William Kanengiser: Classical Guitar Mastery Classical guitar virtuoso William Kanengiser presents an essential workshop for the serious student. With clear demonstrations and an insightful commentary, Kanengiser explains how to master tone control, articulation, dynamics, vibrato, dampening, and other vital techniques. He also addresses the question of nail shape and shows you how to avoid unwanted squeaks and buzzes! Essential for any student of classical guitar. Recognized as one of America’s most brilliant guitarists, WILLIAM KANENGISER has developed a unique repertoire for his instrument, ranging from dazzling arrangements of Mozart, Handel, and Bartók to his innovative excursions into the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. Praised by the Los Angeles Times for his “dizzying execution” and “exceeding vitality and warmth,” Mr. Kanengiser has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras in virtually every major American city, ranging from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, as well as throughout Canada, Europe, and Asia. Through unusual commissions and a creative approach to transcription, Mr. Kanengiser has won recognition for expanding the repertory beyond the staples of guitar literature. He has performed and recorded works written for him by composers as diverse as Dusan Bogdanovich, Ian Krouse, and Brian Head, and has won consistent praise for his own transcriptions of scores from the traditional repertory, most notably Mozart’s Piano Sonata in A major (featuring the “Rondo Alla Turka”), which he prepared for the Columbia Pictures release, Crossroads, in which he was Ralph Macchio’s guitar double and coach. Many of these arrangements have been published by GSP, Gendai Guitar, and Doberman Editions. Recognized as one of America’s finest classical guitarists, William Kanengiser won first prize in the 1987 Concert Artists Guild International Competition, as well as major international guitar competitions in Toronto (1981) and Paris (1983). He has developed a unique repertoire for his instrument, ranging from arrangements of Mozart, Handel and Bartok, to his innovative excursions into the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean. He was twice awarded a Solo Recitalist Fellowship Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and his debut recording for the GSP label won an “INDIE” award for Best Classical Recording. A member of the guitar faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music since 1983, Mr. Kanengiser has given master classes around the world and produced two instructional videos, Effortless Classical Guitar and Classical Guitar Mastery for Hot Licks Video. As a founding member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, he has toured extensively throughout Asia, Europe and North America, recording for the GHA, Delos and Sony Classical labels. Their first recording for the Telarc label, LAGQ: Latin, was nominated for a Grammy in the Classical Crossover category in 2001, and their follow-up recording LAGQ’s Guitar Heroes won a Grammy in the same category in 2005. Mr. Kanengiser recently released his fourth solo recording for the GSP label entitled Classical Cool, featuring jazz-inspired compositions and arrangements for classical guitar. Professional Experience Current Professional Affiliation(s): Founding member, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Academic Degrees • MM, USC School of Music, 1983 • BM, USC School of Music, 1981 Other Academic Experience: Mannes Conservatory Preparatory School, 1974-1977 Studied with Pepe Romero, James Smith, Malcolm Hamilton, Andres Segovia (USC Master Classes 1981) |