Album Notes

Paul arrived in Manitoba in 1991 to pursue a Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar at Brandon University. He graduated in 1995, and shortly thereafter joined the Suzuki Talent Education Program at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Conservatory of Music as a guitar instructor.

In November 2002, Paul finished a Masters degree in Classical Guitar Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, located in Brisbane, Australia. During his time there, he was inspired (as much by homesickness for Canada as his appreciation for his musical surroundings) to get reaquainted with contemporary folk music, which in turn inspired several of the songs that appear on his debut CD, Acoustic Pencil Sketches (and Songs for Home) .

Paul's recent performance accomplishments also include two periods of intensive study with American pedagogue Bruce Holzman, and masterclass sessions with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Leo Brouwer, Ricardo Cobo, Lily Afshar, the Sydney Guitar Trio, Denis Azabagic, the Z.O.O. Duo, Stephen Robinson, Kevin Gallagher, and Australian composer Philip Houghton.

A musician's set list is invariably a reflection of his/her own experiences as a musician and human being. With Acoustic Pencil Sketches, Paul hopes to share these experiences with his audience. His songs and solo guitar pieces speak of a long-overdue return to one's childhood home, the magic of the changing seasons, summer sunsets while driving across the province of Saskatchewan, winter (a theme upon which Canadians can justifiably call themselves experts), and, inevitably, falling in love (a theme that transcends national boundaries and touches all of us somehow).