Jason Vieaux
Jason Vieaux April 11 & 12, 2026
| Dallas: Saturday Apr 11, 2026 7:30pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209 |
Fort Worth: Sun Apr 12, 2026 2:30pm Kimbell Art Museum – Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 |
Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone), is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation”.
In appearances from New York’s Lincoln Center to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the Seoul Arts Center, Jason Vieaux has cemented his reputation as an artist of brilliance and uncompromised mastery. Cited for his “eloquent and vibrant performances” on disc (Gramophone Magazine) he is hailed as “virtuosic, flamboyant, dashing and, sometimes ineffably lyrical” (New York Times) on stage.
Sought-after for his extensive concerto repertoire, Vieaux has performed with a long list of orchestras including Cleveland, Toronto, St. Louis, Houston, Columbus, and has made premiere recordings with the Nashville Symphony (Leshnoff Concerto) and the Norrköping Symphony (Beal Six Sixteen). He has worked with renowned conductors including Giancarlo Guerrero, Jahja Ling, Gerard Schwarz, and David Robertson. Vieaux’s passion for new music has fostered premieres from Jeff Beal, Avner Dorman, Vivian Fung, Pierre Jalbert, Jonathan Leshnoff, David Ludwig, Mark Mancina, and Dan Visconti, among many others.
Vieaux’s extensive discography includes his “Bach Volume 2: Works for Violin” released on Azica in 2022 to rave reviews for his “eloquent and vibrant performances” (Gramophone). Additional 2022 releases include “Shining Night” featuring his duo with acclaimed violinist Anne Akiko Meyers (Avie Records) and Michael Fine’s “Concierto del Luna” with flutist Alexa Still (Sony Classical), both enjoying strong critical acclaim. Vieaux recorded Pat Metheny’s “Four Paths of Light”, a solo work dedicated to him by Pat, for Metheny’s 2021 album “Road to the Sun”. Jason Vieaux won the 2014 Best Instrumental Classical Solo Grammy Award for “Play”. The Huffington Post declared PLAY is “part of the revitalized interest in the classical guitar”.
A busy touring performer, Jason Vieaux enjoys repeated invitations from distinguished series, including San Francisco Performances, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and the 92nd Street Y, among others. Festival engagements include Ravinia, Caramoor, Domaine-Forget, Music@Menlo, Round Top, and the Eastern Music Festival. Overseas performance venues include Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Seoul Arts Center, Shanghai Concert Hall, Sala Sao Paolo, and Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.
Jason Vieaux enjoys ongoing performing and recording collaborations with the Escher String Quartet, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, accordion/bandoneon virtuoso Julien Labro, and saxophone virtuoso Timothy McAllister.
In 2011 Vieaux co-founded the guitar department at the Curtis Institute of Music (with David Starobin). He has taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music for 25 years. Jason’s online Guitar School for Artistworks Inc. has hundreds of subscribers from all over the world. He plays a guitar by Gernot Wagner, 2013, made in Frankfurt.
…faultless delivery… even the arpeggiated chords resound as a solitary line.
DownBeat
…virtuosic, flamboyant, dashing and, sometimes ineffably lyrical.
The New York Times
…perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.
NPR
…spirited and expressive guitarist
The New Yorker
Vieaux … makes everything look and sound easy. An uncommonly relaxed figure onstage, he seems immersed entirely in the moment. Every note comes out fully formed, but nothing he does feels premeditated, and the music, just a little understated, speaks eloquently for itself.
Washington Post
This terrific guitarist, a Philadelphia favorite, worked wonders with Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez… he played with elegance and fine-tuned precision… a marvel.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
…masterful ease, and great panache.
San Francisco Classical Voice
Vieaux’s new recording Play is not only like pop iTunes, it is part of the revitalized interest in the classical guitar.
The Huffington Post
Vieaux [was] nimble-fingered in a Vivaldi Concerto that was remarkable for its variety of colors.
Boston Globe
The writing for the solo instrument was fantastic— lyrical, virtuosic, tender, and passionate all at once. Vieaux proved to be an ideal soloist. [Leshnoff Concerto, Nashville Symphony] American Record Guide
Vieaux excelled in its flamenco-style flourishes, ethereal high notes and spiraling passage work. [Villa-Lobos Concerto, San Diego Symphony] San Diego Union Tribune
Vieaux showed why he is among the most talented guitarists of his generation, a player whose effortless technique and fluidity gave the concerto a singing voice.
Tampa Tribune
…one of America’s premier guitarists… Vieaux’s performance spun magic. Rarely has a single instrument so clearly painted such cinematic vistas and searching introspection
Fort-Worth Star-Telegram
Vieaux was first-class. One movement of Ponce’s Concierto del sur made me want to hear more of his work, such was the range of sounds he drew from his instrument.
New Zealand Herald
…among the elite of today’s classical guitarists.
Gramophone
Bokyung Byun
Bokyung Byun March 7 & 8, 2026
| Dallas: Saturday Mar 7, 2026 7:30pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209 |
Fort Worth: Sun Mar 8, 2026 2:30pm Kimbell Art Museum – Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 |
Recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Bokyung Byun enjoys a reputation as one of the most sought-after guitarists of her generation. Bokyung holds the distinction of being the first female winner of the prestigious JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, where Falletta herself described Bokyung’s performance as “stunning, showcasing her gorgeous tone, immaculate technique, and sophisticated musicianship.” Other recent honors include the grand prize at the 2021 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition
A bevy of orchestras, festivals, workshops, and guitar societies look to Byun for solo performances and masterclasses. In recent seasons, Byun has performed as a soloist with orchestras, including the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Utah Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and the Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, among others. Her solo recital highlights include performances at the Philadelphia Guitar Festival, Aspen-Salida Concert Series, Toronto Guitar Weekend, Guitar Montréal, Ellnora | The Guitar Festival, and San Diego Guitar Festival. She was acclaimed for performing “eloquently through a diverse and challenging program,” by Michelle Fratus, president of the board of the Knoxville Guitar Society, and having “confidence, passion, excellent projection and great dynamic contrast” by Heather Morand Clark, president of the Guitar Society of Toronto.
Committed to expanding the role of a 21st-century musician, Byun’s concert program often features contemporary music alongside traditional repertoire. As Byun herself says, “it’s vital and exciting to audiences for concerts to join the new with the old. For guitar music to continue to grow, I believe that new works must actively be cultivated in programming, and it is my hope that audiences leave my performances with new experiences.” This skill at navigating both classic repertoire and fresh work has led her to co-found Sounding Board: The New Music Initiative for Guitarists and Composers. The project focuses on promoting collaborative relationships between composers and performers to create new works for guitar, and its inaugural festival in Besançon, France in 2019 has been praised as “extraordinary, in the strict sense of the word,” by La Presse de Gray in France.
Bokyung’s debut recording in 2020 has been praised by Soundboard Magazine as, “a very beautiful disc…We are treated to extraordinary musicianship, technical assurance, and beauty of sound.” In 2022, American Record Guide chose her Naxos Laurate Series recording as the Critics’ Choice Album, remarking her style as “very reminiscent of Andres Segovia.”
Born in Seoul, Korea, Byun began playing guitar at the age of six. At eleven, she took the stage for her first solo recital, leading to an early start in her teen years performing numerous concert tours around Korea, to enthusiastic response, including millions of views on YouTube. By her teen years, she had gained national attention for first-prize finishes in three renowned competitions: the Korea Guitar Association, the Music Association of Korea, and the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition.
Byun soon moved to the United States, where she briefly studied in Los Angeles before moving to New York City, where she entered The Juilliard School at the age of sixteen. She holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Teachers and mentors include Scott Tennant, William Kanengiser, Chen Zhi, Tae-Soo Kim, and Sharon Isbin.
In 2020, Byun co-founded Guitarlab which has provided an innovative online learning platform offering cutting-edge classes designed for young professionals around the world. Bokyung is currently on the guitar faculty of University of North Texas. She is an Augustine Strings artist and plays a guitar by Dieter Mueller (2019).
Reviews:
“Amazing technical abilities, a powerful and luscious sound, and a profound sense of musical interpretation.”
“The applause didn’t stop when the four chapters of ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ ended. Music lovers in the capital couldn’t help but admire Bokyung Byun’s talent. Ms. Minh Ha, an audience member, said: “I’ve been a fan of Bokyung Byun for a long time, and it’s fortunate that SSO brought her to Hanoi. Her performance today did not disappoint the audience who love guitar and love Bokyung Byun.”
-Vietnam Posts, 2022
“Here is a simple fact: with artistry such as Ms. Byun’s, the state-of-the-art of guitar performance has reached a new level.”
-Soundboard Magazine
“She showed off a thorough expressivity and impressive technical agility, seemingly without breaking a sweat…Byun went on to capture something supremely blissful, beautiful, and meaningful in this music.”
-ClevelandClassical.com
“Extraordinary, in the strict sense of the word.”
-La Presse de Gray
“Bokyung’s artistry and technique break the limits of conventional classical guitar.”
-San Diego Guitar Festival
“Bokyung Byun played the Villa-Lobos concerto with confidence, passion, excellent projection and great dynamic contrast.”
-Guitar Society of Toronto
“Bokyung’s confident and quite extraordinary rendition of Britten’s notoriously difficult Nocturnal after John Dowland…truly brought out the depth of its many tonal colors and shading”
-Classical Guitar Magazine
“What a joy it was for all in attendance at the Knoxville Guitar Society concert…to hear Bokyung Byun play eloquently through a diverse and challenging program!”
-Knoxville Guitar Society
Beijing Duo
Beijing Duo February 14 & 15, 2026
| Dallas: Saturday Feb 14, 2026 7:30pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209 |
Fort Worth: Sun Feb 15, 2025 2:30pm Please note venue change for this concert. University Christian Church
2720 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76109 |
The Beijing Guitar Duo has performed around the world in halls such as the Concertgebouw, Palau de Musica, Tchaikovsky Hall and the National Theatre in Beijing. This season will take them to a 12-city concert tour in the United States in February (Washington D.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Knoxville) as well as other performances in Europe and China. The duo regularly collaborates with orchestras, in ensemble with flutist Marina Piccinini, guitarists Grigoryan Brothers and with their mentor Manuel Barrueco touring in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
Virginia Luque
Virginia Luque October 4 & 5, 2025
| Dallas: Saturday Oct 4, 2025 7:30pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209 |
Fort Worth: Sun Oct 5, 2025 3:15pm Kimbell Art Museum – Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 |
Virginia Luque plays classical and flamenco music in a Spanish romantic style, combining extraordinary technical virtuosity with beautiful tone and musicianship.
Ms. Luque has recently recorded Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. She has been awarded First Prize at several international competitions, including the “Manuel de Falla” Competition for Classical Guitar in Granada, Spain, and has received the Lincoln Center Scholarship among other awards.
Concerto performances have included the Concierto de Aranjuez with the New York Virtuosi Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Symphony, the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, the Izmir Symphony Orchestra, Antalya Symphony Orchestra and she has premiered her own concerto with the Alexandria Symphony.
Recitals have included Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House, The Frick Collection in New York City, and numerous concert halls throughout the United States. She was also invited by Christopher Parkening to do a special guest recital at the Christopher Parkening International Master Class at Montana State University.
A native of Algeciras (Cadiz), Spain, Ms. Luque began playing the guitar when she was four, started formal training when she was six, and gave her first concert at the age of seven. After hearing her play, Ms. Luque was invited by the legendary Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia to study privately with him.
She received her Master’s degree in Spain and at Segovia’s suggestion came to America where she also received a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
Ms. Luque’s other pursuits have garnered her a First Prize in the International Competition of Poetry based in Puerto Rico and she has also graduated as “Chef” from the French Culinary Institute of New York.
Leonela Alejandro GFA Winner
Leonela Alejandro November 8 & 9, 2025
| Dallas: Saturday Nov 8, 2025 7:30pm Westminster Presbyterian Church 8200 Devonshire Drive, Dallas, TX 75209 |
Fort Worth: Sun Nov 9, 2025 2:30pm Kimbell Art Museum – Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 |
Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Leonela Alejandro is a classical guitarist from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style. She has been invited to perform in numerous venues in the United States and Europe, including the Latino Arts Guitar Festival, Northern Illinois University International Guitar Concert Series, Southern Guitar Festival, Florida Guitar Festival, Marlow Guitar Series, Louisville Guitar Society, Orange County Guitar Circle, and José Tomás Villa de Petrer Guitar Festival.
Leonela has also placed in over a dozen competitions in the United States, with more than ten first-prize placements including the Louisville Guitar Festival, Appalachian State Guitar Festival, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, Indiana Guitar Festival, and Chicago Guitar Festival, among others. She has also succeeded abroad as an international competitor, receiving prizes from the le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix guitar Competition, Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition, and the Iserlohn International Guitar Competition.
Leonela formally began her musical education when she was seven years old. Following her work with various Puerto Rican teachers including Jomel Rivera, Julio Reyes, and Rey Nieves, she decided to dedicate her professional life to this passion. In 2016, she was accepted into the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico at just 16 years old, studying with world-renowned performer Maestro Iván Rijos. After two fruitful years in the Conservatory, she transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her undergraduate degree with Cuban virtuoso René Izquierdo in 2020. Leonela recently completed her graduate studies with Dr. Andrew Zohn at Columbus State University in 2023.
Apart from her celebrated resume in competition settings, Leonela has established herself as a soloist in orchestral settings. She has performed multiple concerti with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Roselín Pabón including Antonio Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D major, RV 93, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.99. She was the soloist in the recent premiere of Atanas Ourkouzounov’s Concertino for Guitar, Percussion and Strings under the direction of Paul Hostetter. She also has appeared as a solo mandolinist with the Schwob School of Music Wind Ensemble as a soloist in Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals under the direction of Jamie L. Nix.
Leonela is an Augustine Strings Ambassador and her string of choice are Paragon Reds. She performs on guitars built by luthiers Stephan Connor and Martin Blackwell.
Leonela has also placed in over a dozen competitions in the United States, with more than ten first-prize placements including the Louisville Guitar Festival, Appalachian State Guitar Festival, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, Indiana Guitar Festival, and Chicago Guitar Festival, among others. She has also succeeded abroad as an international competitor, receiving prizes from the le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix guitar Competition, Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition, and the Iserlohn International Guitar Competition.
Leonela formally began her musical education when she was seven years old. Following her work with various Puerto Rican teachers including Jomel Rivera, Julio Reyes, and Rey Nieves, she decided to dedicate her professional life to this passion. In 2016, she was accepted into the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico at just 16 years old, studying with world-renowned performer Maestro Iván Rijos. After two fruitful years in the Conservatory, she transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her undergraduate degree with Cuban virtuoso René Izquierdo in 2020. Leonela recently completed her graduate studies with Dr. Andrew Zohn at Columbus State University in 2023.
Apart from her celebrated resume in competition settings, Leonela has established herself as a soloist in orchestral settings. She has performed multiple concerti with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Roselín Pabón including Antonio Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D major, RV 93, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.99. She was the soloist in the recent premiere of Atanas Ourkouzounov’s Concertino for Guitar, Percussion and Strings under the direction of Paul Hostetter. She also has appeared as a solo mandolinist with the Schwob School of Music Wind Ensemble as a soloist in Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals under the direction of Jamie L. Nix.
Leonela is an Augustine Strings Ambassador and her string of choice are Paragon Reds. She performs on guitars built by luthiers Stephan Connor and Martin Blackwell.
Virginia Luque – Tribute to Andrés Segovia
Virginia Luque – Tribute to Andrés Segovia March 2 & 3, 2017
| Fort Worth: Thu Mar 2, 2017 7:30pm Kimbell Art Museum – Renzo Piano Pavillion Auditorium 3333 Camp Bowie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107 click for tickets |
Dallas: Fri Mar 3, 2017 7:30pm Montgomery Arts Theater Booker T. Washington High School 2501 Flora St, Dallas, TX 75201 click for tickets |
Virginia Luque plays classical and flamenco music in a Spanish romantic style, combining extraordinary technical virtuosity with beautiful tone and musicianship.
Ms. Luque has recently recorded Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the London Symphony Orchestra at Abbey Road Studios. She has been awarded First Prize at several international competitions, including the “Manuel de Falla” Competition for Classical Guitar in Granada, Spain, and has received the Lincoln Center Scholarship among other awards.
Concerto performances have included the Concierto de Aranjuez with the New York Virtuosi Orchestra, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the North Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Riverside Symphony, the Seoul Symphony Orchestra, the Izmir Symphony Orchestra, Antalya Symphony Orchestra and she has premiered her own concerto with the Alexandria Symphony.
Recitals have included Carnegie Hall, Town Hall, The Metropolitan Opera House, The Frick Collection in New York City, and numerous concert halls throughout the United States. She was also invited by Christopher Parkening to do a special guest recital at the Christopher Parkening International Master Class at Montana State University.
A native of Algeciras (Cadiz), Spain, Ms. Luque began playing the guitar when she was four, started formal training when she was six, and gave her first concert at the age of seven. After hearing her play, Ms. Luque was invited by the legendary Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia to study privately with him.
She received her Master’s degree in Spain and at Segovia’s suggestion came to America where she also received a Master’s degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
Ms. Luque’s other pursuits have garnered her a First Prize in the International Competition of Poetry based in Puerto Rico and she has also graduated as “Chef” from the French Culinary Institute of New York.
P R O G R A M
Gigue (In the Style of Weiss)
Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar (1882-1948)
Spanish Dance # 5
Enrique Granados Campiña (1867-1916)
Choro 1
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Waltz Op. 64 # 2
Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849)
Verano Porteño
Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Taquito militar
Mariano Mores (1918-2016)
(arrangement, Jorge Morel)
Intermission
Rumores de la Caleta
Isaac Manuel Francisco Albéniz y Pascual (1860-1909)
Granada
Sangre gitana
Virginia Luque (Timeless)
Nostalgias de mi tierra
Virginia Luque
Buleria “La romería”
Virginia Luque
Gran Jota
Francisco de Asís Tárrega y Eixea (1852-1909)
(Presenter’s note: We used the full names of composers in the program tonight for general interest.)
Brasil Duo
Brasil Duo
Fort Worth:
Thu, Apr 16 2015, 7:30pm
Renzo Piano Pavilion
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Dallas:
Fri, Apr 17 2015, 8:00pm
University Park United Methodist Church
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Brasil Guitar Duo, winner of the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, and hailed by Classical Guitar magazine for its “maturity of musicianship and technical virtuosity,” is equally at home on a classical or a world-music series. Its innovative programming features a seamless blend of traditional and Brazilian works, resulting in a global touring schedule and a growing catalogue of critically acclaimed recordings.
An eager advocate for both traditional and new concerti for two guitars and orchestra, the Duo premiered a Concerto for Two Guitars and Orchestra by Brazilian composer Paulo Bellinati in 2012 with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra under Giancarlo Guerrero. Recent engagements include concerts with the Dallas and Houston symphony orchestras, Ohio’s Dayton Philharmonic and Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas.
Brasil Guitar Duo strives to expand the repertoire for two guitars, with Lora contributing works of his own and Luiz arranging both classical and Brazilian music. The Duo performs a broad repertoire of classical guitar duos (Bach, Sor, Scarlatti, Debussy, etc.) combined with the traditional music of its native land (choro, samba, maxixe, and baião).
The Duo’s first CD, in 2007, was Bom Partido, a CAG Records release featuring all Brazilian repertoire. Two critically acclaimed Naxos CDs, released in 2008 and 2009, contain the complete works for two guitars by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. Its latest CD, on the Avie label, is a collaboration with flutist Marina Piccinini that features all of J.S. Bach’s sonatas for flute and harpsichord, as arranged by the Duo for flute and two guitars.
Duo members João Luiz and Douglas Lora met in São Paulo as teenage guitar students and have been performing together for more than fifteen years. The Duo’s primary studies were with Henrique Pinto along with Fabio Zanon, Paulo Martelli, Sergio Abreu, and Alice Artz. Douglas Lora earned his Master’s degree at the University of Miami, and João Luiz at New York’s Mannes College the New School for Music. Luiz is head of the guitar department at the State University of New York-Purchase, and also teaches guitar at New Jersey City University.
PROGRAM
Brasil Guitar Duo — Program and Program Notes — 2014-2015 Season
Jean Philip Rameau, Pieces de Clavecin*
Allemande
L’ Egyptienne
Les Cyclops
David Leisner, Ghosting**
Leo Brouwer, Sonata de Los Viajeros
***INTERMISSION***
Leo Brouwer, Triptico
Allegro
Andantino
Toccata
Egberto Gismonti, Selected Pieces*
A Fala da Paixao
Forro
Don Quixote
Karate
Agua & Vinho
Strawa no Sertao
*arranged by Joao Luiz
** dedicated to the Brasil Guitar Duo
PROGRAM NOTES
JEAN-PHILIPPE RAMEAU (1683-1764)
– Pièces de Clavecin
Among the most important composers and music theorists of the Baroque era, Jean-Philippe Rameau was one of the 18th century’s greatest masters of harpsichord (clavecin) writing in the French School. His modern and sophisticated style took the harpsichord to a new level of prominence by giving that instrument equal attention with others in chamber compositions (the trio sonatas, for example) and developing keyboard technique through virtuosic solo works.
These selections, arranged for two guitars by João Luiz, reflect the composer’s deep musical knowledge. The arrangements bring a new perspective to the compositions by exposing the music’s complexity as two independent instruments are played as one.
DAVID LEISNER (b. 1953)
– Ghosting
Ghosting was commissioned for Brasil Guitar Duo by Symphony Space—a multi-disciplinary performing arts center located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City—through the Isaiah Sheffer Fund for New Initiatives. Its compositional seed was sprouted with some spare musical ideas and a little haiku-like poem of my devising:
the air holds us
presence into
absence, ghosting
afterimage
The work begins and ends with freely floating harmonics, as if tossed about by a capricious wind. A simple tune in subtly shifting meters becomes the ground for variations that begin quietly and become increasingly lively. This leads to a brief but spacious chordal passage that evokes a distant carillon, followed by a fragmented version of the original tune. Then comes a little chorale leading to a return of the opening material, now a bit more spectral.
— David Leisner, New York, 2014
LEO BROUWER (b. 1939)
– Sonata de los Viajeros/Triptico
Cuban composer and guitarist Leo Brouwer is acknowledged as one of the most important contributors to the modern classical guitar repertoire. His compositions range from solo guitar pieces to symphonic works and allow him to develop a unique voice through various styles. His prolific output as a composer embraces different aesthetics, from avant-garde experimentalism to neo-romantic simplicity. In all of Brouwer’s works there are clear references to the traditional dance rhythms and folks songs of Cuba.
The Triptico, originally written for guitar and string quartet in 1958, is performed here in the composer’s own adaptation for two guitars. Brasil Guitar Duo recorded the four-movement Sonata de los Viajeros (Sonata of Travelers) for the first time in Toronto in June 2014, and is presenting its concert premiere in Fall 2014.
EGBERTO GISMONTI (b. 1947)
– Selected Pieces
Brazil’s Egberto Gismonti is considered an important composer of our time as well as a renowned virtuoso on piano and ten-stringed guitar. His compositions capture the essential Brazilian spirit by connecting academic and popular aesthetics with brilliant, powerful melodies. Various Brazilian rhythms, including those of that country’s native cultures and the Frevo, Baiao, Maracatu, Maxixe, and Samba, are a constant element in his work.
This collection of pieces, reflecting a vast range of Brazilian music, was arranged for two guitars by João Luiz under the composer’s supervision.
Denis Azabagic
Denis Azabagic, (Bosnia and Herzegovina), is one of the most compelling classical guitarists on the international concert circuit today. He performs concerts around the globe, maintaining a balance between his solo recitals, chamber music with the Cavatina Duo, and engagements as soloist with orchestras.
Critics are raving:
The recital by Bosnian guitarist Denis Azabagic, was certainly the finest guitar recital that I have heard in a lifetime of concert-going, and one of the best concerts of any kind I have heard.
NC Arts Journal, USA
…And once he started playing his guitar he became ageless. One couldn’t imagine where the man, the instrument and the music separated, if at all.
Los Angeles Valley Star, USA
Azabagic’s playing is virtually flawless and his technical facility is a joy to see as well as hear; increasingly I hear him mentioned in the same breath as John Williams, and while such comparisons are invidious, this one is not without merit”
Soundboard Magazine, USA
Azabagic’s flawless performances have set a standard for the new generation of guitar players. He has won twenty-four prizes in international competitions and Mel Bay has published a book based on his experience and insides on the subject of competitions.
Azabagic has recorded ten CDs for international labels such as Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres, Bridge records and Orobroy, as well as two DVD’s for the Mel Bay Company. His recordings and live performances are highly praised by music critics, for his elegant approach to music and his unique way of communicating and reaching the audiences’ hearts.
As a guest instrumentalist and soloist Azabagic has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Chamber Orchestra, Madrid Symphony, Traverse Symphony, Monterrey Symphony, L’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Mons, among many others. He has also collaborated with the Casals Quartet, Civitas Ensemble and Music Now members in Chicago.
Azabagic has performed at such venues as Chicago’s Symphony Center, Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Radio France in Paris, Aix en Provence Festival, France, El Palau de la Musica, Valencia-Spain, Savannah on Stage, USA, Omni Foundation, USA, Ravinia Festival, USA, National Chang Kai Shek Cultural Center, Taiwan, National Center for the Performing Arts, Beijing, China. Azabagic’s performances have been broadcasted live on the Radio (NPR, WFMT) and Television in Asia, Europe and the United States.
His repertoire includes solo and orchestral music from the Baroque era to the present. An active member of the Cavatina Duo, their chamber music repertoire is vast, including many works written expressly for the duo. Azabagic’s love for performing extends to sharing with others the knowledge of music making. He frequently offers master-classes while on tour, teaches at the University of Illinois and is the head of the guitar department at Roosevelt University in Chicago
Denis teachers include Pedrag Stankovic, Vojislav Ivanovic, Darko Petrinjak as well as Jo Hagen.
Highlights of the upcoming season include concerts tours in the US Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Denmark, Germany, Spain, etc. He will appear with the Cavatina Duo and as a soloist in recitals and with orchestras. They will release a new CD recording with Bridge Records.
For more info visit him at:
www.azabagic.com
wwww.cavatinaduo.com
Denis Azabagic uses D’Addario strings
Program
Vicente Asencio: Suite Valenciana
Preludi
Cancó
Danca
Alan Thomas: Out of Africa
Call at SunriseMorning Dance
Zenith
Evening Dance
Cradle Song
Dusan Bogdanovic:
Blues and Seven Variations
————-Intermission————-
J.S.Bach: Sonata for solo violin BWV 1001 (arr. by Denis Azabagic)
Adagio
Fuga
Siciliana
Presto
Vojislav Ivanovic: Café pieces
Tear Prelude
Funny Valse
Tango Café
Lullaby for Srdjan
Improvisation and Dance