Paul Beier graduated from the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with Diana Poulton.

He has performed throughout Europe, North and South America, and Australia as a soloist, director of Galatea, member of various ensembles, and continuo player in orchestral and opera productions. His solo lute repertoire ranges from the Italian Cinquecento to the music of Bach and Weiss. As founder and director of Galatea, he has also collaborated with Aglaia, Aurora, La Cetra, Ensemble Concerto, Nova Ars Cantandi, Pacific Baroque, La Risonanza, and other ensembles.

His recordings include 18 solo CDs, three albums of English lute songs with countertenor Michael Chance, and five as director of Galatea. They have been widely acclaimed, receiving distinctions including Disque du Mois from Répertoire, five Diapasons, five stars from Goldberg, and La Scelta from Amadeus.

Since 2012, he has taught at SienAgosto, a summer course held in Siena, Italy. Directed by the English countertenor Michael Chance and staffed by internationally recognized performers, the course is open to singers and instrumentalists.

From 1981 to 2021, Mr. Beier taught lute, continuo, and ensemble at the Civica Scuola di Musica Claudio Abbado in Milan. He is a founding member of the Italian Lute Society and a consulting editor of the Lute Society of America Journal.

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Click this link for a list of Paul Beier’s articles, reviews, interviews, booklets and translations.

Paul Beier is also the author of several computer programs for lute players. For more information click here.