ASU Guitar Series kicks off Sept. 5

Award-winning guitarist Raphaël Feuillâtre is slated to perform this Thursday in a concert that kicks off the 2019-20 Arizona State University Guitar Series.

Feuillâtre is the first-prize winner of the 2018 Guitar Foundations of America International Competition. At only 23, he is both a touring musician and an educator.

“Raphaël’s musicianship is impeccable,” said Ji Yeon “Jiji” Kim, assistant professor in ASU's School of Music. “He uses so many colors, his guitar sounds like an orchestra. His program is a total treat, with works by Llobet, Rameau, Brouwer, Rachmaninoff and Assad.”

This season’s guest artists also include composer-performers Laura Snowden and Ben Verdery. Both artists incorporate traditional and contemporary music and their own compositions into their programming. Snowden is a member of the alternative folk band Tir Eolas and has recently composed a choral piece. Verdery’s recent collaborator is American beatbox champion Mark Martin.

“I am very excited for both of these visionary musicians to visit our school,” said Kim. “They are constantly producing unique projects.”

Kim, known professionally on both acoustic and electric guitar as Jiji, will also present a faculty recital with a program that includes concertos by Rodrigo and Vivaldi and world premieres by Krists Auznieks, Jack Vees, Gulli Bjornsson and Molly Joyce.

Tickets are on sale now. Call the box office at 480-965-6447 or visit season.asu.edu for more information.

ASU Guitar Series

Raphaël Feuillâtre
Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019

Ben Verdery
Thursday, Nov. 7, 2019

Jiji Kim
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020

Laura Snowden
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020