Guitar, Performance Competition Judge

Monday
February 22, 2021
7:30 pm EST

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Rene Izquierdo, a native from Cuba, graduated from the Guillermo Tomas, Amadeo Roldan Conservatory and Superior Institute of Art in Havana. In the United States, Mr. Izquierdo earned a Master of Music and an Artist Diploma degrees from the Yale University School of Music, where he studied with Benjamin Verdery. While at Yale he represented the university in an exchange program with the Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse du Paris and worked with guitarists Olivie Chassain and Roland Dyens.

Rene has appeared as a guest soloist and in chamber music concerts throughout the United States, Cuba and Europe. He has shared the stage with prestigious guitarists including Eliot Fist, Benjamin Verdery and Jorge Morel, as well as renowned flutist Ransom Wilson, soprano Lucy Shelton, David Jolley and Paquito d’Rivera. Renowned composers such as Jorge Morel and Carlos R. Rivera have dedicated works to him.

Mr. Izquierdo is a recipient of numerous awards. He is a winner of JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition in 2004, Extremadura International Guitar Competition, Schadt String competition, Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition among others. He is currently a professor of classical guitar at the Wisconsin State University in Milwaukee and an active solo performer and chamber musician. Rene has studied with Leo Brouwer, David Russell, Shin-Ichi Fukuda, Eli Kastner, Pepe Romero, Angel Romero, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, David Starobin, Eduardo Fernandez, Jorge Morel, Robert Beaser and Anthony Newman among others.

” Izquierdo is a very self-assured performer who demonstrated amazing technical and expressive command of the music he plays…” – Classical Guitar Magazine, October 2007.

“ … unforgettable versatility, sensitivity and sublime musicianship.” – Classical Guitar Magazine, July 2007.

“…the command and character of his playing lived up to the impressive credentials. His sound carried the guitar- friendly Recital Hall with power to spare. His secure technique eliminated the usual clicks, muffles and buzzes. Speed was no problem for him. …Izquierdo is a painterly guitarist. He changes angle of attack in the right hand and moves it from bridge to fingerboard to produce a wide spectrum of sonic color. He applies it thoughtfully, to cast particular light on particular melodies…” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Nov 20, 2004.

“…Izquierdo is already a seasoned performer of great accomplishment. His tone is clear, warm and robust, his musicianship impeccable, and his desire and capability equally great…” – Eliot Fisk, 2003.

“I have rarely seen a musical talent equal to Rene Izquierdo. He is a virtuoso guitarist and a profound musical thinker” – Benjamin Verdery, 2001.

“Rene is without any question one of the finest young guitarist in the country” – Ransom Wilson, 1999.

“Rene Izquierdo is one of the most promising young guitarist to come from Cuba, not only for his purist approach to technique, but for his artistic gift as an interpreter, giving him a voice of his own at such a young age” – Jesus Ortega, 1994.

www.reneizquierdoguitar.com