Vera & Imre Hecht Emerging Artist Series

2024-2025 Emerging Artist Series

Join us for a six-concert series that showcases local and regional musicians who perform a 45-minute concert, followed by a question and answer session. Free and open to the public, thanks to a generous and ongoing grant from Hecht Foundation, these concerts entertain, educate, and raise awareness of the beauty of classical guitar music.

Concerts take place on Monday evenings at 7:30 pm at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Sarasota.

Collin Holloway

Monday, November 11, 2024, 7:30 pm

About

Join us for an evening of classical guitar performed in a beautiful and intimate setting by award-winning guitarist Collin Halloway.

Collin attended the Eastman School of Music with Thomas Viloteau and Nicholas Goluses, earned his master’s degree with Dieter Hennings at the University of Kentucky College of Fine Arts, and then studied privately with Angelo Gilardino in Vercelli, Italy.

“Collin performs with sensitivity and poetry and shares his musical voice with a beautiful tone.” – Thomas Viloteau, French Guitar Virtuoso

Collin has toured extensively. His many awards include the Haire Solo Guitar Competition, and two consecutive first place wins at the National Brownsville Guitar Duet Competition. Recently, he was chosen as a soloist to premiere “Malagueña de Jotron” at the Armstrong Theater with the renowned Los Romeros Guitar Quartet.

Evan Taucher

Monday, December 16, 2024, 7:30 pm

About

Take a captivating musical journey as Evan Taucher performs pieces inspired by his time in Spain, his original compositions, and other beloved selections.

Evan is recognized worldwide not only for his award-winning performances and musical career, but also for reaching audiences beyond the classical community. He amassed a large online following using the web as a critical tool for music education and discovery.

In 2020, he co-founded the nonprofit Ex-Aequo, an artist collective and guitar advocacy group. Amidst the pandemic, Ex-Aequo hosted the largest online classical guitar competition to date.

During his study with the Cuban virtuoso Rene Izquierdo, Evan won eight competitions in the U.S. including three Grand Prizes. Evan was also the first guitarist to earn an Artist Diploma at the University of Texas at Austin under Adam Holzman.

Robert Gibson

Monday, January 20, 2025, 7:30 pm

About

Don’t miss an unforgettable musical experience as Robert Gibson performs beloved classics from the vast classical guitar repertoire and a few exciting and beautiful audience-friendly modern compositions.

As a prize-winning guitarist, Robert Gibson has been featured with several orchestras, including the San Antonio Symphony, and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician across the U.S., Mexico, Spain, and Italy.

Robert has collaborated with several composers including Donald Grantham, Matthew Dunne, James Norman, Traci Mendel, Carl Vollrath, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. He studied under Oscar Ghiglia at the Accademia Chigiana Musicale in Italy, and holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He currently teaches Guitar and Music Theory at Troy University, and lives in Montgomery, AL with his wife and five daughters.

Denis Vasenin

Monday, February 17, 2025, 7:30 pm

About

Come enjoy an exciting program of traditional, modern and flamenco classics performed by award-winning classical guitarist Denis Vasenin.

Denis Vasenin was born in the Republic of Moldova and now calls Gainesville, FL home. As a teen, he played at the National Organ Hall in Chisinau, and appeared on several of Moldova’s national TV channels. His awards include 2nd place at the “Virtuosos of Russian Music” competition, and 1st place at the Junior Republican Guitar Competition in 2013. Recently, he won 1st place in the Florida Guitar Festival Competition.

After high school, Denis moved to the U.S. to attend Stetson University, studying under Dr. Stephen Robinson, and went on to study under Maestro Bruce Holzman. Denis has also performed in masterclasses for such renowned musicians as David Russell, Andrew Zohn, the Amadeus Duo, and more.

Program

Old Lime Tree – Sergei Rudnev
Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 – F. Chopin, Arr. F. Tarrega
Tre Preludi Mediterranei – Tedesco
Quatre Pieces Breves – Frank Martin
Callejon de la Luna – Vicente Amigo
Reflejo de la Luna – Paco de Lucia
Con Garbo y Salero – Sabicas

Paloma Chaprnka

Monday, March 24, 2025, 7:30 pm

About

Experience the musical genius of 15-year-old, award-winning prodigy Paloma Chaprnka! She will perform a variety of guitar repertoire from the Baroque period to the Modern period.

Paloma Chaprnka of Naples, Florida started learning guitar at four years old, and at her very first competition, at 10 years old, won first-prize at the Annual Pensacola Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Competition.

Now a freshman at Interlochen Arts Academy, Paloma has won first prizes at the Houston International Classical Guitar Competition, at the University of Florida, and at Florida State University. Paloma has performed in masterclasses for legendary guitar masters Manuel Barrueco, Jason Vieaux, Celil Refik Kaya, and Gohar Vardanyan. She has recorded at both Guitar Salon International and Siccas Guitars. Paloma studies with Irina Kulikova and Matthew Cochran.

Youth & Community Showcase

Monday, April 14, 2025, 7:30 pm

About

Guitar Sarasota is thrilled to provide an opportunity for local youths, retirees, and classical guitar students of all ages to perform for an audience. The musicians have one thing in common – a passion for classical guitar – and it shows. This is a very popular event and gives the performers and audiences alike a memorable, musical experience.

We invite music lovers to support this series. Your tax-deductible donation helps us bring these free concerts to audiences allowing them to experience the beauty and repertoire of classical guitar.

Support Emerging Artists!

We invite music lovers like you to support this series. Your tax-deductible donation helps us bring these free concerts to audiences allowing them to experience the beauty and repertoire of classical guitar.

St Paul Lutheran Church

Home of Guitar Sarasota’s Vera & Imre Hecht Emerging Artist Series

2256 Bahia Vista Street, Sarasota, Florida

Concerts are free and open to the public
No reservation, open seating

Vera & Imre Hecht Emerging Artist Series

Vera & Imre Hecht Emerging Artist Series

2024-2025 Emerging Artist Series

Support Emerging Artists!

St Paul Lutheran Church

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