ASU School of Music announces lineup for 2017–2018 Guitar Series

For more than 35 years, the ASU Guitar Series has impressed audiences with a selection of unforgettable performances by virtuosos from around the world. This year’s lineup continues this tradition, showing off the skills of seasoned musicians as well as introducing fresh new talent.

All performances are in Katzin Concert Hall in the School of Music. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m., except for the Máximo Diego Pujol concert, which will be at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online beginning Aug. 1 at herbergerinstitute.asu.edu/events/tickets or may be purchased at the door. 

Tickets: $22, general; $16, ASU faculty, staff and alumni; $15, senior; $12, student.

Xavier Jara
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017

At the age of 24, Xavier Jara has already won many important competitions, including first prizes at the 2012 Andrés Segovia competition in Velbert, Germany, the Boston Guitarfest, the International Guitar Competition of Viseu in Portugal, the Sinaia International Guitar Competition in Romania, and most recently at the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition in 2016. Jara studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris with Judicael Perroy for six years and earned his bachelor’s degree.

Frank Wallace
Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017

One of the most prolific guitarist/composers of our time, Frank Wallace’s works have been called “contemporary musical emancipation” by NewMusicBox.org. As a performer, Wallace is known for his “elegant virtuosity” (Classics Today) and tours internationally as a soloist and with mezzo-soprano Nancy Knowles as Duo LiveOak. Wallace is a two-time winner of the NH Individual Fellowship Award and has served on the faculty of institutions such as the New England Conservatory, Keene State College, and the Guitar Foundation of America.

Stephen Robinson
Friday, Jan. 26, 2018

Stephen Robinson has been heralded by The New York Times for his “effortless virtuosity with intelligence and good taste” and by Puerto Rico’s El Nuovo Dia as a “magnificent North American guitarist, full of virtuosity, magnificent technical precision.” He is a professor of music at Stetson University, where he founded and has directed the Guitar Program since 1983. Robinson has appeared as guest soloist with orchestras, including the Cincinnati Symphony and Boston Pops and has eight critically acclaimed recordings.

Dimitris Kotronakis
Thursday, March 1, 2018

Greek guitarist Dimitris Kotronakis has won prizes in many guitar competitions in Greece, Spain and Romania. He holds a doctorate from the University of Athens (2014) for which he focused his studies on the guitar in Greece. Kotronakis teaches guitar in three music institutions in Athens: Music School of Alimos, the International Athens Conservatory and the Panarmonio Conservatory. He has recorded seven albums of solo and concerto repertoire, receiving many rave reviews from the critics.

Máximo Diego Pujol
Sunday, April 8, 2018

Argentine guitarist/composer Máximo Diego Pujol has performed throughout South America and in the U.S., Europe and Australia. His guitar compositions have won awards including, in 1989, the Argentine Composers’ Union prize as Best Composer of Classical Music. Since his earliest days as a professional musician and composer, Pujol has strived for an ever-closer fusion of traditional Argentine Tango and formal academic concepts. Today, his compositions are performed and recorded throughout the world and studied in master classes and in the most prestigious international festivals dedicated to the guitar.