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The American guitarist, Jason Vieaux, began guitar studies at age eight with Jeremy Sparks in Buffalo, New York, and continued study at The Cleveland Institute of Music with John Holmquist. In 1992, he was the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, a Naumburg International Guitar Competition prizewinner, and, in recognition of his prodigious talent and extraordinary professional career, The Cleveland Institute of Music honored Jason Vieaux with their Alumni Achievement Award in 1998. In 1995, Jason Vieaux was an Artistic Ambassador of the USA to Southeast Asia, and concertized in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). He has also toured Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.
One of America’s leading guitarists, Jason Vieaux is changing the face of guitar programming and has earned a devoted international fan base along the way. As a result of his reputation for making “the single guitar seem like a body of instruments at work…an orchestra of sound…” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), he played well over 100 engagements internationally during the last two seasons. Highlights of the 2008-2009 season include recitals for New York’s 92nd St. Y Series and San Francisco’s OMNI Foundation for the Performing Arts, concertos with North American orchestras from coast to coast, a debut for the prestigious Nürtingen International Guitar Festival in Germany, tours of Mexico, debuts in Brazil and Poland, and triumphant returns as “series favorite” in Boston, Hartford, Cleveland, Knoxville and St. Petersburg.
Hason Vieaux is a frequent guest with orchestras across the USA. He has performed as concerto soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Orchestra 2001, IRIS Chamber Orchestra, and Auckland Philharmonia, while working with such renowned conductors as Miguel Harth-Bedoya, David Robertson, Michael Stern, Jahja Ling, Stefan Sanderling and Alasdair Neale. Vieaux’s triumphant programs and collaborations for Music@Menlo, Strings Music Festival, Grand Teton, Jupiter Chamber Players, etc., have forged his reputation as a first-rate chamber musician. As a passionate advocate of new music, Vieaux has premièred new pieces by Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate, José Luis Merlin, Eric Sessler, Arthur Hernandez, Gary Schocker and Fazil Say, and frequently plays works by Mario Davidovsky, Augusta Read-Thomas, Roberto Sierra, and John Corigliano.
Jason Vieaux already has ten recordings to his credit and many more to come under his multi-record deal with Azica Records: J.S. Bach; BWV 995-998, a disc of lute works,was released in January 2009. His current CD, 'Images of Metheny', features music by renowned American Jazz guitarist/composer Pat Metheny. Metheny, after listening to this landmark recording, declared: "I am flattered to be included in Jason's musical world. And I am honored that a musician of his stature has directed his considerable talents to manifest such beautiful and true renditions of these pieces in such a personal way." 'Sevilla: The Music of Isaac Albeniz', was rated one of the Top Ten Classical CD's of the year by both The Philadelphia Inquirer and Cleveland’s Plain Dealer. Vieaux recorded his first CD when he was just 19, and two years later released 'Laureate Series Guitar Recital' on the Naxos label, which has sold over 50,000 copies around the world. His recordings and live performances are on the radio and internet; he is often heard on such top-rated programs as NPR’s All Things Considered, Morning Edition, and American Public Media’s Performance Today. His expressive and communicative gifts have been the subject of many newspaper and magazine articles around the USA and abroad. Acoustic Guitar Magazine named Jason Vieaux in its January 2008 cover article 'The New Virtuosos' as “one of three young musicians pushing the instrument beyond the traditional”. England’s MUSO and Gramophone Magazine have published feature articles on Jason Vieaux.
Aside from his duties as a performer, Jason Vieaux is highly dedicated to the art of teaching. He currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is Head of the Cleveland Institute of Music Guitar Department, the youngest Department Head to serve at the prestigious conservatory. He is also affiliated with Philadelphia-based Astral Artists. He is also teaching personal lessons to classical guitar players online via Video Exchange™ technology. It enables him to reach more students (see link below).
Jason Vieaux is represented by Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd., Mt. Vernon, NY. |
