Touring Guitarist 80s Pop/Rock & Theatre

Emiliano Bonanomi is a professional guitarist based in London, known for his versatility across pop, rock, funk, and theatre performance. With over 15 years of live experience, he has worked on both professional and am-dram musical theatre productions, tribute shows, and international function tours.

Recent theatre credits include Rent (Guitar 1, Geoids at the Bridewell Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick, Hairspray, Into the Woods, Violet, and Head Over Heels. Outside the pit, Emiliano performs regularly with top UK function and corporate bands such as Vivid Music (Encore Top 10), The Supreme Collective, and Motown Gold, and has appeared at venues and festivals across the UK and Europe.

He is also active as a session guitarist, having recorded and performed with artists in the pop and alt/rock scenes, including Jennings Couch, Evelyn Bates, and Amy Pearson. Known for his attention to tone, stylistic authenticity, and musical precision, Emiliano combines technical ability with a calm, professional presence on stage.

Fully equipped for modern touring, he uses a Neural DSP Quad Cortex and IEM-based setup for consistent, ampless rigs suited to theatre and international productions. He is confident with click tracks, show programming, and score-based performance, and is passionate about recreating the depth and colour of iconic 70s and 80s guitar tones — from the tight rhythmic textures of The Police to the layered harmonics of Toto and the expressive phrasing of Prince and Kate Bush’s guitarists.

Whether in the pit, on stage, or on tour, Emiliano brings the same balance of preparation, creativity, and professionalism to every project.

My original guitar solo on “Purple Rain” by Prince

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emiliano Bonanomi (@emisfearguitar)

Original guitar solo on “Somebody Else’s Guy” - recorded live

Why I’m a fit for an 80s-themed show

Stylistic fluency: Police-style clean funk chops and modulated delays; Toto-grade melodic lead tone and precision; Prince-inspired rhythm articulation and tight pocket; the atmospheric textures and EBow-style sustains you hear in Kate Bush’s arrangements; Tears for Fears-style layered parts that sit with keys.
Tone accuracy: JC-120-type cleans, choruses and rack-style delays; compressed cleans, octave and envelope FX; singing humbucker leads; quick scene-based switching for mashups/medleys.
Theatre savvy: Band calls, sitzprobe, techs and dress rehearsals; fast part learning from stems and scores; reliable under time pressure.

Tech spec (tour-ready)

Rig: Neural DSP Quad Cortex, IEMs, stereo ampless, wireless if required; multiple electrics + electro-acoustic; spare guitars and backups.
Workflow: Writes charts from stems, tight to click/backing, triggers cues as needed.
Logistics: Based in London, full driving licence, valid passport, used to consecutive show days.

Selected credits

Rent, The Witches of Eastwick, Into the Woods, Violet, Head Over Heels, Hairspray
Vivid Music, The Supreme Collective, Motown Gold (UK & international events)

Showreel: click here • Contact: emisfear@gmail.com | +44 7565 016969

GET IN TOUCH

About me

Hi, I’m Emiliano Bonanomi — a London-based professional guitarist, educator, and music technology consultant.

I teach electric, acoustic, and classical guitar to students of all ages and levels, drawing on over 15 years of experience across performance and education. As a certified Yamaha Music System tutor and Guildhall School of Music & Drama PGCert graduate (Distinction), my lessons combine practical musicianship, creative exploration, and a strong understanding of contemporary learning approaches — offered both in person and online.

Alongside teaching, I maintain an active performance career. Recent theatre work includes Rent (Guitar 1, Geoids at the Bridewell Theatre), The Witches of Eastwick, Hairspray, Into the Woods, Violet, and Head Over Heels. I’m also a resident guitarist for Vivid Music (Encore Top 10), The Supreme Collective, and Motown Gold, performing regularly at high-end corporate events, festivals, and international venues.
As a session player, I’ve collaborated with artists across the electropop and alt-rock scenes, including Evelyn Bates, Amy Pearson, and Jennings Couch.

Passionate about the intersection of music and technology, I’ve contributed to the University of Derby’s GASP project and co-authored the white paper “How Blue is Our Blues” (Vernon Press). I also hold an MMus in Popular Music Performance from ICMP and bring a reflective, research-informed perspective to my creative work.

As a member of the MU Education Committee and a representative for Croydon Music & Arts, I actively support policy development and access initiatives in music education — helping ensure that young musicians have the opportunities and representation they deserve.