Cyprus Guitar Trio

As part of its Cyprus Artists Series, the Pharos Arts Foundation presents a unique concert with the Cyprus Guitar Trio. Founded in 2015 and comprising three pre-eminent classical guitarists from Cyprus – Vasilios Avraam, George Christofi and Socrates Leptos, the Trio is dedicated to the promotion of the important yet unexplored repertoire of the combination of three classical guitars, as well the creation of new works for this combination, and the arrangements and transcriptions of existing works. For its concert on Wednesday 24 October 2018, at The Shoe Factory, Nicosia, the Cyprus Guitar Trio will perform a rare programme of works for three guitars by Jesús Guridi, Franco Margola, J.S. Bach, Ferenc Farkas, M.A. Zani de Ferranti, Stephen Dodgson, Hansjoachim Kaps.

CYPRUS GUITAR TRIO

The Cyprus Guitar Trio was founded in 2015. Comprising three renowned classical guitarists from Cyprus – Vasilios Avraam, George Christofi and Socrates Leptos, the Trio is dedicated to the promotion of the important yet unexplored repertoire of the combination of three classical guitars, as well the creation of new works for this combination, and the arrangements and transcriptions of existing works.

Vasilios Avraam studied at the Ferenc Liszt Conservatory in Hungary, at the National Conservatoire of Region in Strasbourg and at the Academy of Music in Bratislava where he received his Musical Doctoral Degree in classical guitar under the supervision of Jozef Zsapka. He has participated in a number of festivals, including the Zempléni Festival and the Spring Festival of Eger, and he is the First Prize winner of the National Guitar Competition in Hungary in 1998. Several of his solo recitals and orchestra performances in guitar concertos were recorded by television channels and radio stations of Hungary and Cyprus. He published theoretical articles on the classical guitar in such international guitar magazines as the Classical Guitar Magazine (England), the Soundboard (USA), the Guitarra Magazine (USA), Gitarr och Luta (Sweden), Gendai Guitar (Japan).

George Christofi is a holder of a BMus (First Class), and MMus in Guitar Performance (Distinction) from the University of Hull and an MA (Distinction) and a PhD in Composition from the University of York. Considered one of the most important and talented composers of his generation, Christofi has composed music for world renowned soloists and ensembles, including, Mario Caroli (flute), Sarah Leonard (soprano), Harry Sparnaay (bass clarinet), Rohan de Saram (cello), Ensemble Musiques Nouvelles, Ensemble 10/10, Orchestre National de Lorraine, The Endymion, Kreutzer Quartet, Ensemble Cairn, Ensemble Berlin PianoPercussion, L'Opéra National du Rhin. His music has been broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and presented in Festivals such as ‘Clarinet baix i electronica’ by Phonos – Fundació Música Contemporània (Spain), International Music Festival Heidelberger ‘Frühling 2007’ (Germany), ‘Pescara Fiera Festival (Italy), Seoul International Computer Music Festival (Korea), Culturale San Fedele – Electrobag on Tour (Italy), amongst others. Christofi is a Composition Lecturer at the European University Cyprus.

Socrates Leptos studied guitar at the New England Conservatory in Boston. In 2000 he was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to study at Yale University under Ben Verdery, and in 2009 he was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the Peabody Institute. During his studies, Leptos won three awards and performed extensively in the US. He participated in masterclasses with Manuel Barrueco, Sharon Isbin, Jorge Morel, Paul O’dette, David Tannenbaum, Gordon Crosskey, and John Duarte. Leptos has recorded music for radio and television and he has contributed to various recordings, both as guitarist and composer. He is currently a member of the guitar faculty at the University of Nicosia.

PROGRAMME:

Jesús Guridi (1886-1961)
Lau Euskal Abesti (Four Basque Folksongs)

Franco Margola (1908-1992)
Trio – Sonata for Three Guitars, Op.228

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Capriccio in B-flat major, BWV 992

Stephen Dodgson (1924-2013)
Follow the Star

Marco Aurelio Zani de Ferranti (1801-1878)
Polonaise Concertante, Op.27

Ferenc Farkas (1905-2000)
Musique de Ugrócz

Hansjoachim Kaps (1942-2004)
Estilo Flamenco – Spanische Suite

Tickets:
€15 / €10 Concessions & members of the Pharos Arts Foundation,
Box Office: Directly from the Foundation’s website www.pharosartsfoundation.org/Tickets_online.htm or Tel. +35722663871 (Monday - Friday 10:00am-3:00pm)