Adrian Walter AM has enjoyed a highly successful and varied career as a classical guitarist, artistic director, and senior tertiary manager. He studied guitar and cello in Australia at the University of Adelaide Elder Conservatorium of Music and has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber musician on both modern and early nineteenth century guitars. Noted as a leading authority on the repertoire and performance practice of the early nineteenth century guitar, he has given many performances and masterclasses in Australia, Hong Kong, Mainland China, Europe and the UK. In his capacity as Artistic Director of the Darwin International Guitar Festival from 1993 to 2007, he commissioned a substantial number of new compositions for the guitar, including those from celebrated Australian composers Peter Sculthorpe, Ross Edwards and Elena Kats-Chernin. He also presented many world-class artists at the festival including an extraordinary performance of Peter Sculthorpe’s Guitar Concerto by John Williams in Kakadu National Park. Adrian Walter has held several senior academic roles at tertiary institutions around Australia and in Asia. A notable career highlight was his appointment as Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 2012 to 2020, during which time he was honoured with the title of Emeritus Director and Professor. In 2008 he received the Order of Australia (AM) from the Australian Government for his services to arts and education. Since 2020 Adrian Walter resumed his career in Australia where he is currently performing, giving masterclasses and preparing a publication on the early nineteenth century guitar.