Spanish Young Music Talents: Álvaro Toscano in Chicago

Spanish guitarist Álvaro Toscano kicks off this new program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, D.C. with a concert at the “Chicago Guitar Festival.”

Spanish Young Music Talents (SYMT) is the new program of the Cultural Office of the Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC. SYMT has been envisioned to enhance and support Spanish young musicians’ careers, in collaboration with U.S. music schools and universities at a higher level (bachelor and graduate students orchestras), offering them an experience abroad. SYMT aims to offer young musicians not only a concert or recital in the U.S., but a complete experience with complementary activities such as masterclasses, talks, conferences, etc. to broaden their opportunities and contacts. All visiting musicians are winners of the Juventudes Musicales de España national award and under 30 years old.

This concert, starring guitarist Álvaro Toscano, is the first collaboration of this new program together with the Chicago Guitar Festival and Roosevelt University. In addition to this concert, Toscano will be giving a masterclass to the students attending the festival, conducting the Festival Ensemble, and he will be part of the Festival Competition jury.

About Álvaro Toscano

The musical quality of the classical guitarist Álvaro Toscano has been recognized by more than 15 international awards, among which are the first prize in the 96º Concurso Permanente de Juventudes Musicales of Spain, first prize in the International City of Guimaraes Competition (Portugal), first prize in the XX International Classical Guitar Competition Villa de Petrer, second prize in the Sevilla International Guitar Competition.

His repertoire stands out for its scope, with music from the Renaissance to present-day premieres of works by Antonio Blanco Tejero or María Jesus Amaro. He also performs as a chamber musician, as part of the Synestha guitar duo; having collaborated with the Malaga Philharmonic Orchestra, the FIP Guadalquivir Ensemble or the Leonor Quartet, among others.

He has offered more than 70 recitals and masterclasses in different parts of the European continent, highlighting his participation in the London Guitar Festival in the UK, Sarajevo International Guitar Festival in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Uppsala Guitar Festival in Sweden, Targu-Mures Guitar Festival in Rumania, Szeged International Guitar Festival in Hungary. He also offers unusual recitals such as Sofar Sounds, trying to bring classical music closer to all kinds of public.

Toscano uses a guitar built by the Spanish luthier José Paniagua with Knobloch Strings.