Lorenzo Micheli
Hailed by the musical critics as “virtuoso extraordinaire” (Nice Matin), “absolutely astonishing” (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), “prodigious talent” (Soundboard), Lorenzo Micheli has taken up a busy concert career throughout the world since winning the first prize in some of the most prestigious guitar competitions (Gargnano, Alessandria, Guitar Foundation of America). He performs regularly – both as a soloist and with orchestra – in Europe and all over the US and Canada, as well as in Africa, Asia and Latin America. As a researcher and scholar, he has written articles and contributions for a number of music journals, including Il Fronimo and Guitar Forum. He has been performing worldwide in duo with Matteo Mela, as “SoloDuo”, in such venues as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Vienna’s Konzerthaus. Their guitar duo was welcomed by The Washington Post as “nothing less than rapturous”.
His discography include the music of Dionisio Aguado, the Quartets, op. 19, by François de Fossa and a CD of Italian music of th 17th century for baroque guitar, archlute and theorbo (Stradivarius); the complete guitar Concertos by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Brilliant); a couple of live DVD’s (Mel Bay); a selection of guitar music by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, the complete works by Miguel Llobet and the Duos Concertants by Antoine de Lhoyer (Naxos); an anthology of chamber works by Mauro Giuliani (Amadeus) and a collection of 20th century masterpieces for two guitars (Pomegranate). Lorenzo is guitar professor at the Conservatory of Aosta, in the Italian Alps region.
www.lorenzomicheli.com
Matteo Mela was born in Imperia, Italy in 1971. An accomplished classical guitarist, he has attended master classes given by Giovanni Puddu, David Russell, the Assad Brothers, Oscar Ghiglia, Alirio Diaz, and Angelo Gilardino among others. Having obtained his University musicology degree in the Italian city of Cremona, he has also studied chamber music at the Accademia Pianistica di Imola with the likes of Dario De Rosa, Alexander Lonquich, and Pier Narciso Masi.
Between the years of 1991 and 1998, Matteo was a member of the Mela/Bandini Guitar Duo and was the co-recipient of several first prizes in competitions such as the ARAM in Rome, the GMI in Milan, Città di Gubbio, Città di Caltanissetta, and the Perugia Classico.
Recently he has been enjoying regular collaboration with Lorenzo Micheli in a number of projects. Their duo, Soloduo, has been acclaimed as one of the best ensembles around the world. The Washington Post wrote about them: “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.
Matteo Mela’s concert and media experience have taken him to numerous European and American cities. His recordings include the albums Latin American Dances (Quadrivium), Italian Virtuosos of the 19th Century (Kookaburra), and the complete guitar works of Astor Piazzolla (Stradivarius). Together with Lorenzo Micheli he has recorded François de Fossa’s Three Quartets, op. 19 (Stradivarius), Solaria – an anthology of 20th century masterpieces for two guitars (Pomegranate) – and the Duos Concertants by Antoine De Lhoyer (Naxos).
Their last recording La Suave Melodia (Stradivarius) – together the lutenist Massimo Lonardi – is dedicated to the music of Andrea Falconieri.
Matteo currently resides in Geneva where he teaches at the Conservatoire Populaire de Musique.
In 2008 he played Weill Hall at Carnegie (New York debut), Wien Konzerthaus with Soloduo and Felix Meritis Hall in Amsterdam with Per Arne Glorvigen.
Mela plays Galli Strings on a De Miranda guitar.
Jeffrey McFadden has been acknowledged as one of the finest guitarists of his generation. Over the past years, concert engagements have taken him throughout Canada and the United States and into Europe. He has given World Premieres of works by numerous composers and has been a featured performer at several international music festivals, including "Guitar '87" and GuitarFest '91 in Toronto , Gitarren-Symposium Iserlohn, Lachine International Guitar Festival, the Columbus State Guitar Symposium, The Niagara International Chambre Music Festival, the National Flute Association (USA) Convention, the Festival Mediterraneo della Chitarra, the Acadia Guitar Festival and others.
In 1992, Jeffery McFadden was awarded a Silver Medal in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition and was also a prize-winner in the 1993 Great Lakes Guitar Competition. His debut recording was the first in the "Laureate Series" on the Naxos label and was released world-wide. Since it's release, this recording has sold in the thousands of copies. His playing has received enthusiastic critical acclaim; the "Daily Telegraph" of London (UK) exclaimed "McFadden's ability to make the guitar sing is second to none", and "Classic CD" has described his playing as "major artistry". His latest solo release features the complete didactic works by the 19th century composer Napoleon Coste. "ClassicsToday.com" raved about this disc saying, "Jeffrey McFadden is not only an extraordinary guitarist -- he's also an inspired musician." his latest disc, soon to be released is volume three of the complete works of Agustin Barrios on Naxos.
Many noteworthy events marked the past few seasons in Jeffrey McFadden's career. He had the opportunity to work under the great Pierre Boulez in a performance celebrating the awarding of the Glenn Gould prize to Boulez. Also, McFadden was counted among the most important guitarists of his day by his inclusion in the Maurice Summerfield lexicon, The Classical Guitar, Its History and Players. He also has performed frequently in the newly formed "Duo Spiritoso"' with American guitarist and composer Andrew Zohn
Jeffrey McFadden has collaborated with Canada's most prominent musicians and composers including Norbert Kraft, Robert Aitken, Ann Monoyios, John Beckwith and R. Murray Shafer. He is frequently heard on CBC radio and NPR in the United States both as soloist and ensemble player. Jeffrey has given masterclasses and seminars at some of North America's most prestigious institutions including the Université de Montréal, Conservatoire de Music à Hull/Gatineau, University of British Colombia, Michigan State University and the Oberlin College Conservatory. He is a lecturer in guitar at the University of Toronto.
Described by the New York Times as “cultivated and musical,” Stephen Aron has established himself at the center of the American classical guitar scene. Recent performances have taken him across North America and Europe, including appearances in Canada, France, Denmark and Italy. He is a regular feature artist at numerous American guitar festivals, including at six Guitar Foundation of America Conventions, the Boston Conservatory Guitar Festivals, Stetson International Guitar Festivals, Portland Guitar Festivals, Great Lakes Festivals, Rantucci Guitar Festivals, Appalachian Guitar Festivals, Eastman Guitar Festivals, East Carolina University Guitar Festivals, Alexandria Guitar Festivals, National Summer Guitar Workshops, Rosario Guitar Festivals, the Ithaca College Winter Guitar Festival, the Yale University Guitar Extravaganza, the Piccolo Spoleto Festival, the Eastern Tennessee Guitar Festival, the Weathersfield Chamber Music Festival, the ASTA Symposia, the MANC Festival and others. He has performed and taught at such schools as Manhattan School of Music, Cleveland Institute of Music, Yale University, University of Southern California, Tulane University, Magill University, MIT, Cal State Fullerton, Miami International University, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Mannes College of Music.
An active recording artist, he has released seven cd’s, to critical acclaim. Notably, the music Aron has recorded is almost entirely of his own creation, either by arrangement or composition, and includes the complete mazurkas of Chopin, volumes of music of Mendelssohn and Schumann, and new works by both contemporary composers and “lost” works, such as the complete guitar works of Walter Burle Marx. Most recently, Aron has turned his attention to composing; his newest recording features his own original solo works. Aron’s arrangements and compositions can be found in print in editions by Tuscany/Theodore Presser, Mel Bay and Clear Note Publications.
A vigorous chamber music advocate, he performs regularly with JoNell Aron, soprano, the Gabrieli Ensemble (strings), a quartet, Poco Tango, (flute, guitar, bass and percussion), and others. His long-time partnership with flutist Jane Berkner, the AronBerkner Duo, has performed across the region and abroad. Together, they co-direct Suonare in Italia (www.playmusicinitaly.com), an annual chamber music workshop in Italy.
Aron has adjudicated and produced numerous national and international competitions. The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the GFA from 1991-93, Aron hosted and directed the GFA Convention in 1988 in Akron, and was again the host and artistic director of the GFA Convention in 2005, in Oberlin. Aron is a graduate of the Hartt College of Music and the University of Arizona. In addition to his post as Professor of Music and Chairman of Guitar Studies at the University of Akron, Stephen Aron is Teacher of Classical Guitar and founder of the classical guitar studies program at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Guitarist/composer Andrew Zohn 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 Naxos recording artist Jeffrey McFadden. Recent performances include venues in Honolulu, Seattle, Portland, Italy, Slovenia, Montreal, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Ottawa. He has been featured on radio and television broadcasts throughout North America and Europe. In 2007, Zohn will make his South American debut with multiple concerts in Buenos Aires.
Andrew Zohn holds a doctorate of music degree from Florida State University, a master of music from the University of Texas, and a bachelor’s degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Since 1999, Zohn has served on the faculty of Columbus State University, where he founded and directs the annual CSU Guitar Symposium and Competition. He also currently serves on the faculty of the Guitar on the Mediterranean Festival in Cervo, Italy, and the Guitare Lachine festival in Canada, each summer. Dr. Zohn is a frequently invited guest artist, lecturer, and clinician at music festivals, seminars, and universities throughout North America. Students of Andrew Zohn have won prizes in several international competitions, and have been featured on the American national radio program From the Top.
Beginning a career in composing in 1998, Zohn has already received commissions for new works from, among others, La Flame Records, Canada, the Campbell University Foundation for the Arts, and the East Carolina New Music Festival. In 2004 and 2005, Zohn was selected as a recipient of a Plus Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in recognition of his compositions. Classical Guitar Magazine (UK) has hailed Zohn as “…a gifted composer with something unique and interesting to say.” Original compositions and transcriptions by Andrew Zohn are published through Les Productions d’Oz, Canada, Tuscany publications (Theodore Presser), and FJH Publications. His latest recording, Music of Piazzolla, Debussy, Gershwin, and Zohn, is now available through Centaur Records.
