Guillermo Willis Bandoneon
Guillermo Willis, a Buenos Aires-born bandoneon player, has found a musical home in the heart of London.
Under the guidance of the bandoneon maestros Rodolfo Daluisio, Rodolfo Mederos, and Néstor Marconi, Guillermo achieved a BA in Music (Hons) from the Manuel de Falla Academy of Music (2015), being the first student of his class. During his time in Buenos Aires, Guillermo contributed his bandoneon skills to TrasCartón Tango (2013-15) and La Pícara Tango (2018-20).
Upon settling in London, he became a part of various ensembles, including the Tango Terra Quartet, the London Tango Orchestra, and the London Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Guillermo specialises in both Tango and Baroque repertoire. In 2020, he recorded the Un Poco Barroco session, available on YouTube. His solo performances have taken him to notable venues such as the National Historical Museum of Argentina (2019), the Library of Congress of Argentina (2019), and the Ambassador of Argentina’s Residence (2022).
In 2022, Guillermo featured on BBC4 in Joshua Bell's ‘Estaciones Porteñas,’ introducing audiences to the beauty of Ástor Piazzolla's music. Following up on Piazzolla’s artistry, he is now the bandoneon soloist of Desbande Quinteto (2023 to date), a London-based aggrupation recreating the original arrangements and sound of Piazzolla’s live interpretations of the 1980s, having just featured in Milton Court, Guildhall, in January 2024.
Committed to his craft and cultural exchange, Guillermo Willis continues to blend tradition and innovation in his musical journey with the bandoneon.
Under the guidance of the bandoneon maestros Rodolfo Daluisio, Rodolfo Mederos, and Néstor Marconi, Guillermo achieved a BA in Music (Hons) from the Manuel de Falla Academy of Music (2015), being the first student of his class. During his time in Buenos Aires, Guillermo contributed his bandoneon skills to TrasCartón Tango (2013-15) and La Pícara Tango (2018-20).
Upon settling in London, he became a part of various ensembles, including the Tango Terra Quartet, the London Tango Orchestra, and the London Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Guillermo specialises in both Tango and Baroque repertoire. In 2020, he recorded the Un Poco Barroco session, available on YouTube. His solo performances have taken him to notable venues such as the National Historical Museum of Argentina (2019), the Library of Congress of Argentina (2019), and the Ambassador of Argentina’s Residence (2022).
In 2022, Guillermo featured on BBC4 in Joshua Bell's ‘Estaciones Porteñas,’ introducing audiences to the beauty of Ástor Piazzolla's music. Following up on Piazzolla’s artistry, he is now the bandoneon soloist of Desbande Quinteto (2023 to date), a London-based aggrupation recreating the original arrangements and sound of Piazzolla’s live interpretations of the 1980s, having just featured in Milton Court, Guildhall, in January 2024.
Committed to his craft and cultural exchange, Guillermo Willis continues to blend tradition and innovation in his musical journey with the bandoneon.