Livestream tickets for VCGFest concerts (July 16 & 17) are listed below. For in person tickets or to register for the festival please visit www.medinaguitar.com/registration-and-fees-2022
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July 16 - Livestream
6:30 PM - Featuring Rene Izquierdo, Luis Medina and Alec Pearson.
Artist Bios
Dear ticket holders. Unfortunately, Rene Izquierdo has contracted Covid and will need to cancel his appearance at VCGFest 2022. In his place, we have arranged for the masterful Iliana Matos to take his place in concert and masterclasses. We are sorry for the last-minute change. If you were really hoping to see Rene Izquierdo and would like a refund for your ticket instead of attending. Please click here and submit the form.
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Cuban-born René Izquierdo is a unique artist and passionate educator whose career has been dedicated to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. Whether passionately performing on stage, devotedly mentoring his students, fundraising, or leading community outreach, René’s multi-faceted approach endeavors to continue creating experiences that enrich people’s lives and add beauty to our world.
Through his “unforgettable versatility, sensitivity and sublime musicianship” (Classical Guitar Magazine), René has firmly established himself as one of the world’s classical guitar virtuosos. He is celebrated for his ability to weave an unparalleled technical command of his instrument with his gift of storytelling, accomplishing an intimate musical experience with his audience.
With over seventy engagements per year, whether as a solo performer, chamber musician, or as a guest soloist with orchestras, he has performed to critical acclaim touring extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. He is frequently invited by renowned festivals and institutions, having played at stages such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Manaus Opera House in Brazil, and National Recital Hall in Taiwan.
Self-described as a lifelong learner and explorer, his recording projects reflect his wide-ranging interests. Through his discography, René seeks to expand the guitar repertoire frequently performing new arrangements, lesser-known music of the 20th century as well as world premieres of concertos and new compositions.
As an educator, René is passionate about engaging the mind and the heart. Through his teachings all around the world, he shares his belief that the greatest musicians not only have the technical mastery to communicate effectively but also are deeply curious, and equally adept at analytical and emotional modes of thought.
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Founder of the Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival, Luis Angel Medina is an avid performer and teacher across North America. He is the recipient of the Silver Medal from the 2017 Vancouver International Music Competition and holds a Masters degree from the University of Georgia in Athens. Luis’s career has taken him to perform in various cities in Europe, China and all over North America.
Luis was born in the city of Guadalajara, Mexico and began his formal studies in music theory and ear training at the age of fourteen when he enrolled in the Music Diploma at the University of Guadalajara. He then moved to Vancouver, Canada, where he began another Diploma at the Capilano University and won numerous awards and scholarships. He concluded his Bachelors of Music in Guitar performance at the University of British Columbia where he was part of the Dean’s List every year during his studies.
He has now graduated from the Masters degree at the University of Georgia in Athens under the mentorship and guidance of acclaimed Canadian guitarist Dr. Daniel Bolshoy where he functioned as Guitar Teacher Assistant. Upon graduation, he was awarded the Director's Excellence Award which recognizes students for excellence in musicianship, scholarship, leadership, and service, also passing his final oral examinations with distinctions. Among his roles at the University are teaching Guitar classes for non-music university students and individual guidance to other students pursuing a Bachelors in Guitar Performance at UGA.
Now that Luis is back in the Lower Mainland, he continues to promote the guitar through public events that lead to the spread of music in the larger community with the aid of the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society. He was featured in the International City Music Talents concert held at the prestigious Playhouse Theatre in Vancouver. He has made appearances as a soloist, performing Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s first guitar concerto with A Little Night Music Orchestra and other occasions and also been invited to play for the Tri-Cities Guitar Society in Washington, USA with his duet partner Alec Pearson, head of the guitar department at the University of British Columbia. Luis is also very active across Canada directing guitar ensembles, at various festivals teaching and performing. Luis’s aims are to inspire others by sharing his love for music, and to bring the classical guitar to the larger community.
Luis's teaching style and strategy allows students to learn at a faster rate with some of his students performing RCM level 4 pieces within 6 months. Luis's students regularly achieve prizes at local festivals and have been selected to participate in the Provincial Festival.
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Alec Pearson enjoys a career based in Vancouver where he currently serves as sessional instructor of guitar at the University of British Columbia. Alec has performed both solo and in ensemble across Canada, Spain, Colombia, Greece and the U.S. He currently serves as president of the “Vancouver Classic Guitar Society” where he works to organize many concerts, lectures masterclasses and social events.
Alec holds the degree “Máster en Interpretación de Guitarra Clasica” from the Universitat d’Alacant in Alicante, Spain, where he studied with an array of the best guitarists in the world, including; David Russell, Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Roberto Aussel, Paul Galbraith and Fabio Zanon to list a few.
Prior to studying abroad, Alec earned a Masters degree from the University of British Columbia where he studied with internationally renowned Canadian guitarist and his longtime mentor Daniel Bolshoy. In 2012 he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Montreal. He was born and raised in Calgary where he first received exposure to the guitar under the tutelage of Jose Fermin. During his youth, he was an active member and performer in the Classical Guitar Society of Calgary and began his own teaching career at the age of 17.
Keep an eye open for performances by trio211 (click for link). A newly formed ensemble featuring Alec, Flute Virtuoso Bernard Blary, and master violinist Larisa Lebeda. Very young in their inception, trio 211 has already enjoyed many performance opportunities and has arranged many works for their ensemble combination.
July 17 - Livestream
2:30 PM - Featuring Daniel Bolshoy, Louise Southwood and Hanh Nguyen.
Artist Bios
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Daniel Bolshoy is a Senior Lecturer in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, where he directs the guitar program. An Israeli-Canadian guitarist, he has performed as a soloist with over sixty orchestras internationally including the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Volgograd Symphony (Russia), and the symphony orchestras of New Mexico, Modesto, Fresno, Vancouver, Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary, Kingston, Victoria, Okanagan, Saskatoon, Nova Scotia, as well as the Chamber Orchestras of Israel, Pennsylvania, Manitoba, Ottawa, The Northwest Sinfonietta, and many others.
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As a soloist Louise has performed extensively in the United Kingdom, Australia, India, Bermuda, the USA and Canada. Performance engagements within the United Kingdom were highlighted by appearances at The Trinity Chapel in Cambridge, The National Gallery, Westminster Cathedral, and St. Martin in the Fields in London.
While teaching at the Bermuda School of Music, Louise performed regularly for vice-regal functions and private engagements, headlining the Bermuda International Guitar Festival and the Kodi Kanal International Guitar Festival in India with the talented violinist David France as the 'Southwood-France Duo'. During their time together Douglas Lora of the acclaimed 'Brazil Guitar Duo' composed a piece 'From Summer to Fall' in dedication of the duo.
Louise has released two CDs. Emergence and Chrysalis which vividly illustrate her varied instrumental techniques and musical interests. With a careful selection of favourite pieces, ancient and modern, they have enchanted a diverse audience around the world.
“She is a very fine guitarist”
Andrew York, Grammy Award winning guitarist/composer
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Hanh Nguyen has been a faculty member of the Vancouver Academy of Music since 1991. She also teaches the classical guitar program at the Vancouver Community College.
She holds performance diplomas from Vancouver Community College and Western Washington University. She has won numerous competitions, including the first annual Northwest Guitar Competition. She has studied in master classes with Leo Brouwer, Pepe Romero, David Russell, Manuel Barrueco and The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
She has performed throughout Canada, United States and Spain, as well as teaching master classes and adjudicating music festivals. She also released a solo album “Amor del Mundo” in 2005.