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PABLO GARIBAY WINS JoANN FALLETTA INTERNATIONAL GUITAR CONCERTO COMPETITION
Mexican guitarist takes top prize in the international event organized by
WNED and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Buffalo, New York - Following tonight’s final round performance with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by BPO Music Director JoAnn Falletta, Pablo Garibay of Mexico received first place honors in the second biennial JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition. Ten classical guitarists, representing seven nations, competed throughout the past week in the classical guitar concerto competition, presented by WNED and the BPO.
Garibay also received the BPO Musicians’ Choice Award. His First Place prize package contains a $7,500 cash prize; paid return engagements with the Buffalo Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony Orchestras; a recording contract with Fleur de Son Classics; and a concert guitar by Canadian luthier Kamil Jaderny.
Masao Tanibe of Japan placed second and received the Audience Favorite Award, along with a $3,000 prize. Isaac Bustos, representing the United States, took third place and a $1,500 prize.
The three finalists performed concerti for judges and a live audience in Kleinhans Music Hall on Saturday evening. The event featured the world premiere of The Giant Guitar Op. 91, a work specially commissioned by Classical 94.5/WNED and the BPO. The composer, pianist Miguel del Aguila, was one of the judges of the competition. Others were Joanne Castellani and Michael Andriaccio, internationally acclaimed touring and recording artists, who also co-directed the competition; John Landis, Classical 94.5/WNED program host; David Dusman, president of Dusman Audio, Inc.; Jeff Cogan, director of guitar studies at Chapman University; Spanish guitarist Eduardo Pascual; Grammy-award winning producer David Frost; and Marcin Dylla, the Polish guitarist who won the inaugural 2004 Falletta Competition.
“Western New York is fortunate to host some of the world’s top young classical guitarists through this competition,” said Andriaccio. “The audience and the judges enjoyed masterful and delightful performances throughout a week-long series of events. We know these outstanding musicians will become ambassadors for our region, and spread the word about our unique cultural assets.”
The competition received a grant through the office of New York State Assembly Majority Leader Paul A. Tokasz. Additional support was provided by BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Adam’s Mark Hotel and The Coda Restaurant.
BIOGRAPHY
Pablo Garibay –Pablo Garibay returns to Buffalo after placing second in the inaugural JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition in 2004. Now pursuing a master’s degree in the Hochschule für Music Franz Liszt in Weimar, Germany, he is studying under Thomas Müller-Pering.
In 2002, Garibay performed as soloist with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by JoAnn Falletta. He has performed in Mexico, the United States, and throughout Europe. With the South African Chamber Orchestra, he performed as a soloist, and recently performed the South African premiere of the Concerto del Sur for guitar and orchestra by Manuel Maria Ponce.
Garibay also played with the Orquesta de las Artes de Sinaloa, the Young Symphonic Orchestra of Mexico City, and the ENM-UNAM young symphonic orchestra. Beginning his guitar studies in 1993, Garibay has studied under Ivan Risquez and Juan Carlos Laguna (at the National University of Mexico UNAM). He has since taken master classes around the globe with prominent professors.
He was awarded the Premio Nacional de la Juventud 2002 by the president of Mexico. Other prizes include firsts at the René Bartoli International Competition 2002 (France), Manuel Ponce International Competition (Mexico), Gevelsverg International Competition (Germany), and Tredrez-Loquemeau International Competition for young guitarists (France).
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The Virginia Symphony Orchestra with a complement of 79 professional musicians under the direction of Grammy-nominated Music Director JoAnn Falletta performs 140 concerts annually, reaching 200,000 concert goers every season in venues throughout the region. Our education and outreach programs reach 53,000 students and adult learners every year. The Virginia Symphony Orchestra is the cultural cornerstone of the performing arts in Hampton Roads.
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