Contributed article

The Gila Valley Arts Council is pleased to announce the upcoming performance of nationally renowned classical guitarist, Brad Richter, on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 7:30 p.m. at Eastern Arizona College, Lee Little Theater.

Adult tickets cost $15 and student tickets are only $5. Advance tickets are available now at Richards Music/Radio Shack and the Graham County Chamber of Commerce. All remaining tickets will be sold at the door. Brad Richter will perform some of this original compositions, including “The Harvest," “River Songs," "Four Native Tales” and “Eight Preludes” in addition to traditional works, “Recuerdos de la Alhambra”-Francisco Tarrega, “Leyenda”-Isaac Albeniz, and “I’ll Fly Away/Hard Times Come Again No More”-A.E. Brumley/Stephen Foster.

Recognized as one of the leading guitarists and guitar composers of the 21st century, Richter has reinvigorated the guitar repertoire with a freshness and unaffectedness that transcends preconceived genres.

“Richter’s compositions carry the audience away into a world of magical sounds. He captures typical American themes and transforms them into imaginative original music. His cultivated playing is as highly developed as the intelligent sound language of his compositions which move the listener with its emotional depths.” 
(Concertino 1/2004)

“He has effectively reinvented the way classical guitar is written for and performed, producing an array of new sounds and tone colors that beautifully express the stories and images which inspired his music. His concert included some well-known pieces from the traditional repertoire as well as classical arrangements of early American music, which he executed with expressiveness and sparkling virtuosity. However, it may have been his stage presence that connected with my audience the most. His stories about the music, humor and interaction with the crowd left everyone smiling.” 
(Wes Brustad; President, New Jersey State Theatre)

Education and Background
Richter began teaching himself to play guitar and compose at age 12. At 18, having had no formal musical training, he was awarded the presidential scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where he began performing, composing and eventually teaching professionally.

After completing his undergraduate degrees in performance and composition, Richter accepted a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London, where he studied with guitarist Carlos Bonell. He became the first guitarist in the college’s history to win the coveted Thomas Morherr Prize and went on to win the Royal College of Music guitar competition before completing his master's degree and returning to the United States to continue his concert career.

Career Highlights 
Throughout North America and Europe, Richter has performed as a soloist with renowned chamber ensembles and in duos with artists such as Grammy winning cellist, David Finckel of the Emerson String Quartet. His performances and compositions are frequently heard on NPR and PBS stations around the United States, and he has also written and performed the score for the Emmy award winning PBS television series, "The Desert Speaks."

Festival appearances have included the Guitar Festival of Great Britain, The London International Guitar Festival (with Carlos Bonell, Alirio Diaz and John Williams), The Aspen Music Festival and the Walnut Valley Festival, where he won the National Finger-picking Championship, a competition that features some of the world's finest guitarists from all genres. Additionally, Richter won first place in the 2004 International Composer’s Guild Competition. Mel Bay, GSP and Lathkill Music Publishers publish Richter's books and compositions and his critically acclaimed new CD: "A Whisper in the Desert" is now available from Acoustic Music Records.

While at home in Tucson, Richter teaches music at the University of Arizona and is the artistic director of Lead Guitar!, a not-for-profit he co-founded in 2006 that establishes guitar programs in schools around the country with large populations of at-risk youths. He also enjoys hiking, running, biking and playing his guitar in the mountains and deserts that surround Tucson. The rugged beauty of the American southwest continues to be a source of inspiration for much his music.

In addition to Richter’s performance on November 17th, he will be conducting numerous seminars in public and private schools for children, and some of the schools will be sending students to a special daytime performance at the college, which is not open to the public. He will also be visiting schools in Greenlee County as part of his extensive stay in the area. The Gila Valley Arts Council wishes to thank the many supporters, all of the individual and business members and major contributors Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold, Graham County Board of Supervisors, the United Way of Graham County and the Graham County Community Foundation that make this all possible by their financial support.

This performance is also supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts with funding from the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information visit our Web site, http://www.gvac.org where you can learn more about Richter and other performances to be presented during the school year.