With its beginnings in 2009, The International Series is Cleveland Classical Guitar Society’s flagship concert series. This series showcases the world’s greatest musicians to large regional audiences. To date, musicians presented on this series represent 23 countries and 30 Cleveland debuts.
Sam Hooper has developed his own breed of blues, blending the signatures of driving soul and funk with tight, focused chops-intensive musicianship." Ted Drozdowski, The Boston PhoenixThe CCGS annual Showcase is a celebration of Cleveland community and music! This is a FREE EVENT
90 minutes of concentration maintained at the highest levels of execution and interpretation" -Classical Guitar MagazineBerta Rojas's electrifying technique, warmth, and musical mastery have won the hearts of the public worldwide.
His [Zhang] playing is always tasteful and deeply expressive without any exaggeration. He takes his place as one of the finest of this emerging generation of magnificent artists.” American Record GuideGrand Prize winner at the 2017 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition
[Mateusz Kowalski’s] ability to play his instrument is flawless and his communication with the public is truly extraordinary." Sérgio AssadMak Grgić (Slovenia) and Mateusz Kowalski (Poland) celebrate and explore Slavic musical heritage.
Clarice Assad is quite simply a phenomenon who has streaked across the world’s musical landscape like one of those comets that appear just once in a lifetime.” Latin Jazz NetworkThis concert presents a very special reunion of a father and daughter who are unlike any other.
A young artist with huge potential to shape the classical world” -Classic FMRecognized by The Guardian as “a young 21st-century virtuoso.”
...a brilliantly programmed evening of music..." ClevelandClassical.comCCGS’s annual Showcase concert is a celebration of community and incredible music! FREE EVENT
Her artistry brings fresh perspectives to classical guitar performance, and she is poised to become one of the leading guitarists of her generation. Siccas GuitarsLeonela Alejandro is an award-winning classical guitarist from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Leonela has placed in over a dozen competitions in the United States, with more than ten first-prize placements including the Guitar Foundation of America.
With its incredibly transparent and lightly textured delivery, spectacular precision, delightful commentary, and a wide range of guitar techniques, Duo Noire produced another engaging and profoundly enjoyable program." St. Louis DispatchDuo Noire is a "virtuosic pair” (I Care if You Listen) of the pioneering African-American classical guitarists Thomas Flippin and Christopher Mallett. Focusing on contemporary music, their concerts offer “profoundly enjoyable” genre-bending repertoire with “spectacular precision” (St. Louis Post- Dispatch).
In the figure of Edel Muñoz shows the quality of the new generation, he has an exceptional professionalism, in other words magisterial, it’s really surprising...” Leo BrouwerEdel Muñoz combines a dazzling ability with the guitar with a profound and pure musicianship. Edel Muñoz has been an audience favorite with CCGS since his Cleveland debut in 2012!
Whether playing a low pentatonic melody with his thumb while the other four fingers murmured over the higher strings, or tapping the fretboard to create a dulcimer-like sound, he executed every phrase with subtle, graceful virtuosity.” The Boston GlobeHailed by The Boston Globe for his “subtle, graceful virtuosity”, guitarist An Tran captivates audiences with his musicality and artistry. This will be his Cleveland debut.
Mr. Russell possesses a talent of extraordinary dimension" The New York TimesGrammy-award winning classical guitarist David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry.