Submitted by The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
International Guitar Night (IGN) in its 18th year of touring, features the most talented and renowned guitarists from around the world. The Washington Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Olympia, is excited to host this year’s talent on their stage January 23, 2018.
This year Gypsy jazz legend Lulo Reinhardt returns to guest host and is joined by Canada’s young contemporary sensation Calum Graham, Poland’s innovative classical composer/performer Marek Pasieczny, and award-winning American guitarist Michael Chapdelaine.
Lulo Reinhardt, the grandnephew of Django Reinhardt, has built on his grand-uncle’s repertoire while retaining its trademark soul, speed, and dexterity. Reinhardt’s curiosity took him to southern Spain in search of flamenco roots and South America for various styles of Latin jazz. Reinhardt has performed on multiple tours as a soloist with IGN between 2009 and 2016, in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Germany.
Calum Graham, at age 24, has already enjoyed a career that most artists would envy. The Alberta-based guitarist and singer/songwriter has released five acclaimed albums, performed at the Olympic Games, racked up nearly a million views of his two-handed style on YouTube, and was recently named one of the top 30 guitarists in the world under 30 by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Graham won first place in the prestigious Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition at the 2010 Canadian Guitar Festival—a feat no other teenager has accomplished.
Dr. Marek Pasieczny is an award-winning guitarist and one of the most respected contemporary composers for the guitar. Pasieczny holds three master degrees in music composition and performance, and completed his PhD at Surrey University in 2015. As a composer, guitarist, lecturer, and adjudicator Pasieczny has appeared regularly at festivals in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
“This “International Guitar Night” is so good, that I feel like buying a ticket to most of our shows. Marek is brilliant, Calum is a one-man “superstar-rock band”, and Lulo is simply, one of the very greatest guitarists on Earth. If you like guitar, this is the only show that you HAVE TO attend this year. “ -Michael Chapdelaine (IGN Europe 2017 )
Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist to ever win first prize in the world’s top competitions in both the classical and fingerstyle genres—the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival. Chapdelaine continues to enchant audiences as he redefines the modern acoustic guitar with amazing technique, soulful expressiveness, and versatility.
Ticket prices start at just $27. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 360-753-8586 or visit The Washington Center for the Performing Arts website.
