PHOTO: Finnish guitarist Olli Soikelli.
The 23rd Anniversary North American Tour of International Guitar Night returns to the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Tuesday, February 14, at 7:30pm. The evening brings together the world’s foremost acoustic guitarists who perform their latest original compositions and exchange musical ideas in a public concert setting.
Performing on the Concert Hall stage is Finnish guitarist Olli Soikelli; soloist and chamber musician Stephanie Jones; Flamenco master Jesus Guerrero from Spain; and Canada’s traditional jazz guitarist and vocalist Jocelyn Gould.
Olli Soikkeli was born in Nurmes, Finland in 1991, and is now based in New York City. He started playing guitar at age 12. After a few years of playing, Olli was introduced to the music of great Django Reinhardt… and Gypsy Jazz has been Ollis’ main focus ever since. Soon Olli was playing in jazz clubs and festivals all around Finland. After touring all around Europe with musicians such as Paulus Schäfer and Arnoud Van Den Berg, Olli decided to move to New York City in 2014. Olli has played legendary venues such as Birdland Jazz Club, Blue Note and the Lincoln Center.
Stephanie Jones is an active soloist and chamber musician who is currently based in Germany. She has recently finished her Masters and is currently studying a Konzertexamen in Classical Guitar Performance with Thomas Müller-Pering at the prestigious University of Music Franz Liszt. Stephanie won first prize in both the Uppsala International Guitar Festival Competition and the Hannabach Guitar Competition. She was also a finalist in the Deutscher Gitarrenpries and the Salzburg International Guitar Festival. In 2012, Stephanie competed in the prestigious Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition and subsequently won second prize. In 2014, through the Fine Music Network National Competition, Stephanie was awarded the Young Virtuoso of the Year.
Jesús Guerrero was born in 1985, in San Fernando (Cadiz), Spain. He started playing guitar at the age of 11 under the tutelage of master teacher José Luis Balao. Jesus’ natural virtuosity with the instrument and his musical creativity have led him to be one of the most sought-after figures of the current flamenco scene, performing with his trio, in duet with his wife Alba Carmona, and assisting many of the great singers, including Nina Pastori and Miguel Poveda, with their records and live shows. Jesus graduated in Teaching with a specialty in Musical Education at the University of Cádiz. He won the Premio Flamenco Hoy 2014 for Best Guitar Accompaniment.
Jocelyn Gould is a Canadian jazz guitarist. Passionate about the tradition of jazz guitar, she cites Grant Green, Kenny Burrell, Wes Montgomery and Joe Pass as primary influences of the instrument. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Jocelyn’s passion for music began very young. Both of Jocelyn’s parents played guitar throughout her youth, and Jocelyn learned piano and voice at a young age with her father, who was an elementary school music teacher. After completing high school, Jocelyn initially studied science before switching to the music department at University of Manitoba to pursue jazz studies on guitar.
Tickets are $50, $40 and $30 and available online at www.durangoconcerts.com or by phone, Monday through Friday, 12 – 5 pm at 970-247-7657. Posted ticket prices include applicable service charges. All sales final.
The Community Concert Hall is a not-for-profit, multi-use performance venue located on the campus of Fort Lewis College. Its ability to bring a diverse spectrum of shows to Southwest Colorado is made possible through a partnership with the college, a state-supported, independent institution of higher education, and financial and in-kind contributions from generous members of the community.
Denise Leslie provides Marketing & Public Relations for the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College. See what’s happening at www.durangoconcerts.com