Texas Guitar Quartet (USA)
Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
TICKETS & SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
Formed in 2008, the Texas Guitar Quartet has been hailed as “Impeccable in every respect” by Classical Guitar Magazine. Audiences have embraced the quartet for its daring programs, dazzling virtuosity and joyful music making.
Recent highlights include performances in the Victoria Bach Festival, Guitar Foundation of America Convention, and festivals in Mexico, Nicaragua and Texas. The quartet also presented a series of concerts in historic cathedrals along the Camino de Santiago, Spain.
The TxGQ recently premiered a landmark new work by lauded American composer Nico Muhly in collaboration with Grammy-winning chamber choir Conspirare, Grammy-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and the Dublin Guitar Quartet. The group continues to push the boundaries of the guitar quartet medium by premiering new works and creating daring arrangements of orchestral works by Mozart, Beethoven and Ravel.
Red, the quartet’s first album, was released to critical acclaim and was praised by Guitar International as a “tremendous accomplishment for the classical guitar…the TxGQ perform with virtuosity, clarity, balance, and a refined character which will no doubt help to establish them as one of today’s leading guitar quartets.” Their latest album, Icon (2018), features the complete 40th Symphony by Mozart.
The TxGQ is Isaac Bustos, Jay Kacherski, Alejandro Montiel, and Joseph Palmer.
Artyom Dervoed (Russia)
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
TICKETS & SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
Artyom Dervoed began guitar studies at age six with Sergey Annikov, Elena Svetozarova and Leonid Reznik. He later trained with Nikolay Komolyatov at the Schnittke Music College and Gnesin Academy in Moscow, Aniello Desiderio at the Koblenz Guitar Academy in Germany, and Oscar Ghiglia at Accademia Chigiana in Italy.
He is the first Russian to win two of the most prestigious competitions, the Michele Pittaluga International Classical Guitar Competition in Italy and Her Royal Highness Princess Cristina Competition in Spain. His recording projects include an album of new works by Russian composers (Naxos) which became a top ten bestselling chamber music record. His latest release (Ghosts & Shadows, Melodia Records, 2015), was nominated for the ICMA Best Solo Performance Award in the “Solo Instruments” category.
Mr. Dervoed has an active media profile in Russia. He is frequently invited to speak on TV and radio about the classical guitar, its historic significance, musical versatility and exciting future. The recent world premiere of Stephen Goss’s Guitar Concerto based on Paganini’s Grand Sonata for Guitar and Violin, with Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra, was nationally televised, reaching hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Mr. Dervoed is the head of classical guitar at the Bashmet Center in Moscow and teaches a select group of young players at the prestigious Gnessin Academy as well as the Moscow State University of Culture & Arts. He is co-founder and Artistic Director of the annual Guitar Virtuosi Moscow International Festival and opened last year’s festival with a performance of his own transcription of the Beethoven Violin Concerto with the Svetlanov State Symphony Orchestra.
Artyom Dervoed uses D’Addario strings and is the first Russian classical guitarist endorsed by Yamaha.
Juan Carlos Laguna (Mexico), Lynn McGrath (USA) & Henderson Kolk Duo (Canada)
Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
Born in Mexico City, Juan Carlos Laguna studied music at the Escuela Nacional de Musica where he graduated with honours. He unanimously won the Tokyo International Guitar Competition in 1991, and was awarded the diploma of merit from the Ministry of Culture of Japan. He conducted an artist residency in New York at The Manhattan School of Music.
Laguna has been a soloist with leading orchestras in Mexico and abroad. He has appeared repeatedly in the most important halls in Mexico, North and South America, Asia and Europe. Well-known composers such as Takashi Yoshimatsu, Ian Krouze, Arturo Márquez, Manuel de Elías, Julio César Oliva, Simone Iannarelli, Leonardo Coral and Luis Chazarreta have dedicated works to him.
Juan Carlos Laguna is professor at the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UMAN) and artistic director of the Taxco International Guitar Festival. His discography includes recordings in Mexico, France, England and Japan; also for Kojima Recordings, Soundspells Productions, Forlane, Auvidis and Urtext, as well as recordings for film
Dr. Lynn McGrath has performed, lectured, and adjudicated on four continents. Having taken part in international festivals that have included the Nikšić Festival (Montenegro), Silesian Guitar Autumn Festival (Poland), the Guitar on the Mediterranean Festival and The Volterra Project (Italy), as well as The Guitar Foundation of America Festival, she has also toured in Canada, the UK, Peru, and New Zealand.
Dr. McGrath has also presented at some of the finest guitar programs at universities in Colorado, Ohio, New York, Victoria BC, and Veracruz Mexico. She has collaborated as a soloist with the Orchestra of Northern New York, the Albuquerque-based choir Quintessence, with Santa Fe Opera, and is a member of the acclaimed Tantalus Guitar Quartet, praised for their “perfect ensemble” (Reinischer Post, Germany).
After receiving degrees in Spanish Language and Literature as well as Education, she completed a music degree at the Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam and earned a MM and DMA from the University of Southern California studying with William Kanengiser, Pepe Romero, and James Smith. Also active in administrative roles, Dr. McGrath has worked for the Guitar Foundation of America for twelve years, most recently as Artistic Director of the organization’s annual International Youth Competition. Dr. McGrath is a highly sought-after private teacher; in Fall of 2017, she was appointed Senior Guitar Instructor at the Eastman Community Music School, Rochester, New York.
Drew Henderson and Michael Kolk met at the University of Toronto and formed the HK Guitar Duo soon after. Early on in their collaboration, they began exploring music composed for instruments other than the guitar, and released their debut album Original Guitar Transcriptions in 2004, comprised entirely of their arrangements of Mozart, Chopin, Vivaldi, Rodrigo, and Scarlatti. In 2009, they released a second album featuring their transcriptions of Bach and Ravel, along with pieces composed for guitar duo by Lhoyer and Castelnuovo-Tedesco. The duo has toured extensively throughout North America; concert highlights include a performance at the Guitar Foundation of America convention in Columbus, Georgia in 2011, and two tours of Western Canada as featured artists for Prairie Debut. A number of the duo’s arrangements have been published by Les Productions d’OZ, including music by Ravel, Marcello/Bach, and Schubert, and many performance videos can be found on YouTube.
We regret that Tengyue Zhang is unable to perform due to unforeseen delays in obtaining a travel visa.
Thierry Begin-Lamontagne (Canada)
Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
Beyond his candid and joyful attitude, classical guitarist Thierry Begin-Lamontagne is known for his outstanding interpretations. He reveals his artful personality through his instrument in a bold, passionate and expert manner. His unique musical style offers an authentic performance full of vivacity and boldness, creating musical moments rich in colour and humour.
Mr. Begin-Lamontagne has won more than twenty music competitions, including eight international ones in Spain, France, Belgium and Canada. He also received prizes in South Korea, Thailand, United States, Mexico and Austria. He has been invited to perform worldwide in various foreign countries that include Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Portugal, Italy, Japan, Finland and the United States.
In 2016, he received a scholarship from the Fondation Sylva Gelber for music and a second one from the Conseil des Arts du Québec, allowing him to study in France for an entire year.
In February 2015, he released his first CD album, Aquarelle, showcasing various songs from different countries.
Thierry Begin-Lamontagne completed his master’s degree in 2013 at the University Laval, Quebec City, Canada. He plays a guitar by Quebec-based luthier Jean Rompré.
Jérémy Jouve (France)
Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
An active ambassador of classical guitar around the world, Jérémy Jouve continues his international tours and recording with one objective: to attune classical guitar with modernity.
He studied at the Ecole Normale de Musique and the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNSMDP) with great masters, among them Alberto Ponce and Roland Dyens. He was steered toward a deep love and respect of manuscripts, an unending search for a beautiful sound, and a thorough understanding of the architecture of the pieces he chooses to interpret, with a strong stamp of sincerity.
His GFA win (2003) led to a five month North American tour as well as to a first recording with Naxos. Other recordings include two CDs dedicated to the works of Joaquín Rodrigo, a live concert DVD, and a guitar/flute duo CD for Reference Recordings that was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014.
He maintains his strong desire to highlight the rich repertoire of classical guitar, undertaking intense work researching manuscripts in order to find the essence of the pieces, the soul of the composers, trying to call attention to both his instrument and the original compositions.
Cécilia Rodrigo, daughter of the famed composer, wrote; ‘What formidable technique, what poetry in your interpretations! I am extremely thankful for your work. My father, Joaquín Rodrigo, would have been very proud of you’.
Jérémy Jouve’s most recent album Cavalcade, an inspiring collaboration with composer Mathias Duplessy, marks a new direction in his career. This CD, in the domain of contemporary music, plays a leading role in the creation of new repertoire, music without borders, mixing flamenco, music of India, and with Ravelian accents.
An Tran (Vietnam)
Saturday, March 23, 2019 | 8PM
Church of St. Peter and St. Simon, 525 Bloor St. E. MAP
Advance Tickets: $30 General | $25 Seniors & Students
At the Door: $35 | $30
Advance Tickets available through Eventbrite at above link. Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded after purchase unless the event is cancelled. In that case, a refund will be issued within 60 days.
Guitar virtuoso An Tran was born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, and credits his first musical inspiration to his parents, who introduced him to music in his mother’s womb. He started learning the guitar at the age of 8 with guitarists Nguyen Hai Thoai and Vu Bao Lam. He continued his musical training at the Vietnam National Academy of Music, studying with guitarist Vu Viet Cuong. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from North Park University, studying with Dr. Julie Goldberg and Dr. Tom Zelle, and a Master of Music from Yale University under the teaching of renowned guitarist/composer Benjamin Verdery. He is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at Northwestern University, under the guidance of Anne Waller.
Mr. Tran has performed throughout North America and Asia as a soloist and a chamber musician. Deeply connected to his native country, he brings traditional music of Vietnam to the international concert stages. His 2017-2018 season included debut concerts in Austin and Dallas, Texas, and he will be touring Asia in fall 2018.
He has given masterclasses in numerous guitar festivals and universities in North America and Asia, including the 2018 Lone Star Guitar Festival, the 2018 Hanoi Alma International Guitar Festival and the 2017 Hamilton International Guitar Festival.
Since 2010, Mr. Tran has won top prizes in numerous competitions in the US, Canada, Europe and Asia, most recently first prize at the 2018 New Orleans International Guitar Competition.
Mr. Tran uses D’Addario strings and performs on guitars made by Stephan Connor in Boston, USA.
TORONTO GUITAR WEEKEND
Friday, April 26 – Sunday April 28, 2019
Featuring Berta Rojas (Paraguay)
Concerts, Lectures, Luthier Fair, Master Class. See Full Schedule here [PDF]
Full Registration With Brunch $155 / Without Brunch $115
Students with Brunch $110 / Without Brunch $70
*VENUE CHANGE* ALL EVENTS AT ST. ANDREW’S CHURCH, 73 Simcoe St., Toronto, opposite Roy Thomson Hall in the Entertainment District. Conveniently located next to the St. Andrew’s subway station.
Purchase tickets for Berta Rojas Concert on Sat. April 27 at 7:30pm
Individual ticket links below.
Friday April 26, 2019
8pm – Competition winner showcase concert
Brent Crawford and Bokyung Byun
Bokyung will be accompanied by pianist Jean-Luc Therrien in the Villa-Lobos Concerto
$30 on line/$35 at the door Students $20 on line/$25 at door
Purchase tickets for this Concert
Saturday April 27, 2019
Lectures
10:00am Mariette Stephenson $20/students $10
So You Want to Play in a Band: A History of Women’s Contributions to Guitar Orchestras in Europe and North America
This presentation will look at the societal impact of large guitar ensembles and their promotion of women in music (from the Baroque era to present day) including the involvement of female composers and music directors.
Purchase tickets for this Lecture
2:00pm Dr. Candice Mowbray $20/students $10
Celebrating Ida Presti’s Artistry as Solo Performer and Composer
Dr. Candice Mowbray discusses characteristics of legendary guitarist Ida Presti’s skill and style as a performer, and the ways in which those traits are manifested in her solo compositions.
Purchase tickets for this Lecture
Concert
7:30pm Berta Rojas (Paraguay)
$45 on line/$50 at the door Students $30 on line/$35 at door
Purchase tickets for this Concert
Sunday April 28, 2019
10:30am Brunch with the artists (for registered participants)
Signatures Restaurant, Hotel Intercontinental, 220 Bloor St. West
1:00pm Master Class – Berta Rojas $20/Student $10
Purchase tickets for this Masterclass
Plus free Luthier Fair with showcase, Open Mic, Guitar Orchestra
Berta Rojas ranks among today’s foremost classical guitarists. Her warmth and musicality have earned the admiration of audiences in major venues around the world, as well as three Latin Grammy nominations, most recently for History of Tango (2015), recorded with the Camerata Bariloche.
In 2011, with guest Paquito D’Rivera, Ms. Rojas launched a four-year tour “In the Footsteps of Mangoré,” which followed the travels of Agustín Barrios through twenty Latin American and Caribbean countries, concluding the journey at the national theatre of El Salvador, Barrios’s final resting place.
Ms. Rojas takes her audience on a colourful journey of sound, embracing new works by composers in diverse genres. The journey is echoed in her many recordings, including her most recent, Felicidade (2017), a tribute to Brazilian music, with guest artists including Gilberto Gil, Toquinho and Ivan Lins.
She is committed to promoting classical guitar, particularly the music of her country Paraguay, and to supporting the development of young guitarists. With this aim, she has created several scholarships and competitions, including the first online classical guitar competition, the Barrios World Wide Web Competition.
After initial studies in Paraguay with Felipe Sosa and Violeta de Mestral, Ms. Rojas studied in Uruguay under Abel Carlevaro, Eduardo Fernández and Mario Payseé, and at the USA’s Peabody Institute under Manuel Barrueco, Ray Chester and Julian Gray.
Ms. Rojas has been ranked amongst the most influential women in the Hispanic world (EFE and EsGlobal 2014; 2017). Her many honours include being named a Fellow of the Americas by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the title Illustrious Ambassador of Musical Art, and Doctor (honoris causa) from two national universities. She recently joined the prestigious Berklee College of Music as Associate Professor.
Sponsored by the Kenneth G. Mills Foundation.
