Classical guitarist in concert at YSU

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Canadian classical guitarist Patrick Kearney will give a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Bliss Recital Hall, which is on the lower level of Bliss Hall at Youngstown State University.

Kearney also will present a free master class, open to the public, from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday in the same place.

The artist teaches guitar at Concordia University in Montreal as well as at Vanier College. He is the founder and director of the Montreal International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition.

Kearney intersperses his performances with narration and anecdotes from his research into the guitar repertoire.

Born in Montreal, Kearney won his first national competition in Ottawa at age 10. He went on to complete his Superior Diploma in Performance at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris.

Upon his return from France in 1993, Kearney began his professional career as an international competitor and touring artist, winning top prizes in several international competitions.

He has performed in concert, and conducted master classes on numerous tours throughout Europe, the United States, Mexico,and Canada.

Kearney has released four guitar albums:

“Bouquet” (1997)

“Stringendo” (2002), which is a tribute to contemporary Montreal-related composers and was nominated for the OPUS Prize.

“Diabolico” (2004), in which the listener follows a musical timeline between ambitious youth and understated maturity.

“Impressions” (2009), an acclaimed release that features the works of M.M.Ponce.

Parking is available in the Wick Avenue parking deck, via the Walnut Street entrance, for a nominal fee.

Patrons are advised to watch for posted detours as the reconstruction of Wick Avenue continues.