Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) First-Prize Winner Eckachai Jearakul in Concert January 29
Portland Classic Guitar proprietor William Jenks is proud to present exciting new Guitar Foundation of America first-prize winner Ekachai Jearakul, performing on Friday, January 29, at 8 p.m., at Marylhurst University’s Wiegand Hall. Jearakul will offer a master class the previous day (January 28), from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m., also at Wiegand Hall (Please note that the master class has been rescheduled from the original Sat. Jan. 30th scheduled date).
With a career that has already garnered a great deal of international attention—including twelve first prizes earned at renowned competitions in Europe, Asia, and North America—Jearakul recently became the first Asian guitarist to win the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. This coveted prize entails a fifty-concert international tour culminating in a Carnegie Hall debut in New York City, and recordings released worldwide on the Naxos and GHA labels.
Though still in his twenties, Jearakul has performed in over sixteen countries, including the United States, China, France, Korea, Russia, Greece, Japan, Austria, England, Italy, Germany, Mexico, the Philippines, Indonesia, Spain, Singapore, and his home, Thailand (where he was born in 1987). In 2011, he recorded a well-received CD featuring music of the King of Thailand (His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej). He also has collaborated with such distinguished conductors as JoAnn Falletta and Bundit Ungrangsee, and has appeared with orchestras around the world—including the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, the International Orchestra of Italy, the Unity Philharmonic Orchestra, the Ukraine Philharmonic Orchestra, the National Ensemble of Soloists “Kiev Camerata,” the Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute Orchestra, the Orquesta Sinaloá de los Artes, and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Jearakul began guitar studies in earnest at the age of thirteen. Shortly after, he received a full scholarship to attend Mahidol University College of Music, where he completed a Bachelor in Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance with Dr. Paul Cesarczyk. Jearakul went on to earn a Master’s degree in Guitar Performance at Salzburg's Mozarteum, under the tutelage of Marco Tamayo. Since 2007, he has been sponsored by ThaiBev, the internationally known beverage company.
This will be a rare opportunity to hear Ekachai Jearakul perform in the Portland area; don’t miss it!