performers
Boyd Meets Girl pairs Australian classical guitarist Rupert Boyd with American cellist Laura Metcalf. The duo has toured the world sharing their eclectic mix of music from Debussy and Bach to Radiohead and Beyoncé, and their two studio albums have been streamed well over 3 million times on Spotify alone. Both acclaimed soloists in their own right, Boyd has been described as “truly evocative” by The Washington Post, and as "a player who deserves to be heard" by Classical Guitar Magazine, while Metcalf, who has also toured as a member of the popular chamber ensembles Eighth Blackbird, Break of Reality and Sybarite5, has been called "brilliant" by Gramophone. Boyd Meets Girl has toured throughout the USA, India, Nepal, New Zealand, and every state and territory in Australia, including engagements at Caramoor, Newport Classical, Festival Napa Valley, Austin Classical Guitar, Moab Music Festival and many others.
The duo’s debut album, released in 2017 on the Grammy award-winning label Sono Luminus, reached #3 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart, and received the following praise in Gramophone: “They play like one, with a harmony of purpose as sure as their intonation.” Their sophomore album, Songs of Love and Despair, released in 2022 was also praised in Gramophone as “Beguiling... fascinating... enchanting... their mutual understanding is manifest in every bar, not least the way they listen to each other.” Their music is broadcast on radio stations around the world, including regularly on New York’s WQXR and SiriusXM.
The duo arranges much of their repertoire themselves, drawing inspiration from artists across all genres, and often speak from the stage about the works to create an engaging, conversational concert experience that breaks down boundaries not only between musical genres but between audience and performer. Artistic directors of the acclaimed Sunday morning concert series GatherNYC, and a happily married couple, the duo lives in New York City with their son Milo.
Performances
OLIVIA DECKER POWER OF MUSIC
Boyd Meets Girl, the dynamic duo of Australian guitarist Rupert Boyd and American cellist Laura Metcalf, brings their eclectic mix of classical and contemporary music to the Festival Napa Valley stage. Combining thrilling virtuosity with thoughtful, eclectic repertoire from Debussy and Bach to Radiohead and Beyoncé, their performances have delighted audiences worldwide.
Boyd Meets Girl
Open to school groups only. Please contact Festival Napa Valley’s Education Department to attend. Admission-free.
Combining thrilling virtuosity with diverse repertoire ranging from Bach and Debussy to Radiohead and Beyoncé, this dynamic duo of guitarist Rupert Boyd and cellist Laura Metcalf delights audiences of all ages.