Shin-Ichi Fukuda
“Sensuously beautiful tone…lyrical and sublime” –San Francisco Classical Voice
Shin-ichi Fukuda began playing the classical guitar at the age of eleven under the direction of Tatsuya Saitoh and has since pursued a brilliant career as a leading guitarist. He has performed with orchestras and as a solo recitalist in concert halls around the world, including New York’s Merkin Concert Hall, Tokyo’s Metropolitan Museum, and Athens’s Megaron Concert Hall. Fukuda has earned international acclaim for his musicianship, receiving first prizes in the 1st Carpentras International Guitar Competition and the 23rd Paris International Competition, as well as top prizes in competitions and festivals in Italy, Spain, and Japan. Fukuda’s repertoire spans from the Renaissance to today, and he has premiered many pieces by 21st-century composers, such as Leo Brouwer’s Concerto da Requiem, an homage to Toru Takemitsu that is dedicated to Fukuda. A highly gifted and enthusiastic teacher, Fukuda is a guest professor at Shanghai Conservatory in China and has trained many pupils who have gone on to attain the highest honors, including Kaori Muraji, Daisuke Suzuki, and Yasuji Ohagi. He has produced 84 recordings in a career that spans more than four decades.
Heitor Villa-Lobos, Seven selected pieces from Preludes, Etudes, and Suite Populaire Brésilienne
J. S. Bach, Chaconne, BWV 1004
Kenji Sakai, Esthetic projection
Vincente Asencio, Collectici Intim
Isaac Albéniz, Cadiz and Córdoba
Single tickets are $40 for the general public and $15 for students with valid ID.
Aniello Desiderio
Following his first public performance at the age of eight, Aniello Desiderio quickly established himself as a concert artist with a distinct voice. He has won 18 first place awards, including top prizes at international guitar competitions in Havana and Madrid and First Prize and Special Prize for the best interpretation of Tárrega’s music at the International Francisco Tárrega Competition in Benicàssim, Spain. He performs regularly as a recitalist in the most important theaters of the world, including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Barcelona’s Palau de La Música, and Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw. A frequent soloist with orchestras, Desiderio has performed with the Oregon Symphony, the Istanbul State Symphony Orchestra, and Kremerata Baltica with Gidon Kremer, as well as by invitation from the legendary violinist and conductor Salvatore Accardo to the “Settimane di Musica Internazionali” in Naples, Italy
Single tickets are $40 for the general public and $15 for students with valid ID.
Meng Su
“Pure musical alchemy… the audience jumped to its feet in ovation.” —Courier & Press
Multifaceted guitarist Meng Su captivates audiences around the world with her stunning virtuosity and refined artistry. New York Concert Review called a recent performance “seemingly effortless and stunningly polished,” while Classical Guitar Magazinewrote that “she has already reached the status of a seasoned artist.” In addition to her busy solo career, Meng Su is an avid chamber musician who tours regularly in the Beijing Guitar Duo and as a soloist with many orchestras. She has performed in over 30 different countries around the world in venues including the Concertgebouw, Palau de la Música, Tchaikovsky Hall, and the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. Su’s 2016 debut solo recording, Meng, was called “this year’s finest debut by far” by Classical Guitar Magazine, and her debut CD with the Beijing Guitar Duo, Maracaípe, received a Latin Grammy nomination for the titular piece. Su has won first prize in numerous international competitions around the world, most recently in the prestigious Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2015.
Single tickets are $40 for the general public and $15 for students with valid ID.
2025 New Year's Party / Annual Silent Auction
Save the date for the Chicago Classical Guitar Society annual New Year's Party and Silent Auction on Sunday, January 19th, 2025 at 2pm in the Community Meeting Room of the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue.
Kupinski Duo
"elegance of sound (...) and maturity of interpretation.” —Twoja Muza Magazine
The Kupinski Guitar Duo, comprised of Ewa Jablczynska and Dariusz Kupinski, has earned a growing reputation for performing with tremendous energy and artistry. As one of Europe’s most renowned guitar duos, they have been honored multiple times with prestigious awards and scholarships for artistic achievements, playing recitals in Europe, the US, Mexico, China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. As a part of their passion for education, the Duo has given master classes internationally, and in 2018-19, completed an 18-month research and recording project of music by Grawemeyer Award-winning composers. Their latest CD, Kupinski Guitar Duo Goes Modern, was released in 2022 with the intention of recording new, unknown, and original pieces for guitar duo.
Single tickets are $40 for the general public and $15 for students with valid ID.
Fall Evaluated Recital
The Chicago Classical Guitar Society's Fall 2024 Evaluated Recital will be held at 2pm on Sunday, November 3rd at the Evanston Public Library - Community Meeting Room, 1703 Orrington Avenue. Performers of all ages and levels will have the opportunity to receive written feedback from a panel of three professional guitarists. If you are interested in performing on the program, please email Mark Maxwell at mmaxwell@depaul.edu.
Participant Guidelines: CCGS members may perform for free. A $10 fee is required of nonmembers. The fee may be applied to discounted membership dues on the day of the event. Individual teachers may submit a maximum of three students for the recital. Performers are limited to one or two pieces, not exceeding a total duration of eight minutes.
Friends and family are welcome to attend. Admission is free for audience members.
Paul O'Dette, lute
“the clearest case of genius ever to touch his instrument.” —Toronto Globe and Mail
One of the most influential figures in his field, lutenist Paul O’Dette has helped define the technical and stylistic standards to which 21st-century performers of early music aspire. His performances at the major international festivals in Vienna, Barcelona, Tokyo, Melbourne, and many others have often been singled out as the highlights of those events. O’Dette is an active conductor of Baroque operas and has made more than 155 recordings, winning extensive acclaim; he is a two-time winner of the Grammy, a twelve-time winner of the Diapason d’Or, and a two-time winner of the Echo Klassik award. In addition to his activities as a performer, O’Dette is an avid researcher, having worked extensively on the performance and sources of seventeenth-century Italian and English solo song; Italian, German and French Baroque opera; basso continuo practices; and instrumental music. His program on this season’s series focuses on newly-discovered Italian lute manuscripts.
Single tickets are $40 for the general public and $15 for students with valid ID.
Northwestern University Summer Guitar Workshop 2024
Join us for the 2024 Northwestern University Bienen School of Music Summer Guitar Workshop! This one-week program is designed to develop strong technical ability, advanced musical skills, thorough knowledge of repertoire, and healthy practice habits. Students will participate in master classes, technique classes, guitar ensemble, and style and performance practice workshops, culminating in a concert of student performances. Six days of musical collaboration and serious fun! You can find audition and registration information here.
An Tran, guitar
Hailed by The Boston Globe for his “subtle, graceful virtuosity,” An Tran continues to impress audiences with innate musicality and dynamic artistry. In recent seasons, Tran has been invited to perform recitals at the Guitar Society of Toronto’s International Artist Series, Bangkok Guitar Society, Saigon International Guitar Festival, and the Knoxville Classical Guitar Society, where he was praised for his “gorgeous playing” with “flawless technique” by Knox TN Today. Tran’s debut album, Stay, My Beloved, was included in Chicago Tribune’s "Recordings of the Year" for 2020 and was praised by Classical Guitar Magazine as “an unforgettable journey to a world you’ve probably never been to” with “highly virtuosic passages that display what a gifted guitarist An Tran truly is.” He has won over a dozen international guitar competitions and music awards, including top prizes from the Berlin International Guitar Competition, New Orleans International Guitar Competition, and the Society of American Musicians Guitar Competition. Tran recently completed a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Northwestern University as a Dorothy and Carl Johnson endowed scholar and student of Anne Waller.
Álvaro Pierri, guitar
“Fluent technique, golden tone, and singing musicality” —Vancouver Sun
A leading personality in the world of the guitar, Álvaro Pierri is a regular guest in the major concert houses of Europe, the Americas, and Asia. He has shared the stage with many esteemed artists including Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Astor Piazzolla and the WDR Radio Orchestra Köln, and Mario Bernardi with the CBC Radio Orchestra. Pierri’s awards include first prize in the International Guitar Competitions of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Porto Alegre, Brazil and the Gold Medal at the 18th International Competition in Paris. An avid teacher and soloist, Pierri has premiered music by such composers as Leo Brouwer, Jacques Hétu, Astor Piazzolla, and Carlo Domeniconi; he is a two-time recipient of the Canadian Félix Award for Classical Album of the Year.
Spring Evaluated Recital
The Chicago Classical Guitar Society's Spring 2024 Evaluated Recital will be held at 2pm on Sunday, April 7 at the Evanston Public Library Community Meeting Room, 1703 Orrington Avenue. Performers of all ages and levels will have the opportunity to receive written feedback from a panel of three professional guitarists. If you are interested in performing on the program, please email Mark Maxwell at mmaxwell@depaul.edu.
Participant Guidelines: CCGS members may perform for free. A $10 fee is required of nonmembers. The fee may be applied to discounted membership dues on the day of the event. Individual teachers may submit a maximum of three students for the recital. Performers are limited to one or two pieces, not exceeding a total duration of eight minutes.
Friends and family are welcome to attend. Admission is free for audience members.
David Russell, guitar
“Russell is not only an elegant musician but also a technician of the highest order.” —San Fransisco Classical Voice
Classical guitarist David Russell is world-renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. He received a Grammy Award for his CD, Aire Latino, and in 2018 was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America. 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 and was given the Medal of Honor of the Conservatory of the Balearics in November 2003. He is also an honorary member of "Amigos de la Guitarra," the oldest guitar society in Spain. Russell appears regularly at prestigious halls in cities such as New York, London, Tokyo, Madrid, Toronto, and Rome. Upon hearing him play in London, Andrés Segovia wrote: "My congratulations on your musicality and guitaristic technique." In addition to his renown as a live performer, Russell is a prolific recording artist whose collection includes seventeen CDs with the Telarc International label.
2024 New Year’s Party and Silent Auction
Save the date for the Chicago Classical Guitar Society New Year's Party and Silent Auction on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at 2pm in the Community Meeting Room of the Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Avenue.
Fall Evaluated Recital
The Chicago Classical Guitar Society's Fall 2023 Evaluated Recital will be held at 2pm on Sunday, November 5 at the Evanston Public Library Community Meeting Room, 1703 Orrington Avenue. Performers of all ages and levels will have the opportunity to receive written feedback from a panel of three professional guitarists.
If you or your students are interested in performing, please email Mark Maxwell at mmaxwell@depaul.edu.
Participant Guidelines: CCGS members may perform for free. A $10 fee is required of nonmembers. The fee may be applied to discounted membership dues on the day of the event. Individual teachers may submit a maximum of three students for the recital. Performers are limited to one or two pieces, not exceeding a total duration of eight minutes.
Friends and family are welcome to attend. Admission is free for audience members.
Fall 2022 CCGS Evaluated Recital participants.
Raphaella Smits, guitar
“Nimble fingers, a prismatic sense of timbre, and a serene dignity that informs all she plays” —New York Times
Raphaella Smits plays worldwide on eight-string guitars and historical instruments. Recognized as “an uncommonly musical guitarist” (New York Times), her solo recitals as well as her performances with distinguished colleagues have met with enthusiastic audiences and press. Smits has made 21 recordings and is internationally praised as an inspiring teacher for both guitar and chamber music, serving on the juries of many international music competitions. In 1986, Smits was the first woman to win the first prize of the Certamen Internacional de Guitarra Francisco Tarrega, the famous international guitar competition in Benicàssim, Spain, earning praise from chairmen Andrés Segovia and Narciso Yepes. She holds a chair at the Lemmens Institute in Belgium and regularly gives master classes across Europe, the Americas, and Japan.