Born in Tehran-Iran 1975, Ramtin Montazemi received his first guitar at the age of 14 and began learning the instrument under the instructions of a local guitar tutor. His childhood memories from TV themes played an important role on his choice of music. He specifically remembers the guitar transcription of Asturias composed by Isaac Albeniz that was played as a theme for one of his favourite childhood TV programmes and the mesmerising effect it had on him. Naturally he was drawn towards the Spanish guitar and more specifically flamenco music. His love and passion for flamenco music developed even further when he received a video cassette of Paco de Lucia. Paco’s music and virtuosity made Ramtin to take his music more seriously and turn it into a career. Ramtin became so passionate about flamenco music that he spent the rest of his teenage life learning instrumental skills as well as music theory, solfeggio, harmony and counterpoint under the instructions of various tutors. He began teaching the guitar at the age of 17 as well as occasional performances with the fusion band he formed with his fellow musicians.
At the age of 21, he was awarded as the best music composer for the youth musical theatre competition in Iran. There it was the beginning of his musical career mainly as a guitarist and a guitar teacher. Soon after, he was recognised for his warm touch on the guitar and his teaching skills that resulted in having numerous concerts as well as a large number of students. During his musical career in Iran, he received several citation from establishments such as Tehran University and Bahai Institute for Higher Education for his performances as well as his collaboration as a syllabus producer, examiner and tutor. After several years of experience in music, Ramtin decided to moved to the UK to pursue his musical career further. Soon after his arrival to the UK, Ramtin started developing his performing career as an accompanist for flamenco dancers alongside his solo performances which resulted in a numerous formal and informal concerts. The highlight of his performances, was his recital at the Wakefield Cathedral in July 2006 that was a great success which resulted in good reviews in local papers. However, despite his love and passion for flamenco guitar, Ramtin always admired the refinement and the delicate technique of the classical guitarists , therefore he began to study at the London College of Music in 2010 where he expanded his musical experience through many solo and ensemble performances. Amongst them, the most successful one was the premier of London Guitar Quartet. He formed this quartet with his fellow students and the premier took place in a music festival in Monelimar-France in form of a numerous concerts within a week across various venues.
Ramtin is currently studying Mmus Performance at the London College of Music and he is aiming to continue his academic education to phd level. At the moment, he is concentrating on his music teaching career and working on develop his own method of guitar.
Tutors who I studied with:
• Ilusha Akhodnikoff: Flamenco Guitar
• Fahim Momtazi: Harmony and Counterpoint
• Rafael Ortega: Flamenco Guitar
• Jad Azkoul (former student of maestro Abel Carlevaro): Classical Guitar
• Paul Saricich: Orchestration and arranging
• Simon Rigby (Senior lecturer at London College of Music): Orchestration and Arranging
• Peter Rudnik (Senior Lecturer and the head of BMus performance at London College of Music): Ensemble Performance Skills
• Dr Emilie Capulet (Senior Lecturer and the Head of MMus Classical Performance at London College of Music): Advanced Performance Skills
• Prof. Robert Sholl (Professor of Music and Academic Research at London College of Music and royal Academy of Music): Performance and Improvisation skills
• Michael Lewin (Head of Guitar at Royal Academy of Music): Classical Guitar and Sight Reading
• Andrew Keeping ( Concert Guitarist): Classical Guitar
• Santy Msciaro (Concert Guitarist): Classical Guitar
Classes at Sornai: Classical Guitar