Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo
Hailed as a “revelation to hear” by The Washington Post, the Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo’s phenomenal musicianship places them solidly at the top of their field. For 35 years, their innovative programming, matchless technique and ensemble precision, combined with their commitment to expanding the repertoire for guitar duo make them a stand-out chamber ensemble in every way. Newman and Oltman’s concert tours have taken them to world cultural capitols and premier venues across five continents. Duo has demonstrated extraordinary stylistic breadth in their collaborations with such diverse artists as author Frank McCourt (“Angela’s Ashes”), composer/conductor Marvin Hamlisch and the Pittsburgh Symphony Pops, mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, pianist Clarice Assad, and fiddler Eileen Ivers. Through their groundbreaking New Music Commissioning Program, Newman & Oltman have built a unique repertoire of works for two guitars by composers such as Paul Moravec, Augusta Reed Thomas, Lowell Liebermann, Dušan Bogdanovic, Arthur Kampela, and Roberto Sierra. Their artistry has also been captured on nearly a dozen other acclaimed recordings and has been recognized by grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, Chamber Music America and ASCAP, among others. Highlights of this season include the world premiere of “Concierto Buenos Aires” composed for the Duo by Nuevo Tango master Daniel Binelli with l’Orchestre de l’Opéra de Reims in France and with the Virginia Symphony (JoAnn Falletta, music director).
The Duo has served as ensemble-in-residence at New York’s Mannes College the New School for Music since 1987. Michael and Laura are founders and artistic directors of the New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes (www.newschool.edu/mannes/guitar) and Raritan River Music (www.RaritanRiverMusic.org). They are also co-artistic directors of the Lanciano International Guitar Seminar. Newman & Oltman play Thomas Humphrey Pre-Millennium guitars (1978, 1981) with D’Addario EXP46C Composite Coated and Titanium Treble High Tension strings. Michael Newman serves on the faculty of Mannes College. Laura Oltman serves on the faculties of Princeton University and Lafayette College.
For more information please visit their web site: www.guitarduo.com
Isabella Abbonizio is an Italian classical guitarist and musicologist born in Lanciano (CH) and currently based in New York City. Her passion for music manifested early in her life and brought her to pursue both instrumental and musicological studies. After studying at the G. B. Martini Music Conservatory of Bologna (Italy) she received a Ph.D. in musicology at the Tor Vergata University of Rome.
Two time Latin Grammy nominee guitarist, educator, and composer João Luiz, began to play the popular music of his native Brazil professionally during his childhood and was later trained in classical guitar by his mentor Henrique Pinto. As a member of the critically acclaimed Brasil Guitar Duo, João has performed extensively in the United States, Asia, Europe and Latin America. His versatility led him to be chosen to collaborate with Yo-Yo Ma and Carlos Prieto on a project to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cuban composer Leo Brouwer in a landmark concert in Cuba in 2014.
Gian Marco Ciampa, born in 1990, graduated with full marks, honors and Honorable Mention in guitar at the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory in Rome, under the guidance of Maestro Arturo Tallini and Bruno Battisti D’Amario.
Joanne Castellani and Michael Andriaccio have enjoyed a celebrated career as one of the foremost guitars duos in the world. Having received numerous awards and distinctions from the very beginning of their duo days including concerto soloists with orchestras around the world. Sought after pedagogues as well, they have performed and taught at over one hundred colleges, universities and conservatories.
Considered by critics as one of the world’s leading classical guitarists of his generation, Francisco Bernier has gone on to forge a successful and prize-winning career throughout the years. His achievements led him to perform in over 35 countries around the globe, in prestigious venues such as the Salle Cortot and the Mogador Theatre in Paris, the Salle Corum in Montpellier, the Grand Theatre in Bordeaux, Oji Hall in Tokyo, the Kyoto Concert Hall, the Hermitage Museum of Saint Petersburg, Teatro Maestranza in Seville, Teatro Comunale in Alessandria, Merkin Hall in New York, Hall of the O.E.A (Organization of American States) in Washington D.C., and the Zellerbach Hall in San Francisco, to name a few. Finalist in the Concert Artist Guild of New York and recipient of more than twenty international prizes including the “Michele Pittaluga” Competition, Francisco Bernier has performed with many orchestras, such as the Camerata of Saint Petersburg, the Manchester Symphony Orchestra, the Mediterranean Symphonic Orchestra, the Symphonic Orchestra of Vallés, the Symphonic Orchestra of Huelva and the Berkeley Symphony of San Francisco conducted by Kent Nagano.
Vladislav Blaha described by Music Opinion Magazine in London as one of the finest Czech guitarists, studied at the Brno Conservatoire and the F. Liszt University of Music in Weimar, Germany, The masterclass with C.Cotsiolis, A.Carlevaro and, with the aid of the British Council Fellowship, the study in England with G.Crosskey (Royal Northern COllege of Music) and J. W. Duarte in London completed his formal leasing. he received a Doctorate Degree at the College of Music in Bratislava, Slovakia and Docent Degree at Janacek Academy of Music, Brno. Blaha achieved international recognition as the Winner of four international guitar comperirions in: Volos/Greece, Exztergom/Hungary, Kutna Hora/Czech Republic and Markneukirchen/Germany. He received ,”Medale Bronze” in the Radio France International Competition in Paris. Concerts Blaha has given concerts in prestigious halls in 35 countries of Europe, Asia, Latin America in addition to U.S.A. – Carnegie Hall on Nov.17, 2014, England – Royal Festival Hall and Conway Hall in London, Radio France in Paris, Tokyo, Roma, Berlin, New York, Jakkarta, Havana, Lima, Caracas, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, Vienna, Zurich, Brussel, Moscow, Valencia, Saigon, Hanoy, Mexico City, Guanajuato etc. His richness of expression, together with his brillant virtuosity and stylish interpretation give cause for much critical acclaim throughout the musical word. He has releaded nine CDs as soloist and made numerous radio and television recordings in various countries.
A native of Minsk, Belarus, Elina Chekan (Ella) is a faculty member and the director of Pre-College & Suzuki Guitar Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to her teaching responsibilities she is pursuing Doctoral Degree from Northwestern University Bienen School of Music. Combining active performing and teaching careers, Ella is visible around the United States, Europe, and Asia as soloist and a chamber musician. She equally enjoys big halls and small venues and above all advocates sharing knowledge and passion for music. Duo Exaudi collaboration with Rene Izquierdo took them to perform at Iserlohn Festival in Germany, Taiwan National Concert Hall in Taipei, Royal Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels, Belgium, concert halls in Moscow and St. Petersburg. This summer Ella is a guest artist at CaminoArtes Project in Spain, the Volterra Project in Italy, Mannes Guitar Festival in New York City, Festival de Musique Ancienne in Saint Savin, France and Wilson Center Guitar Competition in WI, USA.
Prizewinner in numerous international competitions, Massimo was just 15 when ranked first at the 4th Ancona IT National Guitar Contest. After receiving highest marks for the Guitar Diploma in 1979 at Rome Santa Cecilia Conservatory of Music and attended three years of summer Master Class courses with Manuel Barrueco, in 1982 he won the second prize at “Mauro Giuliani” International Competition and one year later he won the “Rome International Young Performers’ Competition”, open to all instruments. Since then, he has been touring Italy and abroad, visiting more than 20 countries. He became a guitar leader in his country, joining the new generation of guitar players regularly appearing at International Guitar Festivals all over the world, in recital, as soloist with orchestra, and until 2001 as a member of the St. Cecilia Guitar Trio. His solo recordings have received acclaim from audiences, critics and reviewers of international guitar magazines. His most recent solo World Premiere Recording CD of the Italian guitarist/composer Mario Gangi’s 22 Studies has been a great success, winning astonishing estimations by performers and composers, as well. In 2003 he was awarded in Rome the Gold Pegasus Prize for Classical Music, and in 2004 the City of Rome Prize as a tribute to his professional activity after performing at Rome’s new Auditorium “Parco della Musica”, giving a sold-out performance of Rodrigo’s Concierto De Aranjuez.
A guitarist of extraordinary passion and virtuosity, Gaëlle Solal was born in Marseilles (France) and began the guitar at age 6 with René Bartoli. At 14, she won three gold medals at the Conservatoire de Marseilles and as best student of all instruments, was awarded the Prix de la Ville de Marseille. A winner of 1st Grand Prix at Alessandria Competition, 1st Prize in Locquémeau, 1st Prize in Savona, 1st Prize in Sernancehle, Finalist at Concert Artists Guild New York, Honor Diplom at Accademia Chigiana and 2nd Prize at Guitar Foundation of America, Gaëlle has performed in more than 30 countries including Germany, Myanmar, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Israel, Spain, France, Gabon, India, Iceland, Italy, Laos, Malaysia, Morocco, Mexico, Palestina, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Peru, Serbia, Switzerland, Tunisia, USA and Japan. She has performed at Festival d’Ile de France, Noches en los Reales Alcázares in Sevilla, Festival dAvignon, Festival Montpellier-Radio France and at Salle Cortot (Paris), Zellerbach Hall (Berkeley), Tsuda Hall, Nikkei Hall, Oji Hall in Tokyo, Merkin Concert Hall (NY) and at the Guitar Foundation of America’s Nation Convention in 2011. She has presented concertos with the Berkeley Symphony, the Garde Républicaine Orchestra and the Philharmonic Turin Orchestra.