Seattle Classic Guitar Society
International Concert Series, 2011-2012

	David Leisner (USA) website Saturday, September 24, 2011 Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya, 7:30 PM David Leisner is an extraordinarily versatile musician with a multi-faceted career as an electrifying performing artist, a distinguished composer, and a master teacher. Regarded as one of the world's leading classical guitarists, his superb musicianship and provocative programming have been applauded by critics and audiences around the world. Mr. Leisner's career as a guitarist began auspiciously with top prizes in both the 1975 Toronto and 1981 Geneva International Guitar Competitions. In the 1980s, a disabling hand injury, focal dystonia, interrupted his performing career in mid-stream and plagued him for 12 years. Through a pioneering approach to technique based on his understanding of the physical aspects of playing the guitar, Leisner gradually rehabilitated himself. Now completely recovered, he has once again resumed an active performing career, earning accolades wherever he plays. David Leisner's recent seasons have taken him around the globe where he has played solo recitals and has appeared as a soloist with many internationally renowned orchestras. David Leisner is currently co-chairman of the guitar department at the Manhattan School of Music and taught at the New England Conservatory for 22 years. His lively master classes have been featured at institutions, music schools, and music festivals around the world. “Throughout the recital, Leisner played with heightened beauty of tone, flexibility of phrasing and detailing of nuance. He drew numerous colors from the instrument and spanned a spectrum of dynamics and atmospheres. His playing was intimate yet full of character... It was an exhilarating display of artistic intelligence and control.” Cleveland Plain Dealer
	Fabio Zanon (Brazil) website Saturday, November 12, 2011 Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya, 7:30 PM Fabio Zanon is recognized as one the most all-embracing talents in the international guitar scene. His command of a vast repertoire that includes all the major works written for the guitar, more than 30 concertos and the championing of new works written expressly for him have set new standards of interpretation and contributed to change the perception of the guitar in the classical music scene. Fabio Zanon's investigative and learned approach has opened up many possibilities for the guitar repertoire, both as a solo and as a chamber instrument. Recent activity in the studio include his benchmark transcriptions of Scarlatti, the 12 Studies by Francisco Mignone along with Camargo Guarnieri´s guitar works, Van der Roost´s Concerto with I Fiamminghi Chamber orchestra and the soundtracks written by Luís Bacalov for films like Les Enfants du Siècle and Woman on Top. He has also produced a series of 26 programmes for Radio Cultura in Brazil , The Art of the Guitar, which has helped to create new audiences for his instrument. His editions of early and contemporary music, Fabio Zanon Collection, are currently being published by Mel Bay. He is also an inspirational teacher; he has given masterclasses at many of the most prestigious institutions, including the Royal Academy and Royal College of Music in London, the Gnessin School in Moscow, University of Vienna and at several music colleges in the USA, from New York to Los Angeles. "Had the leading young South American artist offering this varied recital of Byrd, Bach, Albeniz, Lennox Berkeley and Nicholas Maw happened to be a pianist, it would doubtless have drawn critical attention and a capacity audience. It was with the 20th-century items that the full, formidable range of his artistry emerged.” The London Independent
	Odair Assad (Brazil) website Friday, March 2, 2012 Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya, 7:30 PM 2011 marks the first ever solo guitar concert tour in North America for Brazilian-born guitarist, Odair Assad. He has set the benchmark for all other guitarists by creating a new standard of guitar innovation, ingenuity and expression with his brother Sergio. Their exceptional artistry and uncanny ensemble playing come from both a family rich in Brazilian musical tradition and from studies with the best guitarists in South America. In addition to setting new performance standards, the Assads have played a major role in creating and introducing new music for two guitars. Their virtuosity has inspired a wide range of composers to write for them including Astor Piazzolla, Terry Riley, Radamés Gnattali, Marlos Nobre, Nikita Koshkin, Roland Dyens, Jorge Morel, Edino Krieger and Francisco Mignone. They have worked extensively with such renowned artists as Yo-Yo Ma, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Fernando Suarez Paz, Paquito D’Rivera, Gidon Kremer and Dawn Upshaw. The Assad’s repertoire includes original music composed by Sérgio Assad and his re-workings of folk and jazz music as well as Latin music of almost every style. Their standard classical repertoire includes transcriptions of the great Baroque keyboard literature of Bach, Rameau and Scarlatti and adaptations of works by such diverse figures as Gershwin, Ginastera and Debussy. Their touring programs are always a compelling blend of styles, periods and cultures. The Assads are also recognized as prolific recording artists, primarily for the Nonesuch and GHA labels. "Call it one of the most engaging musical presentations of the season. Better yet, call it a stunning display of the music of the Western Hemisphere.” The The Los Angeles Times
	Paris Guitar Duo (France) website Friday, April 20, 2012 Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, Benaroya, 7:30 PM The Paris Guitar Duo features Naxos recording artists and Guitar Foundation of America 1st prize winners Judicaël Perroy and Jérémy Jouve. Judicaël Perroy has become widely known as an extraordinary virtuoso guitarist and musician with several prizes from prominent international competitions to his credit. In 1997 he captured the prestigious first prize of the 15th Guitar Foundation of America International Competition awarding him a tour of the United States and Canada with more than sixty concerts and masterclasses. In between his North American tour that year, he gave several concerts in France where his performances were broadcast live on France-Musique followed by extensive recital tours throughout the world. Highly sought after and in great demand as a teacher, he has been invited to give master classes at many of the top conservatories and universities in the United States and abroad. Jérémy Jouve, 2003 winner of the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, enjoys an international concert career, playing in some of the world’s most important festivals. Jérémy Jouve’s career has taken him to some of the most important stages and festivals of the musical world, including Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, Germany’s Iserlhon Guitar Symposium, the French National Radio Festival, the Saltillo International Guitar Festival in Mexico, the Alliances Françaises of India, and elsewhere in Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Switzerland and Macedonia, among other countries. “Without a doubt one of the bright lights of the young generation of classical guitarists." Univers Guitare

The SCGS International Concert Series performances are held at Benaroya Hall (Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall) located at 200 University Street, Seattle, WA 98101-3428. Tickets (individual and series) can be purchased via credit card from Rosewood Guitar (206) 297-8788, or the Benaroya Box office (206) 215-4747. Single Event Tickets: $32 ($25 for SCGS members) 3-Concert Seres $80 ($65 for members) 4-Concert Series: $95 ($80 for SCGS members)