Artist Biography:

Not a speck of museum dust rises when Raphaël Feuillâtre performs music from the distant past. The 26-year-old French classical guitarist, whose repertoire embraces everything from Johann Sebastian Bach and Rameau to contemporary compositions by Roland Dyens and Sérgio Assad, possesses the technical mastery and creative vision required to make works from all periods sound as if they were written yesterday – alive, heartfelt, filled with colour. Hailed by Guitar Salon International as “one of the most exciting classical guitarists of his generation”, he makes his instrument sing with a rare blend of clarity and grace.

Feuillâtre made his international breakthrough in 2018 as winner of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Concert Artist Competition. He had already been tipped as a rising star in Europe following his victory at the 2017 José Tomás Villa de Petrer International Guitar Competition in Valencia and earlier prize-winning competition performances elsewhere in Spain as well as in France, Portugal and the Czech Republic. His progress around the competition circuit introduced him to many outstanding players and teachers; his José Tomás and GFA prizes, meanwhile, included opportunities for him to record solo recital albums under studio conditions and embark on concert tours of Europe, Brazil, Argentina, the US and Canada. His career was given a further boost when he was honoured by being selected as one of French performing rights association ADAMI’s “classical discoveries” of 2021. 

Deutsche Grammophon’s Senior Director Classical, Artists & Repertoire, Angelika Meissner, discovered a video of Feuillâtre’s GFA Competition performances in September 2020 while searching online for exceptional young musicians. She was so impressed by his charismatic artistry that she invited him to record for the Yellow Label. He signed an exclusive partnership agreement with DG in September 2022. His debut album will feature arrangements and transcriptions of works by Bach, Rameau and others, reflecting his profound affinity for Baroque music.

Critics have praised the versatility and sensitivity of Feuillâtre’s musicianship. He has also delighted reviewers and audiences alike with the singing quality of his playing. The jaw-dropping precision of his technique is allied to a profound feeling for melodic line, qualities that combine to give the impression that the instrument’s sound is somehow sustained by the player’s breath.

“My goal is always to allow the guitar to sing,” he observes. “So many things in music start with song. The guitar is an intermediary between me and the audience that lets me sing and and convey emotion. I get so immersed in the soundworld of whatever I’m playing that I totally forget about my instrument.”

Raphaël Feuillâtre was born in 1996 in Djibouti, on the northeastern coast of Africa, and raised in the small city of Cholet in western France. Although his parents were not musicians, they recognised and encouraged the boy’s clear gift for music after he was given a plastic guitar at the age of seven.

Two years later, Raphaël enrolled at the Cholet Conservatoire, where he received his first guitar lessons from Hacène Addadi. “Hacène sparked a passion in me for the classical guitar, cultivated that passion, and introduced me to the guitar repertoire,” he recalls. The learning process continued during Feuillâtre’s high-school years in Nantes, where he received invaluable lessons from Michel Grizard at the Conservatoire de Nantes.

From 2015 to 2020 he pursued advanced studies at the Conservatoire national supérieur de musique in Paris, where his teachers included Roland Dyens and Tristan Manoukian. He has also worked for a number of years with Judicaël Perroy. “I’ve learned from many people along the way,” says Feuillâtre, himself now a dedicated teacher as well as performer. “But Judicaël helped me prepare for the international competitions I took part in and guided me as I embarked on my career. I’m especially grateful for his mentorship.”

A Colorado native, Sergeant First Class J.G. Miller holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California along with degrees from University of Arizona and The Eastman School of Music, where he received the Performer’s Certificate. As a member of The United States Army Field Band, he serves as Section Leader and Principal Horn. Prior to service, SFC Miller performed with The Who, Mariachi Sol de México, and Los Angeles studio orchestras on motion picture soundtracks. He can be heard as principal horn on the Grammy™-winning album “Soundtrack of The American Soldier.” Outside of service, he has been a longtime figure at the Kendall Betts Horn Camp, taught at high school and collegiate levels, and trained as a machinist and welder apprenticing for Lawson Horns. SFC Miller is the Vice-President of Veritas Musica Publishing and Vice-President of Cormont Music, keeping his life grounded thanks to his wife and three children. Teachers include Peter Kurau, James Thatcher, Daniel Katzen, and Kendall Betts.

Pow! Zap! Crash! Boom! Bang! Join us for a fun filled morning as we learn how music helps our superheroes sound strong.

Free admission. Tickets not required. All ages welcome, including babies.

This program celebrating Professor of Viola Maggie Snyder's new album release, featuring all works by women composers.

The original concept of the album was as a 2-year commissioning and recording project (2019 and 2020), celebrating 100 years of American Women’s Voting Rights;  there were 2 works commissioned and 2 more won through competitive calls for scores by American Women. 

The concert/recording features 2019 and 2020 commissions by Gabriela Lena Frank and Gity Razaz, and winners of the 2019 and 2020 calls for scores, Virginia Samuel and Kirsten Volness. Also on the album is our local amateur composer Barbara Redman, and nationally renowned composers Mary Kouyoumdjian, Anne Leilehua Lanzilotti, Reena Esmail, and Jessie Montgomery.

Artist Biography

Over the last 25 years, Paul has rewritten the rulebook and put this most classical of woodwind instruments in a new light. As one reviewer puts it: "Paul plays at the very highest level surpassing almost anyone's conception and ability on one of the most unforgiving instruments - ever. Over the past decade, Hanson has brought the double reed instrument into areas where it's seldom, if ever, gone before, combining a commanding improvisational sensibility with funk, classical, and world music influences." Whether performing acoustically with string quartets and other chamber groups or full-on electric with fusion masters-Paul is always exploring new genres for the instrument.

Paul has toured, recorded, and/or performed with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Billy Cobham, Jon Batiste at Carnegie Hall, Wayne Shorter, Peter Erskine, with 6-string bassist Ariane Cap in the group OoN, Billy Childs, Billy Higgins, David Binney, Ray Charles, Charlie Hunter, David Balakrishnan, Patrice Rushen, Alex Acuna, Dennis Chambers, Abraham Laboriel, Medeski Martin & Wood, Bob Weir’s RATDOG, Jeff Coffin, Jeff Sipe, Jonas Hellborg, Afro/Cuban pianist Omar Sosa, Bob Moses, Kai Eckhardt, Peter Apfelbaum, Paul Dresher Ensemble, DAVKA, St. Joseph Ballet Company, The Klezmorim, jazz soloist with the Oakland Eastbay Symphony Orchestra, classical soloist with the Napa Symphony Orchestra.

Paul was invited to create his own role as an electric improvising bassoonist in Cirque Du Soleil’s ZED at Tokyo Disney Resort from 2008-2012.

Paul has appeared at music festivals worldwide. He has given masterclasses at numerous worldwide universities-all specializing in modern performance techniques and improvisation for bassoonists and other classical instrumentalists. Paul was an assistant bassoon professor at Ithaca College in 2004. Paul often appears at IDRS conventions as a clinician and has written several books on improvisation and technique for double reed players.