Classical guitarist David Russell next Sterne artist

Skidmore's Department of Music will present a concert by Grammy Award-winning classical guitarist David Russell at 8 p.m. Friday, March 30. The concert is part of Russell's residency as a Sterne Virtuoso Artist on campus. In addition to the concert, he also will conduct a master class with the Skidmore Guitar Ensemble at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, in the Elizabeth Luce Moore Hall (Room 117).

The March 29 master class and the March 30 concert will take place in the Arthur Zankel Music Center.

Russell is renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike.His love of his craft resonates through his flawless and seemingly effortless performance. The attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure.

Russell received a Grammy in 2005 for his CD Aire Latino, in the category of best instrumental soloist in classical music. He has recorded 15 CDs since 1995 with Telarc International.Russell spends his time touring the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in such main cities as New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto or Rome. During his studies at the Royal Academy, Russell won the Julian Bream Guitar Prize twice. Later he won numerous international competitions, including the Andr s Segovia Competition, the Jos Ram rez Competition and Spain's prestigious Francisco T rrega Competition.

A New York Times review of a Russell performance noted, "... Mr. Russell made his mastery evident without ever deviating from an approach that places musical values above mere display. It was apparent to the audience throughout the recital that Mr. Russell possesses a talent of extraordinary dimension."

Admission for the 8 p.m. March 30 David Russell performance is free for Skidmore students, $7 adults, and $5 seniors. For advance reservations click here or call the Zankel box office (518) 580-5321 for more information. The Zankel Music Center is wheelchair accessible and offers listening devices for the hearing impaired. For more information, please click here.