The Seattle Classic Guitar Society is thrilled to present one of the world's finest virtuoso guitarists, Kazuhito Yamshita, in the opening concert of the season's International Series. His dazzling technique and powerful expression has received accolades throughout the musical world, including the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon Award.

His impressive list of almost 80 recordings and numerous original arrangements, such as Musorgsy's Pictures at an Exhibition and Dvorak's New World Symphony, are legendary within guitar circles. Kazuhito Yamashita's recordings include the complete works of Fernando Sor, and a collection of this own transcriptions of J.S. Bach's Sonatas and Partitas originally for violin, cello, lute and flute. He is an enthusiastic proponent of new works for the guitar and has given the world premier of more than 60 new compositions throughout the world. In this regard, his world premier and presentation of the works by Japanese composer Keiko Fujiie is particularly notable.

Award-winning British guitarist Mihael Partington has performed internationally as a soloist and with various ensembles to unanimous critical praise. He has appeared throughout the USA, UK, Canada, Russia and Scandanavia. He has performed live on BBC Radio, National Public Radio in the US, KUOW, KING FM, KZAZ, and KAOS in Washingotn, and on cable television in California, Montan and Washington.

An adovocate of new music, he has commissioned and premiered works by Stephen Goss, Bryan Johanson, Toshio Hosokawa, Angeol Gilardino, Tom Baker, Kevin Callahan and others. He is a frequent performer and teacher at festivals, including the Guitar Foundation of America Festial, Llantilio Crosseny Festival Portland Guita festival, Northwest Guitar Festial, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, Cascadia Festival and Chelan Bach Fest. His recordings are available on Rosewood Recordings, Present Sounds and Cadenza Music labels. Michael Partington currently lives in Seattle, where he is director of the Guitar Program at University of Washington.

Göran Sollscher embarked on an international career after winning the first prize at the Concours International de Guitare in Paris, in 1978. He has since toured throughout Europe, North and South America, Chia and Japan, giving recitals as well as performing as soloist with numerous orchestras. His repertoire is exceptionally wide-rangin from Renaissance music to well-known standard concertos for guitar and orchestra, to contemporary music.

As a Deutshe Grammophon recording artis, Göran Sollscher has made eleven solo recordings, which include the complete lute works of J.S. Bach. In 1990, Deutsche Grammophon released his recording of threemajor works for guitar and orchestra by Rodrigo and Villa-Lobos. His recording with violinist Gil Shaham, Paganini for Two,was listed among the ten best selling classical albums int eh USA (May 1994, Billboard Magazine) and he has also released recordings featuring the music of the Beatles and works by Astor Piazolla. Göran Solscher currently holds Sweden's sole guitar professorship at the Royal Conservatory in Stockholm.

David Russell is a Seattle favorite and Grammy Award winner for is CD, Aire Latino, in the category of best instrumental soloist in classical music. During his studies at the Royal Academy, Mr. Russell twice won the Julian Bream Guitar Prize. Later he won numerous international competitions, including the Andres Segovia Competition, the Jose Ramirez Competition and Spain's prestigious Francisco Tarrega Competition. Since then he has toured the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in major cities, such as New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto and Rome. He is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997. Since 1995 David Russell has an exclusive recording contract with Telarc international, with whom he has recorded twelve CDs up to now, among them Aire Latino.

All concerts are at Benaroya Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall.