Friday, February 13, 2009

Classical Guitar, The Next Generation

Young guitarist Antoniy Kakamakov is on a roll. After winning prizes for his playing in San Francisco and Portland, in 2008 he won the Wesley Day Solo Classical Guitar Recording Competition, which is designed to launch one particularly talented student from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music on a professional career.

The award includes a recording and a concert tour, including his appearance at Humboldt State University on February 13. He’s already released his CD, titled Inqueito.

But Kakamakov was no stranger to prizes before this. He began studying guitar in his native Bulgaria at age 10, and won first prize in the junior division of the International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition in Romania. Scholarships followed, and he earned his bachelor’s degree at the San Francisco Conservatory, where he is working on his Master’s.

At HSU, Kakamakov will play the Chaconne from the 2nd Violin Partita by Johann Sebastian Bach, a work made popular for guitar by Andres Segovia.

Other works on the program include the Fantasia Hongroise by 19th century Hungarian guitarist and composer Johann Kaspar Mertz, and the Sonata, the most famous work by 20th century Spanish composer Antonio Jose.

Guitarist Antoniy Kakamakov performs in a Guest Artist concert on Friday, February 13 at 8 p.m. in Fulkerson Recital Hall on the HSU campus. Tickets are $8 general, $3 students/seniors from the HSU Box Office (826-3928) or at the door.

Media: Humboldt State Now

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