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| Seattle Classic Guitar Society |
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Bokyung Byun (South Korea) Recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Bokyung Byun enjoys a reputation as one of the most sought-after guitarists of her generation. Bokyung holds the distinction of being the first female winner of the prestigious JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, where Falletta herself described Bokyung's performance as "stunning, showcasing her gorgeous tone, immaculate technique, and sophisticated musicianship." Other recent honors include the grand prize at the 2021 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition. Born in Seoul, Korea, Bokyung began playing guitar at the age of six. At eleven, she took the stage for her first solo recital, leading to an early start in her teen years performing numerous concert tours in Asia. At the same time, Bokyung gained international attention for first-prize finishes in international competitions. Bokyung's debut recording in 2020 has been praised by Soundboard Magazine as, "a very beautiful disc . . . We are treated to extraordinary musicianship, technical assurance, and beauty of sound." In 2022, American Record Guide chose her Naxos Laurate Series recording as the Critics' Choice Album, remarking her style as "very reminiscent of Andres Segovia." Bokyung is currently on the guitar faculty of University of North Texas. She is an Augustine Strings artist and plays a guitar by Dieter Mueller (2019). "Here is a simple fact: with artistry such as Ms. Byun's, the state-of-the-art of guitar performance has reached a new level." - Al Kunze, Soundboard Magazine |
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Beijing Guitar Duo (China) Praised by the distinguished Classical Guitar Magazine as "having the star potential to serve as inspiration for new generations of guitarists to come," the Beijing Guitar Duo made their New York debut in Carnegie Hall in 2010 and launched their international concert career. Guitarists Meng Su and Yameng Wang, the Beijing Guitar Duo, has performed around the world in halls such as the Concertgebouw, Palau de Musica, Tchaikovsky Hall and the National Theatre in Beijing. The Beijing Guitar Duo's performances and recordings have impressed the public with "an ability and artistry that exceeds their years." Their debut CD Maracaípe, received a Latin-GRAMMY nomination for the titled piece, which was dedicated to them by renowned guitarist/composer Sergio Assad. Meng Su and Yameng Wang were born in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. They came to the partnership with exceptional credentials, including a string of competition awards. Ms. Su's honors include victories at the Vienna Youth Guitar Competition and the Christopher Parkening Guitarist Competition, while Ms. Wang was the youngest guitarist to win the Tokyo International Guitar Competition at the age of 12, and was invited by Radio France to perform at the prestigious Paris International Guitar Art Week at age 14. The duo served as Artists-in-residence from 2011-2015 for the San Francisco Performances outreach program that focuses on arts education and community engagement. "The Beijing Duo’s performance was a model of elegant clarity, sumptuously beautiful tone production, and emotional contrast." - San Francisco Classical Voice |
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David Russell (Scotland/Spain) Grammy award winner David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. Concert goers everywhere are in awe of his musical genius and inspired by his captivating stage presence. His love of his craft resonates through his flawless and seemingly effortless performance. The attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997. During his studies at the Royal Academy, David 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 Tárrega Competition. David Russell spends his time touring the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto, and Rome, among many others. Since 1995 David Russell has had an exclusive recording contract with Telarc International, and has so far recorded sixteen CDs with them, including Aire Latino, which received a Grammy in 2005. Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America in 2018. Upon hearing play in London, Andrés Segovia wrote: "My congratulations on your musicality and guitaristic technique". |
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A-Z Duo (Aniello Desiderio, Zoran Dukic) (Italy/Croatia) Aniello Desiderio and Zoran Dukic - two of the most celebrated guitarists of their generation - join forces as the A to Z Duo. Known for their fiery technique and explosive sound, this duo delivers a powerful and poetic program that showcases the guitar at its most virtuosic. Winners of some of the most important international solo guitar contests in the 1980s and 1990s, they were, with a difference of only two years, awarded the first prize at the prestigious International Francisco Tárrega Competition, in Spain (Aniello in 1992; Zoran in 1994). Since then, they have had widely successful careers as solo artists, and have been collaborating as a duo since the early 1990s. Their partnership has graced numerous European festivals and prestigious venues, including Barcelona's Palau de la Música, exploring long-standing passions for the music of the Baroque and that of Spain and Latin America. In 2021, the duo released their album "A & Z," featuring their long-standing passions for the music of the Baroque and that of Spain and Latin America. Born in Naples, Aniello Desiderio performed as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras in North and South Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa. A native of Zagreb (Croatia) is one of the most distinguished classical guitarists of our time. He has performed in the most prestigious concert halls worldwide, such as Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, Carnegie Hall in New York, Concert Gebouw in Amsterdam, and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow. "Nothing is impossible for Aniello with his instrument" - Classical Guitar Magazine |
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All performances take place at the Illsley Ball Nordstrom Recital Hall, By Mail: By Phone: In Person: Note that seniors, students, and SCGS members receive significant discounts on tickets! All current SCGS members will receive a separate email or letter with the online discount code. |
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 Jorge Caballero, Saturday, September 28, 2024 |
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| Iliana Matos, Saturday, November 16, 2024 |
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| Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Saturday, April 5, 2025 |
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| Berta Rojas, Saturday, May 3, 2025 |
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Benaroya Hall: For updated information on COVID-19 protocols at Benaroya Hall, please visit: |
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