Trio of Virtuoso Guitarists to Perform Free Maui Concert

Ray Zhou. Photo courtesy University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

By Maui Now Staff

Three visiting virtuoso guitarists will perform a free noon concert at the University of Hawaiʻi Maui College on Friday, July 25, 2014.

University administrators say the concert is planned to help shed a light on opportunities to study music at UHMC, and to inspire the next generation of musicians.

The concert features students of the world renowned classical guitarist Benjamin Verdery, who serves as chair of the guitar department at Yale School of Music.

The trio includes: Ian O’Sullivan, a Kamehameha graduate and UH alumni who became the first guitarist from Hawaiʻi to earn a Masters in Guitar from Yale University; Arash Noori who is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Music from the Yale School of Music; and Ray Zhou, who will begin Yale School of Music’s highly competitive Artist Diploma program.

Arash Noori. Photo courtesy University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.

The concert is sponsored by the UHMC Music Department, and includes performances featuring baroque guitar, classical guitar, and ‘ukulele.

“We’re thrilled to have these gifted guitarists appear at UHMC, and demonstrate the depth and variety of music that can be heard here on Maui,” said UHMC music studies coordinator Dr. Keola Donaghy in a university press release.

“Maybe the next Ian O’Sullivan will be in the audience and find inspiration to take a music class at UHMC,” he said.

The concert begins at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 25, 2014, in the science building lecture theater, ‘Ike Le‘a 144.

The next round of music classes at UHMC begin on August 25, and include piano, Hawaiian steel guitar, beginning ‘Ukulele, voice class, and digital recording techniques.

Ian O’Sullivan. Photo courtesy University of Hawaiʻi Maui College.