Exciting News! The Portland International Guitar Series 2019-2020 Season XV is Here!
U.S. Classic Guitar President William Jenks is thrilled to announce the exciting 2019-2020 Portland International Guitar Series XV which will feature six outstanding concerts of the top classical guitarists in the world.
To open the series on Sunday, October 27 at 5:00 PM at the First Congregational Church will be Jason Vieaux who won a Grammy award in 2015 for best solo instrumental classical album. He has been described by NPR as, "perhaps the most soulful classical guitarist of his generation" and by Gramaphone as, "among the elite of today's classical guitarists.
On Friday, January 17 at 8 PM will be Spanish guitarist Virginia Luque who is returning back on popular demand after dazzling our Portland audience two years ago. She plays classical and flamenco music in a Spanish romantic style, combining extraordinary technical virtuosity with beautiful tone and musicianship. She is a former private student of Andre Segovia and holds a Master’s degree from Julliard School of Music. She is also the music director and conductor of the Women’s New York Philharmonic. She has been awarded First Prize at several international competitions, including the "Manuel de Falla" Competition for Classical Guitar in Granada, Spain, and has received the Lincoln Center Scholarship among other awards.
Next on Friday, February 21 at 8 PM will be Polish guitarist Mateusz Kowalski who recently won first prize in the prestigious EuroStrings Guitar Competition held in London (July 2019) which is a competition only open to first prize winners of 17 European Guitar festivals held in 2018 and 2019. In addition to the EuroStrings competition, he also won first prize in the International Guitar Festival Rust Austria (2018), the Joaquin Rodrigo International Guitar Competition in Olsztyn, Poland (2018), the XIX International Guitar Competition in Krynica-Zdrój, Poland (2018), and the XVIII International Guitar Competition in Anthony, Paris, France (2017). Mateusz has given concerts in Spain, France, Belgium, Slovakia, Germany, Austria, and many others. Furthermore, he recorded his debut CD in 2018 with the Polish label CDaccord, distributed by NAXOS.
On Friday, March 20 at 8 PM will be the legendary Scottish guitarist David Russell who won a Grammy Award in 2004 for his CD Aire Latino in the category of best solo instrumental classical album and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America in 2018. Classical guitarist David Russell is one of the leading guitarists of our time and 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 a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997. Mr. Russell has a vast repertoire and has recorded 27 albums. He has performed throughout the globe in the major concert halls of the world.
The next concert on Saturday, April 25 at 8 PM at the Historic Eliot Chapel will feature Hawaii and Portland based U.S. Classic Guitar President William Jenks with internationally renowned Italian guitarist Giovanni Grano. William Jenks has toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Mexico and has recently returned from a tour to Spain, Austria, and Macedonia in May of 2019 where he performed solo concerts, taught master classes, and served on the jury for several international guitar competitions. Giovanni Grano also performs and teaches internationally and has recorded a series of CDs dedicated to romantic and contemporary music for guitar. His most recent CD called Phantasia was recorded and produced by the Italian label Symposium. This will be the annual U.S. Classic Guitar benefit concert which will help support a local need or charity in our community.
The final grand finale concert of the season on Friday, May 15 at 8 PM will be the legendary Spanish Guitarist Angel Romero of the Royal Family of the Guitar with world renowned cellist Nina Kotova. Their recent sold out performance at Carnegie Hall was a tremendous success and they continue to dazzle audiences across the globe with their thrilling performances.
Considered to be one of the greatest guitarists in the world, at the age of sixteen, he was the first guitarist to ever perform with the Los Angeles Philharmonic where he premiered Joaquín Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez at the Hollywood Bowl. After an extremely successful career as a soloist, recording artist, conductor, and member of the Romero Quartet, he returned to the Hollywood Bowl in 2016 where he premiered another concerto written for him by the Argentinian composer Lalo Schifrin. This performance in front of a sold out audience of 17,500 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic conducted by Gustavo Dudamel was recorded live and is now available on a Blue Ray disc called Tango Under the Stars.
The Jason Vieaux, David Russell, and Angel Romero Concerts will be held at the beautiful historic First Congregational Church located at 1126 SW Park Ave.in the cultural rich district of downtown Portland near other performing arts venues and the Portland Art Museum.
The Virginia Luque, Mateusz Kowalski,and the William Jenks and Friends concerts will be held at the historic Eliot Chapel located at 1011 SW 12th Ave. also in downtown Portland.
In addition to six outstanding concerts, U.S. Classic Guitar remains committed to education and there will be master classes to accompany each performance. The master classes will be held at the same location as each concert but in the the smaller space of the First Congregational Church Chapel and the Channing Room of the Eliot Chapel.
Season Ticket Holders get the most benefits including over $200 of savings the best seating in the house, early entrance to each performance, discounts on additional tickets for their guests, and invitations to private events such as artist receptions. Season Ticket holders also receive an audit ticket to each master class. Season ticket holders may transfer their ticket to another person of their choice by emailing us at info@usclassicguitar.org or texting us at 971-715-8097.
Thank you for your support!