Biography
Canberra-born classical guitarist Callum Henshaw is considered one of Australia's leading players. Cal is a member of the long-standing Australian guitar quartet, Guitar Trek, with whom he released the album “On Song” in 2023. In 2024, Callum and fellow guitarist Matt Withers released “Here & Now”, an album of new compositions, arrangements and transcriptions of Australian music for two guitars. In 2016 Cal released the critically acclaimed album, Echo & Return, which includes the world premiere recording, 'Bleed-through', by Australian composer, Samuel Smith. In 2018 he released his second album 'Forest of Dreams'.
Cal has had success in major national and international competitions, including 1st Prize at the 2012 Cordoba International Guitar Competition, 2014 Tirana International Guitar Competition, 2015 Friends of the ANU School of Music Chamber Music Competition (with Andrew Blanch), and 2017 Melbourne International Concert Artist Guitar Competition. He was also awarded Best Performance of an Australian Work at the 2013 Melbourne Guitar Competition; and 3rd Prize at the 2014 Adelaide International Guitar Competition. In 2016 and 2018 he won the 1st Prize in the open instrumental Whitworth Roach Classical Music Competition, as well as being awarded People’s Choice in 2016.
Cal began the guitar at the age of six, studying with a number of Canberra's leading teachers, including Minh Le Hoang, and completed his honours degree with First Class Honours at the School of Music at The Australian National University under world-renowned guitar performer and teacher, Timothy Kain. In 2022 he completed a PhD in music at the ANU.
Cal performs on a Greg Smallman & Sons classical guitar and is proudly sponsored by Knobloch Strings.
Awards:
2008: 1st Prize - National Eisteddfod Open Classical Guitar
2012: 1st Prize - Cordoba International Guitar Competition
2013: 1st Prize - Sydney Eisteddfod Instrumental Duo Competition with Campbell Diamond
2013: Best performance of an Australian Work - Melbourne Guitar Competition
2014: 1st Prize - Tirana International Guitar Competition
2014: 3rd Prize - Adelaide International Guitar Competition
2015: 1st Prize - Friends of the School of Music Chamber Music Prize with Andrew Blanch
2016: 1st Prize - Whitworth-Roach Classical Music Competition
2016: People's Choice Prize - Whitworth-Roach Classical Music Competition
2017: 1st Prize - Melbourne International Concert Artist Guitar Competition
2018: 1st Prize - Whitworth Roach Classical Music Competition
