History
John began studying the guitar as a child. By the age of fourteen, his ambitions as an amateur boxer were curtailed by a life changing experience for John – attending a solo guitar recital given by the Spanish virtuoso, Andres Segovia at London’s Royal Festival Hall - after which John was introduced to the maestro. So impressed was John by the experience, that he returned home and told his parents “My ambition is to become a Concert Guitarist” – an ambition he has since achieved.
Having established a formidable reputation as a performer by winning many classical guitar classes in competitive music festivals, John, at the age of sixteen, was awarded a major scholarship by Bucks County Council to study music full time. John graduated with a Teacher’s Diploma from the London College of Music as well as a Performer’s Diploma from the Guildhall School of Music, London – at the age of twenty.
During his student years, John continued competing in music festivals with much success winning several ‘open recital’ classes - three years in succession, and the coveted open recital section of the prestigious Cheltenham Festival - five years in succession.
John gave his London debut recital at the Church of St Martin-in-the-Fields at the age of twenty-one and the same year he married his wife, Janet. He took up teaching posts firstly at the Guildhall School of Music, London and also at Stowe School, Buckingham and later at St Edwards School, Oxford and the Arts Educational School, Tring.
Janet also teaches classical guitar and their (now grown-up) children Adele and Arthur have also achieved much success as performers, winning many classical guitar classes in competitive music festivals and are both now highly accomplished performers.
Consort
The Cadman Family, together with a varying number of long-term friends and students perform early music as the 'Cadman Consort' performing on Lutes, Baroque Guitar, Cittern and Bandora.
History
John's fascination with early music was largely influenced by Julian Bream - particularly after attending a remarkable lute recital at London’s Wigmore Hall. John was sufficiently inspired to also take up the Lute.
John now also performs on Viheula (an ancient Spanish instrument related to both the Lute and the Guitar) and gives recitals using a range of fretted instruments including authentic classical period ‘salon guitar', steel-strung guitar, amplified classical, flamenco and electric guitars. “As well as contemporary original compositions, works by Bach played on electric guitar prove very effective”, quotes John.
