Canberra Classical Guitar

Adelaide-based, Ukranian born classical guitarist Aleksandr Tsiboulski’s new CD is being featured this week on ABC Classic FM as CD of the Week with these comments, “Aleksandr Tsiboulski is first-prize winner in numerous competitions including the 2006 Tokyo International Guitar Competition. His playing, which transcends the image of the technically flawless competition winner, has been praised by The Age for its ‘responsive virtuosity’, while the San Antonio Express News admired his ‘beautiful, transparent, lute-like sound’. On his début Naxos recording, he presents a diverse selection of music by leading Australian composers.”

For more info about the album click on Alex’s website or from the Naxos website.

Canberra-based Guitar Trek ensemble (Timothy Kain, Minh Le Hoang, Bradley Kunda and Matthew Withers) performed a terrific  live-to-air broadcast as part of the ABC Sunday Live broadcast program.  The 11 April concert from Llewellyn Hall at the ANU School of Music included the following pieces:

Falla arr McKay & Kain Love the Magician: Ritual Fire Dance; Pantomime
Falla arr McKay & Kain La Vida Breve: Spanish Dance No 1
Mark Isaacs Autumnal Dances (World première)
Ramirez arr Dyens Alfansina y el Mar
Nigel Westlake Six Fish

Raffaele Agostino, Janet Agostino and Richard Charlton have been playing guitar together for over 25 years. They were all founding members of the Sydney Guitar Quartet, one of the first ensembles of its kind in Australia.  As the Sydney Guitar Trio they have performed extensively around Australia, including 5 Darwin International Guitar Festivals, as well as overseas in Argentina, Italy and the UK.  Their collaboration with Rory O’Donoghue extends over 10 years.

Canberra Classical Guitar Society is proud to present them together in Canberra in a program featuring:

• Alice in Wonderland: Claude Gagnon – for trio and narrator
• Geebung: Richard Charlton – for trio and narrator (from the original poem by Banjo Paterson)
• A Masque for Lady Nothing: Phillip Houghton – for guitar trio
• selections from Platero and I: Castelnuovo-Tedesco – for two guitars and narrator
• The 6 Quarks: Richard Charlton – guitar duet, written in 2009 for Duo Agostino

Where: Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, ACT
When: Saturday, 20 March 2010 from 8pm
Cost: full $25, concession $20 (and certainly worth it!)
Enquiries: 0403 640 669

Pierre Herrero has been importing quality Spanish Classical & Flamenco guitars into Australia for many years (Guitars Online). Pierre has also been an ardent supporter of the classical guitar in Australia. Among many other activities, he has sponsored the Sydney Classical Society Summer School and the Melbourne based Alhambra Sadie Awards.

On Sunday 14 March, Pierre displayed a wonderful range of guitars for the members of the Canberra Classical Guitar Society, guitar students and teachers as well as the general public.

Thank you, Pierre, for your time and enthusiasm.  Thanks also to Allan Spencer for organising!

To see a listing of guitars – read on:

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The 2010 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition will take place in Adelaide, South Australia, as part of the 2010 Adelaide International Guitar Festival which runs Thursday 25 – Sunday 28 November 2010.

The 2010 Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition, a new inclusion in 2010, is on par with the most prestigious competitions in the world and is the most substantial guitar prize to be created in Australia. The Competition provides an opportunity for emerging players to be heard and given exposure on an international platform and the Judging Panel will be made up of some of the most established players and teachers in Australia and a selection of international artists who will be performing at the festival.

Applications for the Competition opened on 27 November 2009 and close 31 March 2010.