Evan Hirschelman

As a composer, Hirschelman's compositions reflect a fusion of musical influences. They range from classical to metal, creating a unique style of hybrid music hailed by critics and audiences alike. In addition to performing his own works, he has been commissioned by renowned musicians and received top accolades for his composing. The GRAMMY® award-winning recording Guitar Heroes includes Hirschelman's composition "Lament and Wake", performed by the preeminent Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Peter B. King, music critic of the Post Gazette, described it as a "poignant, stirring six minutes of music." He was also commissioned to write a Chinese influenced piece for guitarist Xuefei Yang, which received widespread acclaim. He has composed numerous solo and ensemble works for guitar, which have been performed throughout the world. His music can be heard on numerous record labels including Telarc, GSP, and Dream Design Music.

Musical performances have taken him throughout Europe and North America. He has performed and collaborated with diverse artists such as jazz-fusion pioneer Rick Laird of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, classical guitarist Scott Tennant, rock guitarist Paul Gilbert, and the late legendary jazz great Ted Greene. His recital appearances include performances at the Guitar Foundation of America Festival, Los Angeles Philharmonic Society, Guitarra Del Mar, and the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. Joseph Mayes of Soundboard described a performance, "When the concert began, I was mesmerized. Not only does Hirschelman have the technique to play anything he wants to, but his compositions are interesting and attractive." He has also been a top prize winner in many guitar competitions, including the renowned Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition.

Hirschelman's recording Water in Darkness contains original and contemporary solo guitar works and duets with guitarist Scott Tennant. It was released to rave reviews, being called "complex and breathtaking" by Music Connection, "delightful and virtuosic" by American Record Guide, and a "two-handed symphony" by Minor 7th. Following the release of Water in Darkness, Hirschelman worked closely with the renowned boutique guitar company Circa Guitars to create the Evan Hirschelman Signature Model steel-string acoustic guitar. This artistic foray led to one of the first steel-string guitars developed for classical nylon-string players.

As an educator, Hirschelman has trained scores of guitarists and is frequently in demand for masterclasses and workshops. He has served on the faculty at numerous colleges, including the Musicians Institute (GIT), and runs a thriving private teaching studio. Hirschelman is the author of Acoustic Artistry: Tapping, Slapping, and Percussion Techniques for Classical & Fingerstyle Guitar, published by Hal Leonard Corporation. Its international popularity has quickly grown, and as a result it has already been translated to multiple languages by De Haske Publications, Europe. In 2014, Hal Leonard will publish his new book Classical Guitar Chops, which analyzes guitar technique throughout the history of classical guitar repertoire.

A native of Detroit, Michigan, Evan Hirschelman currently resides in Los Angeles, where he divides his time between composing, performing, and teaching music. He holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Arizona, where he was awarded a full scholarship and graduated with honors.

Evan Hirschelman resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net

ADDITIONAL INFO:

• Artist's Website: www.theguitarist.net