Current Classical Guitar Player Profile:
Denis Azabagic
Denis Azabagic, Classical Guitarist, plays Fernando Sor
Quick Details about Denis Azabagic:
Website: https://www.azabagic.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-9xUnybN2D6DSMql9QzQWw
Occupations: Classical Guitarist, head of the guitar department at Roosevelt University in Chicago, teaches at the University of Illinois
Instruments: Classical Guitar
Genre: Classical
Labels: Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres, Bridge Records
Out of Africa by Alan Thomas played by Denis Azabagic on Classical Guitar
Biography of Classical Guitarist Denis Azabagic:
Denis Azabagic (Bosnia and Herzegovina), is one of the most compelling classical guitarists on the international concert circuit today. He performs concerts around the globe, maintaining a balance between his solo recitals, chamber music with the Cavatina Duo, and engagements as soloist with orchestras.
Critics are raving:
“The recital by Bosnian guitarist Denis Azabagic, was certainly the finest guitar recital that I have heard in a lifetime of concert-going, and one of the best concerts of any kind I have heard”
NC Arts Journal
“...And once he started playing his guitar he became ageless. One couldn't imagine where the man, the instrument and the music separated, if at all.”
Los Angeles Valley Star
“Azabagic’s playing is virtually flawless and his technical facility is a joy to see as well as hear; increasingly I hear him mentioned in the same breath as John Williams, and while such comparisons are invidious, this one is not without merit”
Soundboard Magazine, USA
Azabagic’s flawless performances have set a standard for the new generation of guitar players. He has won twenty-four prizes in international competitions and Mel Bay has published a book based on his experience and insights on the subject of competitions.
Azabagic has recorded 11 CDs for international labels such as Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres, Bridge records and Orobroy, as well as two DVDs for the Mel Bay Company. His recordings and live performances are highly praised by music critics, for his elegant approach to music and his unique way of communicating and reaching the audiences’ hearts.
As a guest instrumentalist and soloist Azabagic has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Chamber Orchestra, Madrid Symphony, Traverse Symphony, Monterrey Symphony, L’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Mons, among many others. He has also collaborated with the Casals Quartet, Civitas Ensemble and Music Now members in Chicago.
Azabagic has performed at such venues as Chicago’s Symphony Center; the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; Radio France in Paris; Aix-en-Provence Festival; France; El Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Spain; Savannah on Stage; Omni Foundation (San Francisco); Ravinia Festival; National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center, Taiwan; and the the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China. Azabagic’s performances have been broadcast live on NPR and WFMT radio, and on television in Asia, Europe and the United States.
His repertoire includes solo and orchestral music from the Baroque era to the present. As half of the active Cavatina Duo (with Eugenia Moliner, flute), he has performed a vast repertoire including many works written expressly for the duo. His chamber music activity is expanded with recently formed quartet Fandango!.
Azabagic’s love for performing extends to sharing with others his knowledge of music making. He frequently offers master classes while on tour, teaches at the University of Illinois and is the head of the guitar department at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Highlights of his upcoming season include concerts tours in the US, Canada, Spain, Denmark, etc…With the Cavatina Duo he has released a new CD entitled the Sephardic Journey, featuring new commissioned music based on old Sephardic melodies.
Denis Azabagic uses D'Addario strings
Critics are raving:
“The recital by Bosnian guitarist Denis Azabagic, was certainly the finest guitar recital that I have heard in a lifetime of concert-going, and one of the best concerts of any kind I have heard”
NC Arts Journal
“...And once he started playing his guitar he became ageless. One couldn't imagine where the man, the instrument and the music separated, if at all.”
Los Angeles Valley Star
“Azabagic’s playing is virtually flawless and his technical facility is a joy to see as well as hear; increasingly I hear him mentioned in the same breath as John Williams, and while such comparisons are invidious, this one is not without merit”
Soundboard Magazine, USA
Azabagic’s flawless performances have set a standard for the new generation of guitar players. He has won twenty-four prizes in international competitions and Mel Bay has published a book based on his experience and insights on the subject of competitions.
Azabagic has recorded 11 CDs for international labels such as Naxos, Cedille, Opera Tres, Bridge records and Orobroy, as well as two DVDs for the Mel Bay Company. His recordings and live performances are highly praised by music critics, for his elegant approach to music and his unique way of communicating and reaching the audiences’ hearts.
As a guest instrumentalist and soloist Azabagic has appeared with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Sacramento Chamber Orchestra, Madrid Symphony, Traverse Symphony, Monterrey Symphony, L’Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Mons, among many others. He has also collaborated with the Casals Quartet, Civitas Ensemble and Music Now members in Chicago.
Azabagic has performed at such venues as Chicago’s Symphony Center; the Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam; Radio France in Paris; Aix-en-Provence Festival; France; El Palau de la Musica in Valencia, Spain; Savannah on Stage; Omni Foundation (San Francisco); Ravinia Festival; National Chiang Kai Shek Cultural Center, Taiwan; and the the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China. Azabagic’s performances have been broadcast live on NPR and WFMT radio, and on television in Asia, Europe and the United States.
His repertoire includes solo and orchestral music from the Baroque era to the present. As half of the active Cavatina Duo (with Eugenia Moliner, flute), he has performed a vast repertoire including many works written expressly for the duo. His chamber music activity is expanded with recently formed quartet Fandango!.
Azabagic’s love for performing extends to sharing with others his knowledge of music making. He frequently offers master classes while on tour, teaches at the University of Illinois and is the head of the guitar department at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Highlights of his upcoming season include concerts tours in the US, Canada, Spain, Denmark, etc…With the Cavatina Duo he has released a new CD entitled the Sephardic Journey, featuring new commissioned music based on old Sephardic melodies.
Denis Azabagic uses D'Addario strings
Variations on theme Carnival in Venice by Francisco Tarrega played by Denis Azabagic on Classical Guitar
Denis Azabagic's Competition Wins:
1992 - 1999 11 first prize and placed in 13 other international competitions1993 - acinto e Inocencio Guerrero, in Madrid, Spain
1995 - The Francisco Tárrega International Guitar Competition
1998 - Guitar Foundation of America International Competition
Denis Azabagic's Education:
Studied under Predrag StankovicSecondary School for Music, Sarajevo. Studied under Mila Rakanovic
Studied under Vojislav Ivanovic
The Music Academy in Zagreb, studied under Darko Petrinjak
Studied under Dick Hogeveen
Docent Musicus (Teaching degree) from Rotterdam’s Music Conservatory
Uitvoerend musicus (Performing degree) from Rotterdam’s Music Conservatory
Pictures of Classical Guitar Player Denis Azabagic on Pinterest:
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