Leonela Alejandro Live at Boricua College
Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Leonela Alejandro is a classical guitarist from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style. She has been invited to perform in numerous venues in the United States and Europe, including the Latino Arts Guitar Festival, Northern Illinois University International Guitar Concert Series, Southern Guitar Festival, Florida Guitar Festival, Marlow Guitar Series, Louisville Guitar Society, Orange County Guitar Circle, and José Tomás Villa de Petrer Guitar Festival.
Leonela has also placed in over a dozen competitions in the United States, with more than ten first-prize placements including the Louisville Guitar Festival, Appalachian State Guitar Festival, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, Indiana Guitar Festival, and Chicago Guitar Festival, among others. She has also succeeded abroad as an international competitor, receiving prizes from the le Domaine Forget de Charlevoix guitar Competition, Ciudad de Coria International Guitar Competition, and the Iserlohn International Guitar Competition.
Leonela formally began her musical education when she was seven years old. Following her work with various Puerto Rican teachers including Jomel Rivera, Julio Reyes, and Rey Nieves, she decided to dedicate her professional life to this passion. In 2016, she was accepted into the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico at just 16 years old, studying with world-renowned performer Maestro Iván Rijos. After two fruitful years in the Conservatory, she transferred to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and completed her undergraduate degree with Cuban virtuoso René Izquierdo in 2020. Leonela recently completed her graduate studies with Dr. Andrew Zohn at Columbus State University in 2023.
Apart from her celebrated resume in competition settings, Leonela has established herself as a soloist in orchestral settings. She has performed multiple concerti with the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Roselín Pabón including Antonio Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D major, RV 93, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No.1 in D Major, Op.99. She was the soloist in the recent premiere of Atanas Ourkouzounov’s Concertino for Guitar, Percussion and Strings under the direction of Paul Hostetter. She also has appeared as a solo mandolinist with the Schwob School of Music Wind Ensemble as a soloist in Ottorino Respighi’s Roman Festivals under the direction of Jamie L. Nix.
Leonela is an Augustine Strings Ambassador and her string of choice are Paragon Reds. She performs on guitars built by luthiers Stephan Connor and Martin Blackwell.
Gabriele Leite
Gabriele Leite was the first classical guitarist listed in the Forbes magazine under 30 edition 2021. She currently resides in New York (USA), where she is pursuing a DMA in Music Performance at the prestigious Stony Brook University as a TA under the guidance of João Luiz. Gabriele holds a Bachelors in music from the UNESP Institute of Arts in São Paulo and a Master's in music performance with honors from the Manhattan School of Music. Gabriele was the first guitarist to win the prestigious Magda Tagliaferro Scholarship, promoted by Sociedade Cultura Artística.
She has excelled at several festivals and competitions in Brazil and abroad. Recent highlights include her performance of the Villa-Lobos guitar Concerto at Sala São Paulo conducted by Luiz de Godoy with the São Paulo University Orchestra and the chamber music competition “Lillian Fuchs Competition” with guitarist Eduardo Gutterres.
Gabriele Leite is an international fellow of the Sociedade Cultura Artística and, since April 2020 she has been sponsored by Augustine Strings, using the Augustine Regal/Blue (High Tension) model.
Classical Guitar Virtuoso: Christopher Avilez
Biography
Christopher Avilez is a classical guitarist with masters degree in Musical Interpretation from the FaM at the UNAM, the University of Alicante and the Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya (ESMUC). He has made academic stays in the Klagenfurt’s, Conservatory Austria with Marco Tamayo and the Frankfurt am Main’s Conservatory Germany with Thomas Bittermann. With a successful international career, Christopher has participated as a soloist with different orchestras, such as the Chamber Orchestra of Morelos, the Mexican Orchestra of the Arts, the “Carlos Chávez” Orchestra, the Simphony Orchestra of Cuenca and the Simphony Orchestra of Cusco, only to mention a few. In the international arena he has been presented in Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Slovenia, Spain and United States.
His discography is comprised of five productions: XIII Sonatas for guitar and figured bass by Juan Antonio de Vargas y Guzmán (Veracruz, 1776); Imágenes… memoria. Contemporary mexican music for flute and guitar; Concerto for Classic Guitar & Jazz Piano Trio by Claude Bolling. Fisis Quartet; Sudamérica Seductora. Latin American music Douze Études by Villa-Lobos, La Catedral by Barrios Mangoré, Sonata Op. 47 by Ginastera and Terruño by Sinesi; “Al pie de volcán” Unreleased work for solo guitar by Pedro Ximenez Abril y Tirado (1784-1856).
Christopher has been awarded with more than 20 prizes in national and international contests of classical guitar interpretation, and he has also been granted national and international incentives and fellowships, such as the State Youth Award (2013), Programa de Estímulo a la Creación y Desarrollo Artístico (2008, 2018), Programa de Creadores Escénicos (2011) and Programa de Fomento a Proyectos y Coinversiones Culturales (2019) from the Fondo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (FONCA).
The Music of Bret Williams: Live at Holyrood Church~Iglesia Santa Cruz
BIOGRAPHY
Raised in Central California, Mr. Williams studied with Terry Mills from the University of the Pacific. He went on to receive his Bachelors of Music from the University of Texas at Austin while under the instruction of Adam Holzman. After receiving numerous accolades, he continued his studies in New York City at the Mannes School. There he worked with Fred Hand, Michael Newman, and Terry Chaplain. Following a robust concert schedule and multiple recordings, he was diagnosed with focal dystonia, restricting movement in the right hand, in 2012. He continues to work with professionals and colleagues on the issue, and since has developed a new style of playing and composition for the instrument.
Soon after receiving his Masters Degree, he formed La Vita Williams Guitar Duo with Giacomo La Vita. He went on to record an album featuring various compositions for solo guitar and another featuring works he wrote for quartet (clarinet, violin, guitar, bass). His most recent release is Three Compositions.
Notable concert appearances include the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts, St. Peter’s Church, The Riverside Church, the Shandelee Music Festival, and the Mannes Guitar Symposium. He has taught at Concordia College, Lucy Moses School, The School at Columbia University, Hostos Community College, Turtle Bay Music School, and has been instructing at Rodeph Sholom School for fourteen years. He served on faculty as a general music teacher at the South Bronx Early College Academy.
Bret was awarded a sponsorship by D’Addario, who’s strings he proudly uses. He is also sponsored by SavageClassical.com and nkoda.com. He is the host of the popular interview program, Classical Guitar Insider, and the Music History Podcast.
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Ricardo Saeb: Live at Immanuel Church, 68-10 31st Ave, Woodside, N.Y. 11377
Mexican guitarist Ricardo Saeb has performed in venues across Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. His performances have been described as “perfectly balanced,” “of an exquisite subtlety,” and “simply spectacular.” His tours have taken him to cities as diverse as Querétaro, Beirut, Ciudad Juárez, Boston, Dallas, and Córdoba. Ricardo Saeb has appeared as a guest artist at international festivals such as the Festival Internacional de Música de Morelia, Festival Internacional Chihuahua, Chicago’s Latin American Guitar Festival, among others.
Ricardo has appeared as a soloist with numerous orchestras in Mexico and the USA, as are the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Chihuahua, University of Kentucky’s Philharmonia, and the Camerata di Sant’Antonio, to name a few. Ricardo has also collaborated with various artists and ensembles including tenor Manuel Castillo, the Buffalo Philharmonic Chorus, pianist Cliff Jackson, the Buffalo Chamber Players, and is featured in jazz saxophonist, Rusty Crutcher’s album, Romances Latinos.
Ricardo has a Doctorate degree in Musical Arts from the University of Kentucky, under the mentorship of professor Dieter Hennings. Ricardo recently moved to Buffalo, NY, where he founded and directs a community program through the Hispanic Heritage Council of WNY, called the HHC Guitar Initiative. The Initiative gives free guitar classes for children of underserved populations, and brings some of the best guitarists in the world to Buffalo in a free International Concert Series. Ricardo teaches privately at the Castellani-Andriaccio Guitar Studio, and he recently released his premier solo recording with Fleur de Son Classics, titled Zephyr.
Gohar Vardanyan
Widely admired for her technique, artistry, and passionate performances Armenian-American guitarist Gohar Vardanyan has performed throughout the United States and internationally. She has performed for numerous guitar societies, universities, and arts organizations, including the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, and guitar societies in Seattle, San Francisco, Houston, Miami, and New York City to name a few. She has appeared on National Public Radio in the United States and Radio Nacional in Argentina. Ms. Vardanyan has performed with the Juilliard Opera Center and as a soloist with the Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra and Panama National Symphony Orchestra. She has also been a guest artist at International Guitar Festivals in Sweden, Italy, Panama, Canada, and Mexico. She has been featured on the cover of Classical Guitar Magazine.
Guitar International Magazine has described her as “the complete package,” “with a musicality and emotional quality . . . that one would expect from someone much older than the young wunderkind. Not only is she able to draw you into her performances with engaging musical interpretations, but she has the technical facility that is required of any concert level guitarist.” Her playing has been described as “passionate,” “evocative,” and “virtuosic.” In addition to her performing career, Ms. Vardanyan is an avid teacher. She maintains a private studio in New York City and frequently teaches master classes and guitar technique workshops during her concert travels. Ms. Vardanyan is an author of four books from Mel Bay Publication and has an extensive list of instructional and guitar performance videos on both her own and the Strings by Mail channels on YouTube. Ms. Vardanyan began studying the guitar in her native Armenia at the age of five under the careful guidance of her father, Vardan Vardanyan.
At the age of eight, she gave her first public performance and also appeared on Armenian National Television. She was the first prize winner in the Armenian National Music Contest “Amadeus” and was accepted into the prestigious group, “New Names,” for talented young musicians. She performed in numerous concert venues in Armenia, including Komitas Chamber Music Hall and the Small Philharmonic Hall. She went on to study with Antigoni Goni at the Pre-College Division of the Juilliard School. In 2001, Ms. Vardanyan studied with John Wunsch at the Interlochen Arts Academy.
She was awarded the Young Artist’s Certificate from Interlochen Center for the Arts and the Harold Randolph Prize in performance from the Peabody Conservatory. Ms. Vardanyan holds a Master of Music Degree from The Juilliard School where she studied with Sharon Isbin, and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Manuel Barrueco. She is also an alumna of the Aspen Music Festival and School.
Gohar Vardanyan is sponsored by Strings by Mail
Guitar: 2012 Jean Rompré
Fear and Hope, Destruction and Rebirth: Let's overcome wars and Embrace Peace.
In this concert on the day of my 25th birthday I have a wish. In an historic period of fear, uncertainty about the future, lack of work, grudging racism, disrespect for nature and idolatry for the economical growth I want to go trough composers' personal wars and the wars fought by the characters painted in their music and give everyone a message of hope and rebirth with this concert.
https://www.groupmuse.com/events/11340-fear-and-hope-destruction-and-rebirth-let-s-overcome-wars-and-embrace-peace-a-concert-by-emiliano-verrino
UpClose Online: Gohar Vardanyan
Gohar Vardanyan
Presented in partnership with Internal Creations & Austin Classical Guitar
Saturday, April 10 at 9PM EST
Free, Donations Accepted
Magnificent virtuoso Gohar Vardanyan began playing guitar at the age of five in Armenia, and has since traveled the world dazzling audiences in some of the most storied venues. We can’t wait to share her extraordinary talent with you, live, from our spring residency in Brooklyn.
Fill out the RSVP form in the link and a confirmation with the link to view the performance will be sent to you via email. We’ll follow up with a reminder a few days before the event goes live on Youtube. All at-will donations made through this form will benefit Internal Creations’ guitar education programs.
APSU GuitarFest: James Piorkowski Tribute
GuitarFest 2021 at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., will be dedicated to the music of SUNY Distinguished Professor James Piorkowski, who heads the guitar program at the Fredonia School of Music.Austin Peay’s guitar studio will present a livestream performance of Mr. Piorkowski’s music on Wednesday, March 17, at 8:30 p.m.
The Fredonia Guitar Quartet – including Charles Mossey, a junior majoring in Music Performance from Saratoga; Dawson Hinds, junior, Music Education, Kirkwood; Ian Underwood, junior, Music Performance, Canandaigua; and Olivia Mescallado, first-year, Music Performance, East Northport – has been invited to participate in the concert. The quartet will perform the world premiere of Piorkowski’s “One Night in Romania.”
Click on the picture to access Live performance link of both guitar ensembles can be viewed at:
UpClose Online: Grisha Goryachev
Grisha Goryachev
Presented in partnership with Internal Creations & Austin Classical Guitar
Saturday, March 13 at 9PM EST
Free, Donations Accepted
One of our all-time favorite musical geniuses returns to inspire us in ways we can only imagine.
Fill out the RSVP form in the link and a confirmation with the link to view the performance will be sent to you via email. We’ll follow up with a reminder a few days before the event goes live on Youtube. All at-will donations made through this form will benefit Internal Creations’ guitar education programs.
UpClose Online: Rupert & Laura
Rupert & Laura
Presented in partnership with Internal Creations & Austin Classical Guitar
Saturday, February 27 at 9PM EST
Free, Donations Welcome
This spring our ACG concert-streaming rig has traveled up to Brooklyn, New York, to broadcast some of the amazing artistry that’s been attracted from around the globe to one of the world’s greatest cities. We start things off with Australian husband and wife duo Rupert Boyd and Laura Metcalf sharing the divine sounds of cello and guitar.
Fill out the form in the RSVP link and a confirmation with the link to view the performance will be sent to you via email. We’ll follow up with a reminder a few days before the event goes live on Youtube. All at-will donations made through this form will benefit Internal Creations’ guitar education programs.