Kemal Belevi

Cypriot Classical Guitarist and Composer

Kemal Belevi, guitarist-composer, was born into a musical family in Nicosia in 1954.He began learning the guitar at the age of eleven.3 years later he joined his brother’s band playing pop and rock music. In 1972 Kemal moved to London to study music where he lived until 1996. In 1974 Kemal entered Southgate College as a full time student to study Ordinary and Advanced Level Music for 3 years where he also studied Piano, Violin and Singing besides the classical guitar. In 1977 he was offered a place at Performer’s Course at London College of Music. Here he also studied composition with D.Mc Bride, a pupil of Benjamin Britten. Kemal completed his studies at L.C.M.in 1982 gaining the highest award that made him a Fellow of London College of Music. Kemal at present has 10 published works and a Guitar Method in its third edition .His published works is being distributed in United Kingdom by Registry Publications. He has recorded a Double CD ‘Guitar Music of Kemal Belevi’in 2001 and D.Regginos recorded his Chamber Music with Russian performers in 2003. His arrangement of 3 Turkish Pieces for two guitars have been recorded by Scarlatti Guitar Duo in1999 and Five Romantic Pieces was recorded by the French guitarist Phillippe Villa in 2003. In 97 three of Kemal’s compositions was chosen by London College of Music as set pieces for their Grade and Diploma examinations.