Current - News
York Guitar Festival 2010
August 2010
In August Bert Kwakkel gave two lectures about guitar making in the UK. The first one for the National Youth Guitar Ensemble (NYGE) and the second at the York Guitar Festival. This festival was organised by Ruth & Robert Owen and their daughter Amie.
Meeting Matthew McAllister
May 2010
Meeting with Matthew McAllister after his concert at the Twents Guitar Festival. He plays a Merula with spruce top since 2000.
First Bert Kwakkel-guitar in Russia
December 2009
The Russian guitarist Vadim Chebanov is the first owner of a Bert Kwakkel-guitar in Russia. He plays the type Merula Special. For more information about Vadim Chebanov click here.
lecture in york (united kingdom)
August 2009
Bert Kwakkel gave a lecture at the first York Guitar Festival. This succesful festival took place at Queen Margaret's school, Escrick on the 26th and 27th of August. Gary Ryan (Professor of Guitar at the Royal College of Music) and Wendy Jackson (Head of Guitar at Chetham's School, Manchester) gave master classes.
Lecture in Jakarta (Indonesia)
May 2009
On the 4th of May Bert Kwakkel gave a lecture about guitar making in the Erasmus Huis in Jakarta (Indonesia). It was for the first time in Indonesia a lecture like this was given.
New recording: Finding Anderland
January 2009
Guitarist Reinhold Westerheide and percussionist Afra Mussawisade recorded a wonderfull CD named 'Finding Anderland'. Reinhold plays a Merula with spruce top, built in 1999.
First Bert Kwakkel-guitar to Malaysia
December 2008
Mr. Leong Yee Hoo is the first guitarist in Malaysia who owns a Bert Kwakkel-concert guitar type Merula. He came to the Netherlands to collect the guitar himself.
New recording: Dreams, rest and motion
November 2008
Duolisme launched their new album 'Dreams, rest and motion' on the 22nd of November. The recording contains a collection of Latin-American music written for guitar duo and brings together some of the most beautiful pieces from Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Both guitarists play a Merula with spruce top (2006).
Collecting excellent tops in Austria
May 2008
In the first week of May this year, Bert Kwakkel spent a few days in Austria to collect the most wonderful spruce for his guitars.
Volunteer for the little owl
May 2007
Bert Kwakkel gives his guitars bird-names because of the great interest he takes in birds. An exciting lecture on little owls resulted in his taking part as a volunteer to help stablilise the little owl population. Almost every day, from his workshop, he can see a little owl in his garden.
First Merula Special for sale
Octobre 2006
The idea for the Merula Special, a guitar with neck, fingerboard and head made of one piece of Brazilian rosewood, was in Bert's mind for a long time. In October 2006 the first Merula Special was completed. Many others followed...
West Dean
August 2006
Open day at the West Dean Guitar Festival 2006.
Duolisme Guitar Duo
February 2006
Since the 18th of February the Dutch Guitar Duo Duolisme play their brand new Bert Kwakkel-guitars type Merula.