Classical Guitar Insider

Dr. Victor Kioulaphides is an award winning composer and concert double bassist who left his country for New York on a world class cruise ship. He met a plain faced, box shaped girl who let him paint her nude until the ship ran into a giant box of un-microwave-safe-good-morning-america coffee mugs. The End.

Israeli guitarist Yuri Liberzon comes on the show to talk about his new album and living in California, the Sunshine State! Right?

Ekachai Jearakul won the GFA last year and is currently on a world tour. Before his Carnegie Hall debut, he stopped by for an interview. He is from Thailand; a land of gilded temples, white beaches and sweet, exotic drinks. I am from Stockton and am applying for an inside sales position at a jewelry store in midtown. Fingers crossed.

Damien Kelly comes from Ireland: a country of pleasant green hills, crisp afternoons, warm traditions, and old, proud houses. I come from Stockton: a county of sweaty green dew rags, crips after school, warm crack pipes, and old folks homes.

The guitar professors from Mannes College of Music and Princeton University come to Brooklyn on a rainy day, drink old milk with watered down coffee, and give an interview to a broke 38 year old with gout. Let’s go Mets though.

A Classical Guitar Insider EXCLUSIVE: It’s the first time Michael shares his side of the story about that thing in 1986. That thing where he became “the guy Segovia kicked out of the masterclass at USC.” He also won the first GFA, has a robust guitar program at the University of New Mexico, and just recently cut his hair. He’s an all around great guy and I wouldn’t kick him out of anything.

Hunter College guitar professor Mariano Aguirre sits down and talks about how much he loves teaching, playing in ensembles and running the Mannes Guitar Festival. I talk about quitting a teaching job because they had a staff only copy machine (no faculty allowed). That was the last straw. Later dude.

Pablo Sainz Villegas is probably the best performer on the circuit these days. He captures the audience with broad and expressive phrasing, a vulnerable character, Mediterranean good looks, and the perfectly tailored Italian suit. I look like a free range chicken egg with a gambling problem. And I’m not in a good mood.

University of Wisconsin guitar professor, Elina Chekan, moved to the U.S. from Belarus, learned english, went to Yale, and is completing her Doctorate. I moved to Brooklyn last week and am struggling with a wall fixture from IKEA.

Grammy nominated recording engineer David Bowles takes time out from a three day lecture at NYU about spherical recording techniques and explains in scientific terms what I’ve been telling you hipsters for years: Records are not better than CD’s. Sorry Mustache Kid, you’ll have to find something else to spend your money on. Maybe hats?