DIRECTIONS: St Francis Episcopal Church
Guitar Virtuoso Rovshan Mamedkuliev in concert
with a Prelude performance by the Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet
Rovshan Mamedkuliev's solo career has taken him to venues, including Carnegie Hall, on four continents. In the 2013-2014 concert season after winning the Guitar Foundation of America's International Concert Artist Competition, Mamedkuliev gave a solo concert tour of 51 performances and masterclasses throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.
Mamedkuliev has performed with a wide variety of ensembles and orchestras including Ensemble Orchestral de Valencia in Spain, Orchestre du Conservatoire National de Musique Supériur de Paris in France, Azerbaijani State Chamber Orchestra, Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic Symphonic Orchestra, and the State Symphony Orchestra of the Udmurt Republic.
Born in 1986 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Mamedkuliev and his family moved to Nizhny Novgorod in Russia, where at the age of 11 he began studying the guitar. In 2004 he was accepted to the Nizhny Novgorod Conservatoire where he studied with Aleksey Petropavlovsky. Throughout his study, professors praised Mamedkuliev's "excellent ear, tenacious memory" and "developed sense of rhythm and form and bright artistry." He completed his studies with honors in 2009 and was invited to teach at Nizhny Novgorod Conservatoire. In 2014 Mamedkuliev became a professor of classical guitar in the Maimonides Academy in Moscow.
Mamedkuliev has premiered many new works including Phillippe Lemaigre's Concerto No. 3 "Antony" for guitar and orchestra, Elena Lebedeva's Concerto "Famalicao" for guitar and chamber orchestra, and works for solo guitar by Nikita Koshkin and Sergey Rudnev. Mamedkuliev also performs his own arrangements and has published arrangements of music by composers Alexander Borodin and Anatoly Lyadov (MelBay Publications) and Fikret Amirov (LACG Editions).
Mamedkuliev's recordings include discs on the Naxos and Contrastes labels. He plays a guitar made by Manuel Contreras II and uses Savarez strings and a case from CCCases.
Prelude performer: Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet
Program
Francesco Di Giandomenico: Music for a While: Three Sketches
Formed in 2019, the Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet is composed of Chloe Peelman, Gretchen Peelman, Maya Bologova, and Grace DeMers. The ensemble has developed a deep musical connection and a polished sound unusual for young performers. The quartet is known for its sensitivity, precision, and joy and brings youthful energy and heartfelt musicianship to the stage.
Performances by the Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet include opening concerts for the Carmel Guitar Society, playing in recital and at senior care facilities, and appearing in a livestreamed telethon for the Pacific Grove Art Center.
Chloe is currently a high school sophomore, while Gretchen, Maya, and Grace are in middle school. All four study with Anthony DeMers, who guides their development both as soloists and as a group.
During rehearsals, these young artists love drinking tea together. Ginger turmeric from Trader Joe’s is their favorite.
