Bio of Ian Watt the guitar player from Fraserburgh who appeared on Classical Star on BBC TV

Ian Watt from Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire became a local hero when he appeared on BBC2 television programme Classical Star. Ian, a pupil at Aberdeen City Music School in Dyce Academy, was chosen during auditions with hundreds of musicians to become a contestant on Classical Star BBC 2. Ian Watt was the Aberdeen Young Musician of the Year 2007 winner. Classical Star was broadcast on a Tuesday evening at 9pm during October and November 2007. After this tough audition 18 contestants were chosen for the next round of auditions and teaching at a special Classical Star Academy in North London in a beautiful grand mansion.

Ian Watt from the Broch and his fellow Classical Star contestants were tutored and assessed by a panel of famous judges which included the Academy Director Matthew Barley, conductors Charles Hazlewood and Jason Lai, double-bass player Chi-chi Nwanoku and celebrity star manager Steve Abbott. During the weeks at the Classical Star Academy Ian Watt and his fellow contestants of Classical Star played and learnt from professional musicians such as the jazz legend Julian Joseph and the pianist Lang Lang.

Ian Watt from Fraserburgh entered Classical Star on BBC 2 when he was 16 years old. He started to play the guitar at a young age because he wanted to be like his musician heroes The Beatles and Dire Straits, especially Mark Knopfler. Ian Watt started to play the guitar when he was nine years old. He particularly loves jazz music and classical music.

Ian Watt won a place in the final of Classical Star on BBC 2 after he gave a wonderful live performance with a string quartet at the South Bank centre in London. IanWatt and his fellow Classical Star contestants only had one hour to rehearse. This was broadcast during episode 5 of Classical Star.

In episode 6, the last episode of series one of Classical Star, Ian and two other finalists played with a 40 piece professional orchestra. The winner of Classical Star received a recording contract.

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Here are Ian Watt's choices of music that he played each week at the BBC2 Classical Star Academy during judging:

Episode 1: Prelude and Presto from Lute Suite in G minor by JS Bach

Episode 2: Sevilla by Albéniz

Episode 3: Invocacion y Danza by Rodrigo

Episode 4: Guitar Quintet No 4 in D major by Boccherini

Read more about Ian Watt and the Classical Star BBC TV programme at their official website at www.bbc.co.uk/classicalstar/series1 where you can also watch episodes of Classical Star and listen to audio clips of Ian Watt's performances.

The winner of Classical Star 2007 on BBC2 was piano player Sophie Cashell.

Ian Watt and his guitar performed in the 2008 Aberdeen Word Fringe at Midmar Church in May 2008. Read more about this annual festival on the AboutAberdeen WordFringe Aberdeen page.

On Sunday 16 March 2008 Ian Watt performed live at The Music Hall in Aberdeen City. Ian performed alongside the Aberdeen Symphony Orchestra.

Parkening International Guitar Competition

In June 2009 Ian Watt and his guitar won second place at the Parkening International Guitar Competition. The competition prize included a $12,500 prize. Ian played a concerto with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra.

More famous musicians from Aberdeenshire.