Beijing Guitar Duo

Concert: Saturday, February 18th, 8 p.m.
Masterclass: Friday, February 17th, 2 p.m.
(Please note the date/time of the masterclass in the newsletter was not correct)

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/

GFA Winner Johannes Möller

Concert: Saturday, March 10th, 8 p.m.

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/