Eastman Showcase 2006
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Guitar Heroes
Two Eastman-trained guitarists, who both studied with Professor Nicholas Goluses, have just released CDs of interesting guitar music. Eladio Scharrón (DMA '97), who teaches at the University of Central Florida, is working his way through the complete guitar music of the noted early 20th-century Mexican composer Manuel Ponce, who wrote many pieces for Andres Segovia; the second volume of Eladio's survey is on the Centaur label (2701). A Minnesota Public Radio reviewer praised Eladio's "warm, inviting tone" and the CD's "vast palette of moods." For his recent Centaur CD (2731), Peter Fletcher (MM '95) explores the quirky music of Erik Satie, arranging these famous piano pieces for guitar. Besides his recordings, which also include a 2002 disc of music by Federico Mompou, Peter concertizes widely throughout the United States; this month he'll perform in New York, Connecticut, Ohio, and Indiana.
Eastman sadly noted the sudden death last month of guitarist Aaron Brock (DMA '03). The talented Canadian musician, only 31 years old, was considered one of the best classical guitarists and guitar teachers of his generation—by his teacher Nicholas Goluses, and increasingly by the musical world in general. "He was a deeply sensitive artist, with a really refined touch on the instrument," Goluses told the Toronto Star for Aaron's obituary. "When someone is that good a guitarist and has that kind of humanity, they tend to be great teachers."