I'm indebted to the magazine for getting my music out to a wider audience, and the networking with other players from around the world that has happened as a result. I have my first international gigs coming up in Africa in May, and there is already talk of getting over to the USA sometime in the near future, so it's all very exciting.”

Since graduating, Will has continued his association with Plymouth by performing at a number of University events, including a concert as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations and a live show at the third anniversary of the Pool Innovation Centre in Cornwall.

He has also performed his own compositions with the Ten Tors Orchestra under the conductorship of Simon Ible, Director of Music for Peninsula Arts.

Simon said: “Will McNicol is an outstanding guitarist and composer who well deserves this international recognition. Will has retained strong links with Plymouth and his new EP features the track By the Water – a piece scored for solo guitar and the strings of the Ten Tors Orchestra and premiered at Plymouth University in 2013. His performances are stunning and I would certainly encourage anyone who hasn’t yet heard him live to get along to his forthcoming gigs.”

Will started his new tour in Bournemouth yesterday (29 March), and it will take him to venues in London, Cardiff and Brighton as well as three dates in the South West, including Penzance, Truro and the B-Bar in Plymouth, on Friday 25 April. For more information, visit www.willmcnicol.co.uk