AGF Concert Artists
NATHAN FISCHER has built a unique career as a performer, teacher, and an entrepreneur with a vision for the arts. As a concert artist, Nathan's performances have been described as having "a wide range of color and covering passages of sensitive emotion to fiery passion" - The Washington Guitar Society. Nathan has a Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music in Guitar Performance and Literature, where he developed his inviting performing and teaching personality. In 2004, he received the Andrés Segovia Award for Musical Accomplishment and Human Endeavor, and has been distinguished as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar. Nathan Fischer is currently founder and President of the International Guitar Institute and is on faculty with the University of Nevada in Las Vegas; where he teaches guitar, history and literature of the guitar, and guitar pedagogy. His recording, Images, was released in 2000. www.nathanfischer.com
ADAM DEL MONTE leads a dynamic career as a performer of flamenco and classical guitar; and is an active soloist, chamber performer, and composer. Having won first prize at the 1997 Stotsenberg International Classical Guitar Competition, del Monte is one of the new generation’s unique and leading guitarists. He studied flamenco & classical guitar in
BRUCE HOLZMAN is Professor of Guitar at the Florida State University College of Music. Holzman's crowning achievements are seen in the success of his students who have won prestigious prizes in competitions worldwide. The partial list of these competitions includes the Guitar Foundation of America Solo/Duo Competition, Music Teacher's National Association Collegiate Artists Competition (12), Alirio Diaz Competition of Caracas, Venezuela, Toronto International Festival Competition, and Concours Internationale de Guitare of Paris, France. Many of his students hold teaching positions at prominent Universities, Colleges and High Schools. In part, these include faculty positions at Stetson University, Kennesaw College, University of New Mexico, University of Memphis, Middle Tennessee State University, University of Texas, Austin, University of Texas, San Antonio, East Carolina University, Columbus State University, and Montgomery Alabama Magnet Schools. During his tenure and in high demand he has been on faculty with almost a dozen international summer music festivals. In 2006, Bruce Holzman was presented with "El Maestro/Tradition of the Masters," a Lifetime Achievement award for excellence in teaching.
MARCIN DYLLA is a concert artist not to miss. Don’t take our word on it, come see for yourself why he has won first prize in 19 international guitar competitions throughout the
ANDREW ZOHN is an American born guitarist and composer who has been hailed as “one of the finest guitarists of
his generation” (internationally-syndicated radio program Classical Guitar Alive). His ability on the instrument has earned prizes in five international competitions including the Guitar Foundation of America and the Stotsenberg International. In addition to concertizing throughout North America and in Europe as a soloist, Andrew Zohn is active as a chamber musician, orchestral soloist, and as a part of Duo Spiritoso with acclaimed Canadian guitarist and
ANA VIDOVIC is a bright, young, and critically acclaimed performer of formidable gifts. Born and raised in
KEVIN ERNSTE is joining the Alexandria Guitar Festival as composer-in-residence for 2008. Currently Kevin is a composer, performer, and teacher of composition and electronic music at
RICARDO COBO is recognized as one of the world's supreme virtuosi of the new classic guitar generation. He gave his professional debut with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota at age sixteen for a nationwide telecast audience of over nine million. As a college student he was the first Hispanic to win consecutive prizes at the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. His busy touring schedule has taken him to some of the worlds leading concert venues such as New York's Canegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall, to Korea's Ho Ham Hall, and Madird's Teatro Real to name a few. Cobo's versatility can be heard in his award-winning solo recordings of classical and children's music, his orchestral and crossover recordings and in hundreds of credits for commercial releases world-wide. His diverse and innovative programming ranges from solo concerti with orchestra to historical chamber settings as well as Tango and Flamenco dance ensembles to Latin and world music concerts. www.ricardocobo.com
JULIAN GRAY is recognized as one of the outstanding guitarists in practice, performing as a soloist, chamber musician, and member of the the Gray/Pearl Duo. Mr. Gray's numerous duo guitar recordings on the Dorian label have received unanimous critical acclaim. His recording with the Diaz Trio or music by Paganini (Dorian) was hailed by the Stradivarious Magazine as the finest example of that genre. He has edited music for Editions Orphée, Theodore Presser and Columbia Music. Mel Bay published a series of his duo transcriptions of music by Scarlatti and Falla in 2003. A recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award of the Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Gray is on faculty with the Peabody Conservatory where he teaches guitar, guitar history and literature, and coaches chamber music.
MATTEO MELA and LORENZO MICHELI first met 2000. Since then, they have shared a number of ideas, musical projects, and travels all over the world. In 2003 they formed a duo that has already performed throughout Europe and North America, and has been acclaimed everywhere – from New York’s Carnegie Hall to Vienna’s Konzerthaus – as one of the best ensembles ever heard. About one of their performances, The Washington Post wrote: “Extraordinarily sensitive, with effortless command and an almost unbearable delicacy of touch, the duo’s playing was nothing less than rapturous – profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order.”
In addition to classic, romantic and modern repertoire, Matteo and Lorenzo – joined by lutenist Massimo Lonardi – enjoy exploring the early literature for baroque guitar and theorbo. Together, Matteo and Lorenzo have recorded François de Fossa’s Three Quartets (Stradivarius), a CD of 17th century Italian Music for baroque guitar, archlute and theorbo (Stradivarius), an anthology of 20th century masterpieces for two guitars (Solaria, Pomegranate), the Duos Concertants by Antoine De Lhoyer (Naxos), a collection of chamber works by Mauro Giuliani (Amadeus), as well as a dozen solo recordings on the labels Naxos, Brilliant Records, Kookaburra, Mel Bay, and Stradivarius. For further information, please visit www.soloduo.it, www.matteomela.it and www.lorenzomicheli.com.
