Mark Eden

Across three decades of teaching, performing, and artistic leadership, I have sought to inspire students, expand the boundaries of guitar pedagogy, and contribute meaningfully to higher education. My work as a performer, educator, artistic director, and innovator has equipped me with the skills and vision to support and develop a vibrant, inclusive, and forward-looking guitar department.

At the heart of my teaching philosophy is the belief that every student has the capacity for artistic growth and self-expression, regardless of background or ability. My role is to inspire curiosity, foster resilience, and enable students to realise their potential as musicians and individuals. I aim to create an environment in which students feel empowered to ask questions, explore diverse repertoire, and develop core musical values, while their own artistic voice evolves.

My approach is student-centred and holistic, attentive to different learning styles, inclusivity, and the academic rigour that underpins UK higher education. I set high but achievable standards, communicate expectations clearly, and provide feedback that is honest, supportive, and developmental. Teaching is always differentiated and responsive to each student’s background, learning needs, and career aspirations.

I have a proven conservatoire-level teaching record, with over twenty-five years at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and sixteen years at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior Department, preparing students for conservatoire auditions and for undergraduate and postgraduate recital performance. My experience teaching both pre-conservatoire and tertiary-level students has resulted in numerous successful admissions to UK and European conservatoires, high levels of degree attainment, and sustained professional careers in performance and education. I take particular pride in supporting students not only as performers, but as future leaders and advocates for the guitar.

Alongside teaching, I maintain an active international performing and recording career. My work includes chamber music with the Eden–Stell Guitar Duo and Vida Guitar Quartet, collaborations with tenor James Gilchrist and flautist Jessica Quiñones, and solo performances. I tour regularly in Europe, the United States, and China, participate in international guitar festivals, and am frequently invited to serve on juries for major international guitar competitions, including the GFA, Martínez, and Heinsberg competitions.

Since 2004, I have been a faculty member at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, teaching individual lessons, leading repertoire and chamber music classes, and contributing to curriculum design and review. My teaching spans all stages of technical and artistic development and includes preparation for recitals, technical assessments, and public performance. With over 35 years’ experience, I have comprehensive knowledge of the solo, duo, song, and chamber repertoire and regularly curate scores for examination and study.

In addition to conservatoire teaching, I have extensive experience in pre-conservatoire education. At the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior Department, including its early years String Training programme, I worked with curricula integrating solfège and Dalcroze eurhythmics to establish strong rhythmic, aural, and reading skills in young musicians. I was also invited to contribute repertoire recommendations to Trinity College London’s diploma syllabus, which remain in use today.

I am deeply committed to curriculum innovation and regularly collaborate with departmental leadership on syllabus development, repertoire expansion, and ensemble opportunities. My work aligns closely with QAA benchmarks and sector best practice and includes auditioning, examining, report writing, and quality assurance processes. I also serve regularly as an external examiner and adjudicator at leading UK institutions, contributing to academic integrity and national standards.

A distinctive aspect of my career has been leading collaborative and themed projects. These include composer-in-residence initiatives, commissioning new works and guiding students through rehearsal and premiere processes, and themed performance projects such as Guitar and Dance and Modern British Guitar, culminating in public performances and recordings.

Through festivals and outreach initiatives—including Arts Circus, the Play2 Youth Festival in Armenia, Winchester Guitar Festival, and Ammerdown Guitar Summer School—I have helped create inclusive, well-governed opportunities for young musicians to perform and collaborate.

My performance and recording activities are integral to my teaching. I actively use recording projects as pedagogical tools, sharing insights into interpretation, problem-solving, and collaboration, and encouraging students to engage in their own recording work.

My extensive repertoire knowledge, ongoing research, and commitment to lifelong learning underpin all aspects of my teaching. This includes specialist interests such as the music of Federico Mompou and a continued openness to developing new skills and technologies.

Together, these experiences reflect my commitment to excellence in teaching, artistic leadership, and the continued development of guitar education within higher education.