French guitarist, students perform in YSU concerts

French guitarist Thibaut Garcia, winner of the 2015 Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition, performs 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, in Bliss Recital Hall on the campus of Youngstown State University.

Also this week, the Dana School of Music Guitar Studio, directed by Francois Fowler, presents a recital 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1, also in Bliss Recital Hall. And, at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, Garcia conducts a master class, also in Bliss Recital Hall.

All events are free and open to the public.

The YSU Guitar Studio will perform a repertoire from composers as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker and Johann Sebastian Bach. Members of the studio include:

Jazz Guitar Duo (Nicholas Jones and Nicholas Frank); Classical Guitar Quartet (Angela Buzzacco, Isaac Hraga , Gina Love, Shaun McCune); Jazz Guitar Duo (Joe Campana and Don McQueen; Shaun McCune, classical guitar; Jazz Guitar Duo (Andrew Farley and David Natoli); Angela Buzzacco, classical guitar; Jazz Guitar Duo (Dominic Nakley and Ian Hall); Isaac Hraga, classical guitar; Jazz Guitar Duo (Mike Rich and Tyler Guerrieri); Gina Love, classical guitar; Jazz duo (Anthony Kunovic-guitar and Justin Randall-trumpet); Classical Guitar Quartet (Angela Buzzacco, Isaac Hraga , Gina Love, Shaun McCune; Jazz Quintet (Matt Jackson-voice, Nicholas Jones-guitar, Jon Klein-drums, Elliot Kwoleck-voice, Jeff Smith-bass)

Garcia has won several international competition prizes including first prize at the Guitar Foundation of America in Oklahoma City in 2015, the “Jose Thomas” international competition in Spain in 2014, the IV Sevilla International Guitar Competition in Spain in 2013, the “Terra Siculorum” in Romania in 2013, the “Ana Amalia” in Weimar, Germany in 2011, and the “Valle de Egues” in Spain in 2008.

His first recording, “Demain dès l’aube” (Tomorrow At Dawn) was produced by the Contrastes label in 2014. In his native France, Garcia was recently featured on La Boîte à Musique (The Music Box), where he was invited to perform on national television. Garcia was also recently awarded the distinction of “filleul” (Godson) by the Académie Charles Cross, a cultural organization that acts as an intermediary between government policy makers and professional musicians in France.

Parking is available in the Wick Avenue deck accessible via Walnut Street for a nominal fee. Patrons are advised to watch for posted detours as construction progresses on Wick Avenue. For more information, call 330-941-2307.