The Hawaii International Guitar Series 2019-2020 Inaugural Season
U.S. Classic Guitar President William Jenks is honored to announce the inaugural season of the 2019-2020 Hawaii International Guitar Series which will feature five outstanding concerts of the top classical guitarists in the world which will run between December 15, 2019 and the final concert will be on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.
Over the last fourteen years, William Jenks has established himself as a premier leader in the industry presenting the Portland International Guitar series which is one of the most important and celebrated classical guitar presenting and educational organizations in the nation with the presentation of over 150 concerts of the greatest classical guitarists in the world including the Romeros; John Williams; Manuel Barrueco; Roland Dyens; the Assad Duo; Grammy award winners Sharon Isbin, David Russell, Jason Vieaux, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, and many more. Among the featured performers in the series was famed guitarist Ana Vidovic, who predicted that Jenks’s series would become “one of the most prestigious in the country”—a prediction now fulfilled.
To open this eminent series on Sunday, December 15 at 4:00 PM will be Mak Grgic who is emerging as a star on the world wide stage and is touted as a “gifted young guitarist” by the New York Times, and “a guitarist to keep an eye on” by the Washington Post. An expansive and adventurous repertoire attests to his versatility and wide-ranging interests: from the Baroque and Renaissance to music of the cinema; from ethnic music of his native Balkans to extreme avant-garde and microtonal music, Mak'st eraordinary talents and tastes as soloist, collaborator, and recording artist are fueled by his curiosity, imagination, and boundless energy. This concert will take place at a private residence in Hawi with panoramic coastal and mountain views.
On Sunday, January 12 at 4 PM also in Hawi 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 New York Women's 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 Sunday, February 16 at 4 PM in Hawi will be an exciting concert featuring 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 numerous other competitions and recorded his debut CD in 2018 distributed by NAXOS.
On Saturday, March 28 at 7 PM at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea 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 final concert on Easter Sunday, April 12 at 4 PM in Hawi 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..
In addition to five outstanding concerts, U.S. Classic Guitar remains committed to education and there will be a master classes with Grammy award winner David Russell on Sunday, March 29 at 11:00 AM also in Hawi. U.S. Classic Guitar will also be conducting educational outreaches to local schools.
Season Ticket Holders get the most benefits including over 30% 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 the 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.
Mahalo for your support!