Guitar Virtuoso Javier Calderón Performs at SU Saturday, April 9

SALISBURY, MD---When Javier Calderón played his solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall, The New York Times called him “a virtuoso with poetic sensibility.”

Area audiences will have an opportunity to hear this critically acclaimed classical guitarist during a performance at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 9, in the Great Hall of Salisbury University's Holloway Hall. The event is part of SU’s third annual Classical Guitar Festival.

At age 17, Calderón thrilled the audience of his native city of La Paz, Bolivia, when he played with the Bolivian National Symphony Orchestra. The defining moment in his emerging career came when the great Andres Segovia awarded the young guitarist a scholarship to study under his tutelage in Spain.

Calderón now tours extensively in the United States, Europe, South America and the Far East. He appears regularly as concert soloist with orchestras including the St. Louis and Atlanta symphonies and the Minnesota Orchestra and in solo recitals throughout the world. Calderón has performed chamber music concerts with cellist Yo-Yo Ma and has been featured at numerous international music festivals.

Composers including the eminent Alan Hovhaness and Lawrence Weiner, have written and dedicated works for Calderón and dedicated them to him.

The Tages Anzeiger of Zurich described Calderón as “an exceptional artist of the guitar.” The critic of the Great China Evening News wrote, “I was moved to tears by Calderón's performance.” His concerts have been broadcast by PBS in the United States, Radio Television Espanola in Europe and The Voice of America in Latin America.

Calderón founded and heads the University of Wisconsin—Madison guitar program. His concert is sponsored by SU’s Office of the President.

Admission is free and the public is invited. For more information call 410-543-6385 or visit the SU Guitar Festival Web site at www.salisbury.edu/musicdept/guitarfestival.