Professor Allan Neave
The Guitar Department at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland is among the foremost in Europe, attracting top students from Britain and indeed all over the world. Over the last ten years it has seen a production line of top-class and prizewinning talent, under the aegis of Allan Neave.
Allan is one of Scotland’s leading classical guitarists, and is Professor of Guitar at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he plays a central role in fostering the development of so many fine young musicians. Allan is a master of tone production and technical control, and is a hugely expressive musician. He is also an energetic promoter of the instrument through his work with Glasgow’s Big Guitar Weekend.
Allan Neave / guitar
Allan Neave studied classical guitar at the then RSAMD, RNCM and finally with the Great Spanish master – José Tomas in Alicante. Since this time he has been a regular guest at many of the world’s leading musical festivals including the Edinburgh International, St Magnus, Cheltenham, Lorient, Iserlohn International Guitar Festivals, as well as performances at Tartan Week, New York in 2012. He is a regular guest at many of the worlds leading musical events and has worked with many influential musicians including Nikita Koshkin, David Fennessy, Hans Werner Henze, Gordon McPherson and Stephen Dodgson.
To date, his career has been an eclectic one, from recording his acclaimed debut CD in 1997 to the emotional journey of ‘The Island Tapes’, South American tours both in solo and with new music group Psappha, an East Coast tour of Australia with SCO Principal flautist Alison Mitchell and a farewell concert with Tetra Guitar Quartet in Germany 2015. Past highlights have included many performances of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with some of the UK’s leading ensembles – Royal Scottish National Orchestra/ Northern Sinfonia/ Scottish Chamber Orchestra. In 2011 he collaborated with Scottish Bard – Don Paterson, recording the soundtrack for a film documentary about the late great Scottish painter, John Bellany.
During his 30 year career, Allan was the Artistic Director of the Dundee International Guitar Festival for over 20 years and since 2010 has led RCS’s ‘ Big Guitar Weekend’ a winter event for all matters guitar! In 2000, he received the Scotland on Sunday Glenfiddich ® Spirit of Scotland Award for Music; these awards were set up to recognise individuals who lead the way in Scottish culture. He was also awarded his Professorship from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for contribution to the musical landscape of our country.
Allan is currently Head of Guitar and Harp at RCS, he plays Michael Gee guitars and is a D’Addario, New York sponsored artist.
We are delighted to welcome three outstanding young guitarists from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to our 25th Festival.
One of the things we particularly value at Ullapool is the opportunity to give talented young musicians a platform alongside established international artists. This year we’re pleased to welcome Antara, Shubbe Kabanda and Finlay Anderson, each bringing a very different musical background and perspective to the Festival.
Their programmes range from Bach and Spanish guitar to Japanese contemporary music, South American repertoire and the music of living composers. We hope you’ll enjoy discovering three musicians who are very much part of the next generation of guitarists.
2026 Students from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Are as follows :-.
Antara
Antara
Bio:
Antara’s fifth birthday present was her first guitar. In the 18 years since, she has never looked back. Performing around India and the world, she has had the pleasure to play solo, with ensembles, during plays, in art galleries, at heritage buildings in the streets of Kolkata, and wherever else her music takes her. She has premiered music by composers like Clarice Assad and Elodie Bouny and been selected to participate in programs like the Guitar Foundation of America’s Mentorship program and the Volterra Project in Italy. She teaches at charities and community music projects. She is always curious about interacting with new audiences, art, and artists.
Programme
Introduction from Sor’s Fantasy op. 2 (6:20)
Mallorca – Albeniz arr. David Russell (7:00)
Der Leiermann – Franz Schubert arr. R.Smits (3:00)
Para Antara – Clarice Assad (4:00)
Shubbe Kabanda
From Glasgow, Shubbe Kabanda is in the final year of her BMus at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Shubbe has been involved in music from an early age, initially as a chorister, then taking up drum-kit and guitar, and later receiving cello lessons. Uncommon for a solo instrumentalist, her commitment to playing with various musicians illustrates her passion and ambition as an ensemble performer.
Shubbe is an awardee of the International Guitar Foundation’s Young Artist Platform 2026-27. In 2023, Shubbe achieved runner-up in Glasgow’s Scottish Young Musician competition and later that year became a Robertson Trust Scholar. She is also a Dewar Arts Award recipient supporting her purchase of a 2024 Danilo Bazzana guitar.
Shubbe also plays electric/acoustic guitar in her R&B, neo-soul band ‘Rendezvous’, and frequently performs in musical theatre pits, often doubling various types of guitars.
Programme:
Federico Mompou – Selection of movements from Suite Compostelana
Toru Takemitsu – All in Twilight (1985)
Finlay Anderson
Finlay Anderson is a Scottish guitarist who is currently studying for a master’s degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He has a particular interest in South American and Spanish guitar music but also enjoys playing jazz and blues on the electric guitar.
Programme:
JS Bach- B Minor Partita (Courante, Sarabande, and Bourrée)
Augustin Barrios – Vals no.3 and Julia Florid