Classical guitarist Paul Galbraith

to perform at BYU-Idaho 

Internationally renowned classical guitarist Paul Galbraith from Brazil will perform Thursday and Friday, October 5 and 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the Barrus Concert Hall at Brigham Young University-Idaho in Rexburg as part of the Center Stage Performing Arts Series.

Tickets are $10 for the general public and $5 for BYU-Idaho students and can be purchased at the BYU-Idaho Ticket Office by calling 496-2230 or online at www.byui.edu/tickets.

Galbraith won the Silver Medal at the Segovia International Guitar Competition at the age of 17. Andrés Segovia, who was present, called his playing "magnificent." Today, Galbraith is a much sought-after artist at major concert halls throughout the world. His program will feature works by Bach, Ravel, Mozart, Rameau and Eben.

In his unique playing style, the guitar (which has two extra strings, one high, one low) is supported by a metal endpin, similar to that of a cello that rests on a wooden resonance box. Both the guitar's extraordinary design and Galbraith's playing style are considered groundbreaking development in the history of the instrument, increasing its range to an unprecedented extent.

Galbraith's recording of the "Complete Bach Violin Sonatas and Partitas" (Delos) was nominated for a 1998 Grammy Award in the category of Best Solo Instrumental Album. This two-CD set was also chosen as one of the two best CDs of 1998 by Gramophone Magazine, which called it "a landmark in the history of guitar recordings." It received a "Four Star" rating in Stereo Review, and reached the Top 10 on Billboard's classical charts.

Born in Scotland, Galbraith has lived in Malawi, Greece, London, and, for the last five years, Brazil. He was a founding member of the Brazilian Guitar Quartet, playing with them until summer of 2003. His principal teacher, since 1983, has been the Greek conductor, pianist and philosopher George Hadjinikos.