biography
Born in Toronto, Canada in 1997, Tim Beattie is currently studying under the tutelage of Gabriel Bianco at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, where he is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Guitar Performance. Prior to moving to Amsterdam, Tim studied on full scholarship in the pre-college school at the Royal Conservatory of Music (Toronto) in the studio of maestro Robert Hamilton, and then completed a year of undergraduate studies with GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux at the Cleveland Institute of Music where he was the recipient of the 2016 Ablan Honors Award in Guitar.
In 2017, Tim signed to Epoch Tapes, and on December 8th released his debut EP 'of spectra,' a classical guitar-based album incorporating elements of improvisation, electronics, effects, field recordings, and ambient influences. (stream/purchase here.)
Tim has won over 40 awards and prizes in competitions at municipal through international levels. Most notably garnering top prizes at the 2018 Brussels International Guitar Competition (1st prize), 2018 Hamilton International Guitar Competition (2nd prize, Audience Favourite Prize), 2017 Twents Gitaar Festival Competition (4th prize), 2016 James Stroud All-Ohio Guitar Competition (1st prize), 2016 Antwerpen Gitaar Festival Competition (2nd prize), Indiana International Guitar Competition (2nd prize, youth division), Montreal International Guitar Competition (1st prize, youth division). He was named the "Most Promising Youth" by the City of Barrie (his hometown) at the City's 2016 Arts Awards Ceremony, and was also the winner of the Barrie Music Festival's 2015 Rose Bowl Competition.
From 2011-2015, Tim was an active member of the Guitar Society of Toronto, and participant in the Society’s guitar orchestra. He has worked in a variety of other chamber music settings including performances with Rosanne Philippens, the CvA Score Collective under the direction of Ed Spanjaard (Nieuw Ensemble), and others. Though his primary focus is on classical guitar, Tim has also studied various other genres including jazz, blues, rock, and percussive acoustic guitar. He has had the opportunity to play for world-renowned guitarists such as Roland Dyens, Bill Kanengiser, Tommy Emmanuel, Eli Kassner, Liona Boyd, Benjamin Verdery, Marcin Dylla, Matteo Mela, Lorenzo Micheli, Rafael Aguirre, Francisco Bernier, Matthew McAllister, Jeffrey Mcfadden, Irina Kulikova, Rovshan Mamedkuliev, Matt Palmer, Marko Feri, Thibault Cauvin, among many others.
Tim has maintained an active performance schedule, playing regularly in settings ranging from local seniors' residences to live radio, as well as major concert halls throughout North America and Europe, including FirstOntario concert hall, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. He made his international debut as a featured performer at the 2014 Montréal International Guitar Festival. Recent highlights include solo performances for Chamber Music Orillia, the Toronto Guitar Weekend, Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival, and a live-televised performance at the Barrie Arts and Culture Awards.
Outside of music, Tim enjoys spending time with his family and friends, reading philosophy and poetry, collecting vinyl records, staying active with a variety of sports, and volunteering at local seniors’ residences and church.