Miles Jackson

Miles Jackson is one of New Zealand’s most accomplished guitarists. He began his musical training on the violin, changing to classical guitar in 1965. He has studied with a number of distinguished teachers and several periods in Spain have allowed him to explore and develop considerable expertise in flamenco techniques. An intense period of study with world-renowned Czech guitarist Vladimir Mikulka took place in the summer of 1982. This was followed with three years of study with the English master guitarist John Mills, which has provided Miles with a technical facility and musicianship of the highest standard.

He has been working as a professional musician since 1972. Apart from solo performances, he has performed with many different chamber music groups and has been a member of the John Mills Trio and the Delphinos Guitar Duo. However most of his work has been with violinist Margarita Jackson as Duo Jackson. They have toured and given workshops in many countries, made numerous TV & radio broadcasts and recorded many albums of their music.

Miles has performed as a soloist throughout NZ and in Australia, Singapore, France, Spain and England.

In 1974 he was a founder and Vice President of the New Zealand federation of Classical Guitar Societies and was President from 1979 -1984. During this time he has also been a founding member of the Classical Guitar Society of Auckland, and founded the Guitar Societies of Dunedin and Nelson. He has been Musical Director and organiser of four New Zealand Federation summer music schools and is Co-Director of the NCMA Classical Guitar & Flamenco Festivals. He has also organised concert tours and workshops for many outstanding Guitarists from other countries.

Currently Miles performs, as a soloist, with Duo Jackson, with Trio Jackson, the Goya Ensemble and Trio Jackson.

Miles has always had a keen interest in raising the levels of the teaching and performance of the classical guitar in New Zealand and since 1974 has been actively involved in creating and pioneering ways to achieve this goal. He pays particular attention to teaching excellent technique and sound production. A priority for Miles is to bring students together to make music in enjoyable ensemble situations and to perform as often as possible.