I recently wrote a chamber piece for John Williams that includes two guitars, violin, double bass, and percussion, which has been performed multiple times.

I started playing guitar because I was captivated by the sound in many Italian songs, especially those by Angelo Branduardi.

I often collaborate with performers, and I don't always take sole credit for compositions, as many ideas come from the musicians I work with. I wrote a concerto that John Williams recorded, but it wasn't originally written for him; it was for my friend Graham Roberts.

It's fascinating to see how classical music will evolve and how the classical guitar will be integrated into future compositions.

When I began playing guitar, I practiced pieces by Giuliani, Sor, Carulli, and Carcassi because my teacher recommended them, and they form the basis of technique and tonality in classical music.

Carlo Marchione and Aniello Desiderio were my biggest inspirations; they represent science and religion in music, respectively, and taught me to trust both aspects.

It's sometimes strange when other musicians play music I've written for a specific guitarist, but their different interpretations can be just as interesting and valid.

I commissioned Sergio Assad to write a piece titled 'The Walls' for solo guitar and guitar orchestra, which portrays four historic barriers: the Great Wall of China, Hadrian's Wall, the Berlin Wall, and the Israeli West Bank Barrier.

As a performer, I must understand the composer's intentions and then make the piece my own, which involves recognizing the freedoms offered in the score.