Based in Surrey, Jim is a professional musician with over 25 years experience performing and recording in a wide range of musical environments. His repertoire covers a wide cross section of styles with an emphasis on Baroque, Renaissance and Celtic guitar music. To faithfully reproduce the variety of styles, Jim alternates between a 10-string classical guitar and a steel-stringed acoustic guitar. With many years experience performing at weddings and private events, Jim tailors his repertoire to suit the client’s individual preferences and is always happy to offer assistance and advice in selecting the perfect music for the occasion. Jim is also willing to learn a specific requested piece of music, subject to its suitability for solo guitar and a minimum of 2 months notice. His repertoire is perfectly suited to wedding ceremonies, drinks receptions and banquets, creating a beautiful, sensitive and balanced musical ambience.

Although specialising in solo performance on 10-string classical and acoustic guitar, he also has considerable experience on electric guitar, having spent over 20 years in professional function bands. He has performed at many of the top London hotels and wedding venues including The Dorchester, The Langham, Mandarin Oriental, The Hilton Group, The Four Seasons Group, The Great Eastern and The Commonwealth Club, as well as venues throughout the south including The Lainston, Pennyhill Park, Goodwood, Runnymede, Northbrook Park, Rivervale Barn and Foxhills Country Club. As well as providing private tuition, he is also in constant demand as an accompanist and co-writer by singer/songwriters with whom he regularly performs and records.

More audio and video clips can be found at www.jimkelleher.co.uk. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

TESTIMONIALS

"I first heard Jim play at our friend's wedding and asked the bride for his number immediately. He was perfect to play for my husband's birthday as I had organised a banquet style dinner and asked Jim if he could do a cross of Baroque and Celtic sounds. He lived up to all my expectations and I would have been very happy not to talk to any of my guests and just listen to him play with a glass of wine in hand. Always professional and thoughtful, he played during dinner and beyond. I now have to throw another party so we can hire him again! Thank you Jim."
Denise & Sam - Midhurst, West Sussex 2012

"When we first heard the music that we wanted Jim to play in our ceremony it gave us both butterflies. The sound from the 10-string guitar was so delicate and beautiful. When I walked into the room the music was so romantic and was just magical. A perfect level of sound to enhance the occasion. Lots of people commented on how wonderful the music was. We watched our ceremony again recently and it's so lovely to hear the atmosphere. It really made a difference compared to recorded music. Jim is very professional and hugely talented. I like the fact we tailored the music to suit our ceremony and to make our day so special. I would highly recommend him."
Jo & Darren - Chichester, West Sussex 2011

"Having Jim as our guitarist was wonderful. We met beforehand so that everything was individually tailored to our tastes. The ceremonial music was beautiful and timed to the service which took away a lot of worry on the day and the mix of Spanish, classical and contemporary repertoire created a warm ambience which we felt made the occasion even more unique and special. We would definitely highly recommend him."
Holly & Abs - Yateley, Surrey 2011

“We booked Jim to play at our wedding on recommendation and we were not disappointed. The music was perfect and really complemented our ceremony. Jim is a true professional and we have already passed his details on to my cousin, who is getting married later this year.”
Claire & John – Buriton, Hampshire 2011

REPERTOIRE

RENAISSANCE, BAROQUE & TRADITIONAL
A Piece Without Title - John Dowland
Alman - Robert Johnson
Bianco Fiore - Cesare Negri
Catena D'Amore - Cesare Negri
Chaconne - Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Entrée - Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Fantasia - David Kellner
Fantasia (Lute Suite #11) - Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Greensleeves - Trad. English
Hasellwoods Galliard - Anthony Holborne
Horses Brawl - Trad. English
Lachrimae Pavan - John Dowland
Mistress Winter’s Jump - John Dowland
Pavans 1, 3 & 6 - Luis Milan
Prelude #36 - Sylvius Leopold Weiss
Prelude in C (BWV 846) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude in D - Per-Olov Kindgren
Prelude in D (BWV 1007) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude in D minor (BWV 999) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Prelude XII - Per-Olov Kindgren
Preludium - John Dowland
Scarborough Fair - Trad. English
Se Io M’Accorgo - Trad. Italian
Toccata Arpeggiata - Johannes Kapsberger
Walsingham Air - Arr. John Dowland

CLASSICAL & SPANISH
Adagio - Tomaso Albinoni
Air (Orchestral Suite #3) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Canco del Lladre - Trad. Catalan
Canon in D - Johann Pachelbel
Capricho Arabe - Francisco Tarrega
Cavatina - Stanley Myers
Etude #1 - Heitor Villa-Lobos
Etude (op.60 #3) - Matteo Carcassi
Etude in E minor - Francisco Tarrega
Gymnopedie #1 - Erik Satie
Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring - Johann Sebastian Bach
Lagrima - Francisco Tarrega
Lamento de Saudade - Per-Olov Kindgren
Romanza - Anonymous
Soleares - Trad. flamenco
Tiento Antiguo - Joaquin Rodrigo
Trumpet Voluntary - Jeremiah Clarke

CELTIC
Andalucia (Riverdance) - Bill Whelan
Brian Boru’s March - Trad. Irish
Drummond Castle - Trad. Scottish
Firedance (Riverdance) - Bill Whelan
Haste to the Wedding - Trad. Irish
Inside - Clive Carroll
Joy to the Person - Trad. Scottish
Miss McDermott - Turlough Carolan
Monaghan Jig - Trad. Irish
Ny Kirree Fo Sniaghtey - Trad. Manx
Promise of Spring - Clive Carroll
Riverdance - Bill Whelan
She Moves Through the Fair - Trad. Irish
The Song of the Sun - Bieito Romero
Wild Mountain Thyme - Trad. Scottish

CONTEMPORARY
Blue Moon - R Rodgers / L Hart
Classical Gas - Mason Williams
Daytripper / Lady Madonna - The Beatles
Fever - Cooley / Davenport
Here Comes the Sun - George Harrison
I Knew It Was You - Stephen Bennett
I’ve Always Thought of You - Tommy Emmanuel
Imagine - John Lennon
Lewis & Clark - Tommy Emmanuel
Memmingen - Blackmore’s Night
Mona Lisa - R Evans / J Livingston
Ruby’s Eyes - Tommy Emmanuel
Saltwater - Julian Lennon
The Road to Brecon - Eric Roche
Those Who Wait - Tommy Emmanuel
Wind of Change - Acoustic Alchemy