2011-2012 Sundin Hall Concert Series
Our concert season is co-sponsored by Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University. The Minnesota Guitar Society isa fiscal year 2011 recipient of an Arts Tour Minnesota grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is funded, in part, by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. Matching funds have beenprovided by General Mills, AT&T, and Ameriprise Financial.
Edel Muñoz
Saturday, September 17th, 2011
Edel Muñoz began his guitar studies at the age of 7 and graduated in 1994 at the National School of Music of Havana. Edel’s teachers were Arsenio Diaz, Maria Victoria Oliver, Martha Cuervo, Victor Pellegrini, Jesús Cantero, Isaac Nicola, and Leo Brouwer. He later took courses in Argentina with Eduardo Isaac, in Chile with Luis Orlandini, and in Spain with Alex Garrobé. He also performed in master classes for some of the greatest guitarists of the day. He was only 20 years old when he won First Prize at the prestigious International Competition and Festival de Guitarra de La Habana, presided over by Leo Brouwer. As a concert artist, Edel has performed in major theaters and recital halls throughout Cuba, Central America, South America, the US, Canada, and Europe as solo recitalist, chamber musician, and soloist with orchestras such as the Barcelona Sinfonietta, Miami Symphony Orchestra, and Cuba’s National Symphony Orchestra. In 2004, Edel Muñoz and Walfrido Domminguez founded Habana Duet because of their mutual interest in sharing and spreading Cuban music as well as their own music. They performed in Berlin, Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, and elsewhere in Europe. Edel has been invited to such music festivals as the Liege Guitar Festival in Belgium, Guitars of the Worlds Festival in Argentina, Augusts’ Festival in Venezuela, the International Guitar Festival of Barcelona, Paracho’s Guitar Festival in Mexico, and Havana’s International Guitar festival. He has won numerous first prizes and other awards at competitions throughout the world over the last 17 years. Edel is currently on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee. http://www.edelguitar.com/
Mark Hanson
Friday, October 14th, 2011
Growing up a youngster in Minnesota, Hanson studied piano and clarinet, and sang with his family and in numerous choirs through high school. Playing two instruments and singing provided him with performance experience and exposure to great repertoire. It also proved to be a great training ground for learning to speak and read (and play!) the language of music. He started guitar by borrowing his sister’s Sears Silvertone acoustic and imitating the folk music on Peter, Paul & Mary, Pete Seeger, and the Kingston Trio records. He also played guitar with the kid who lived over the back fence, performing for hospital patients and church groups. At that point, the Beatles arrived, and guitar became his main non-basketball focus. That duo turned into a junior high rock and roll band, where he learned to play barre chords and keep a steady tempo. Acoustic pop players influenced him considerably during the sixties: Paul Simon, Stephen Stills, the Beatles, and James Taylor. That led to the British greats John Renbourn and Bert Jansch, Chicago blues icon Big Bill Broonzy, and eventually a lasting appreciation for the late jazz virtuoso Joe Pass.
He received a college degree in music from Stanford in the mid-seventies, and began his teaching/performing career. He wrote his first book, The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking, in 1985. Years of private teaching had clearly defined a teaching method for alternating-thumb fingerpicking, so he and a partner started Accent On Music and published that first book. Merle Travis himself graciously consented to the use of his name in the title. About this time he began writing for Frets magazine, and was hired as an assistant editor in 1986. His position at Frets trained him to write clearly, provided an insider’s view of the publishing business, and gave him a great Rolodex. He interviewed and wrote cover stories on James Taylor, David Crosby, Leo Kottke, and many other luminaries in the acoustic guitar field. He became a monthly columnist, providing transcriptions and compositions for fingerstyle guitarists. When Frets was discontinued in 1989, Hanson continued Accent On Music, which had published his second ‘Travis Picking’ book, The Art of Solo Fingerpicking. In the ensuing years he has authored many books, videos, and DVDs, and continues to produce new materials, including two solo CDs for Solid Air Records, released in 2009. Some of his best, finger-busting arrangements are on these recordings, including the jazz standards “Take the ‘A’ Train” and “Angel Eyes,” and pop tunes like “Breakdown” and “Best of My Love.” A transcription book for these arrangements was in the works as 2010 came to a close. Hanson hosts an annual summer seminar in Portland, Oregon, and also presents concerts and workshops around the country, as he has for over 20 years. He has a workshop repertoire of over two dozen topics. In 2005, Mark was included in the Grammy-winning Henry Mancini—Pink Guitar CD from Solid Air Records, which included a trip to the awards ceremony in L.A. and the chance to shake hands with Cyndi Lauper, who presented the award. http://www.accentonmusic.com/
Duo Melis
Saturday, November 5th, 2011
The Spaniard Susana Prieto and the Greek Alexis Muzurakis made their debut as Duo Melis in 1999 at the International Guitar Festival of Volos (Greece). Since then they have performed in such prestigious halls as the Philharmonie in Berlin, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Megaron in Athens, and the Merkin Concert Hall in New York. They have been invited to play concerts and give masterclasses at international guitar festivals in Europe and America. They have won numerous prizes, both individually and together. In 1999, as a duo, they won first prize at the International Guitar Duo Competition of Frechen (Germany). The next year they won the prestigious Guitar Duo Competition of Montelimar (France) as well as the 21st International Guitar Duo Competition “Mauro Giuliani” (Italy). In 2001 they captured the Duo/Ensemble prize at the Chamber Music Competition of Leipzig (Germany) and the same year were the winners at the International Guitar Duo Competition of Paris (France). In 2003 they recorded their first CD after winning the recording prize “Citta di Verona” at the International Chamber Music Competition “Gaetano Zinetti” (Italy). In 2005 they successfully auditioned for the Yehudi Menuhin Society Live Music Now.
Duo Melis has collaborated with international orchestras like the Berliner Symphoniker, the Neubrandenburger Philharmonie, the Bayerische Kammerphilharmonie, the Radio Orchestra of Bucharest and the National Orchestra of Thessaloniki conducted by Leo Brouwer. Their wide repertoire spans from Baroque-era music to the music of Astor Piazzolla and Alberto Ginastera, and includes concertos for two guitars and orchestra by Rodrigo, Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and Vivaldi as well as a newly composed concerto by Marek Pasieczny that is dedicated to Duo Melis. Their performances in the US include the Guitar Foundation of America’s Annual Convention, and recitals in Chicago, St. Louis, Austin, Scranton, College Station, Houston, Brownsville, and Detroit. They have appeared twice for both OMNI Concerts in San Francisco and the Cleveland Classical Guitar Weekend. They were featured artists at the Bethlehem Guitar Festival in Pennsylvania. In Europe they have presented recitals in Italy, Greece, Germany, Poland, Russia, Spain, Rumania, Holland, Check Republic, Austria, Norway, Sweden and France. Since 2006, both members of the duo, Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis, have taught at the Conservatoire National de Strasbourg in France. http://www.duo-melis.com/
Acoustic Guitarathon
Friday, December 2nd, 2011
Last season’s return of the “acoustic” guitarathon to our season showcased some of the region’s finest steel-string artists. But there’s plenty more where they came from! Join us that night to hear them.
Zoran Dukić
Saturday, January 21st, 2012
Zoran Dukić is one of the most prominent guitarists of the new generation. He was born in 1969 in Zagreb, Croatia where he started to play the guitar at the age of six. He graduated from the Music Academy of Zagreb with Darko Petrinjak and completed his studies with Hubert Käppel at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne. Zoran Dukić is the only guitarist to have won both Andrés Segovia competitions, in Granada and in Palma de Mallorca. He has also won competitions dedicated to Fernando Sor, Manuel Ponce, Manuel de Falla, and Francisco Tárrega, among others. In the greatest Spanish guitar competition in Madrid, patronized by the Royal Family, he was awarded, in addition to the first prize, the special prize for the best interpretation of Spanish music. His programs include works by Takemitsu, Henze, Carter, and Gubaidulina, along with many others. Dukić has also toured with programs devoted entirely to Bach. He has a special affinity for Spanish and South American musical idioms, from Sor to Albéniz, from Tárrega to Villa-Lobos. He currently teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music in the Hague and at the Escuela Superior de Musica in Barcelona. Zoran Dukić has won more international guitar competitions than any other guitarist in the world. He has won many competitions and awards.
Dukić has been a featured soloist in more then 30 countries on five continents in the most important concert halls such as Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Teatre de la Monnaie in Brussels, Maison de Radio France in Paris, The National Art Gallery in Ottawa, the Luis Angel Arango hall in Bogota and the Çemal Resit Rey in Istanbul. He is regularly invited to give masterclasses in international festivals and often appears as a featured soloist with orchestras all over the world. Dukić is also a very active chamber music performer and a founding member of the guitar trio Trio de Cologne. He has recorded for labels in Germany, Spain, and Belgium. He currently teaches at the Royal Conservatory of Music in The Hague, Holland, Hochschule für Musik in Aachen, Germany and at the Escuela Superior de Musica de Barcelona, Spain.
Beijing Guitar Duo
Saturday, February 18th 2012
The members of the Beijing Guitar Duo, Meng Su and Yameng Wang, are widely noted for their outstanding technique and artistic musicality. Su and Wang first met at the Central Conservatory in Beijing, China, where they both studied with the acclaimed professor Chen Zhi. The Beijing Guitar Duo was formally established at the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore in 2008 at the encouragement of their mentor, Manuel Barrueco. As recipients of the “Solomon H. Snyder Award,” the Beijing Guitar Duo made New York debut at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in April, 2010. Other performances have included recitals in Denmark, China, Germany, and elsewhere in the US. They are deeply dedicated to developing and exploring new repertoire. In April 2010 they joined Manuel Barrueco in premiering a new guitar trio written for them by Sergio Assad called “Enchanted Island.” In addition, the duo will premiere Tan Dun’s “Eight Memories in Watercolor,” in a new version for two guitars, arranged specifically for the duo. Their first duo recording, Maracaípe, was released in December 2009. The album features the world premiere recording of “Maracaípe,” a work written by renowned guitarist and composer Sergio Assad and dedicated to the Beijing Guitar Duo for this recording.
Born in the coastal city of Qingdao, in the province of Shandong, China in 1988, Meng Su demonstrated her artistic gifts as an exceptionally talented guitarist from an early age. Embarking on an exciting guitar career as one of the most outstanding guitarists of her generation, Meng Su began her training in classical guitar with renowned professor Chen Zhi at the age of nine, where she quickly began attracting attention as a remarkable young talent. Before graduating from the High School of the Central Conservatory of Music of China in 2006, Su had already won many awards, including the 5th Vienna Youth Guitar Competition, the 48th Tokyo International Guitar Competition, the Christopher Parkening Young Guitarist Competition, and the 2nd Iserlohn International Guitar Competition in Germany. In her short time as a performing artist, she has performed solo, duo, and quartet concerts across the US, UK, Canada, Austria, Germany, Korea, Japan, and China, in which she has impressed audiences with an ability, and artistry, that exceeds her years. Meng Su recently obtained her Performer’s Certificate from Peabody Conservatory, and is currently continuing her studies with guitar virtuoso Manuel Barrueco in their Graduate Performance Diploma program. Su’s discography includes a live CD and DVD release of a 2005 guitar concert in Korea as well as a release of Four Angels.
Born in Qingdao, China in 1981, Yameng Wang fell in love with the classical guitar at a young age and began studying with the leading guitar teacher in China, professor Chen Zhi, when she was 10 years old. She became the youngest winner of the 36th Tokyo International Guitar Competition at the age of 12. She went on to win second prize in the 28th “Michele Pittaluga” International Guitar Competition in Italy at the age of 13, and at the age of 14 she was invited by Radio France to perform at the 27th Paris International Guitar Art Week and won second prize in La Infanta Doña Cristina International Guitar Competition in Spain. Classical Guitar magazine noted that at the age of 14, she already played like a seasoned professional. After graduating from the Central Conservatory of Music of China in 2006, Wang enrolled in the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. There, she finished her Masters of Music degree in 2008 and is currently in the Graduate Performance Diploma program, studying with Manuel Barrueco. Wang has given acclaimed recitals across the US, France, Italy, Germany, Britain, Austria, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Poland, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia both as a soloist and in chamber music settings. Her first album, Caprice, was recorded when she was 16 years old. A Very Special Album was released in 1999, and in 2003 she contributed to GHA’s album, The Best of Classical Guitar. In 2005, she released Classic Guitar–Aquarelle, Un Sueño en la Floresta. http://www.beijingguitarduo.com/
Johannes Möller
Concert: Saturday, March 10th 2012
The Swedish guitarist and composer Johannes Möller has captivated audiences throughout the world with charismatic and soulful performances. He played his first public concerts when he was 13 years old. Since then he has found time for more than 500 appearances in Europe, Asia, and South and North America. In 2010 he was awarded first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America Concert Artist Competition, which is often considered the most prestigious guitar competition in the world. As part of this prize, he will perform over 50 concerts throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and China, including a Carnegie Hall debut (Weill Recital Hall). He will also record a CD on the Naxos label. As a performer, Johannes’s artistry has reached well beyond the usual guitar circles. This fact was confirmed in March 2008 when he won the Dutch Vriendenkrans Concours where he was competing against performers in all of the instrumental categories. As a part of this award his name has been engraved on a metal plate that can be seen in the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He also became the first guitarist ever to win the Ljunggrenska Competition (Sweden) in 2007, and the conclusion issued by the jury was: “With the help of a breathtaking technique and all the colors of the rainbow he opens a door to a world of subtle expressions which with great power and intensity strikes us.” In 2005, he became the first guitarist to win The Bromsgrove Festival International Young Musicians Platform (England). Johannes has earned a Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied guitar with Gary Ryan and Carlos Bonell. He has received a masters degree from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, where he studied with Zoran Dukić. He also received a scholarship for excellent students from the Royal Conservatoire that allowed him to study privately with Pavel Steidl in Czech Republic. He completed a second masters degree at the Conservatoire in Amsterdam, where he studied with Lex Eisenhardt. http://www.johannesmoller.com/
Yamandú Costa
Saturday, April 27th 2012
Yamandú Costa was born in Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where he began his guitar studies with his father Algacir Costa, band leader of “Os Fronteiriços,” when he was 7 years old. Later, he perfected his technique with Lúcio Yanel, Argentine virtuoso who was then settled in Brazil. Until the age of 15, Yamandú´s only music school was the folk music from the south of Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Nevertheless, after he heard Radamés Gnatalli´s work, he decided to get in contact with the music of other renowned Brazilian musicians, such as Baden Powell, Tom Jobim, and Raphael Rabello. When he was 17, he played for the first time in São Paulo at the Circuito Cultural Banco do Brasil (BB Cultural Tour). The event was produced by “Estúdio Tom Brazil” (Tom Brazil studio), and from then on he was recognized as one of the most gifted guitar players of Brazil. Yamandú is a guitar player, composer, and arranger who does not fit into a single music style, yet he creates his own when he combines all of them playing his 7-string guitar. One of the greatest geniuses of Brazilian music of all times, young Yamandú deserves the highest praise. Whenever he is on stage, he fills with joy every member of the audience, since his impressive performance shows the deep intimacy between Yamandú and his guitar. The recognition he has earned throughout the world reveals what he can offer—re-creation of the magic of music—since from his fingers the music he plays travels through his body and soul and is almost miraculously transformed.
Yamandú fully deserves his beautiful name, which in tupi-guarani, the native language of Brazilian Indians, means “the precursor of the waters of the world.”
Classical Guitarathon
Saturday, May 26th, 2012
Yeah, that’s Memorial Day weekend. But wait another week to go up to the lake. Instead, take an auditory swim in the coolest classical guitar music to be heard anywhere, played by some of the best, from this very area! It’s an annual season-ending tradition. Don’t miss it.