D’Addario Foundation Feature Young Classical Guitar Prodigies

Two young classical guitar prodigies, Junhong Kuang and Celil Refik Kaya, are set to perform at the Carnegie Hall.

D'Addario Performance Series

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This year’s D’Addario Performance Series event continues a tradition of bringing top classical guitar talents from all over the world to the popular New York City stage.

This concert will be quite unique in that D’Addario Foundation has managed to bring in two young and promising classical guitar talents.

The concert will open on Thursday, October 17, featuring two performers – Junhong Kuang and Celil Refik Kaya. The event will be Mr. Kaya’s Carnegie Hall debut, he is also set to play a new piece written for him by famed Argentinian classical guitarist and composer, Jorge Morel. The event will also add “playing at the Carnegie Hall” to the young Junhong Kuang’s experience.

The China-born prodigy Junhong Kuang is only 12 years old, but he has already achieved quite the popularity in classical circles. D’Addario mentioned that “the tone and boldness of his performances have caught the attention of many genre legends.” Kuang recently won top awards at a prestigious guitar festival and have impressed Thomas Kirchoff, a lauded guitarist who has also established one of the biggest and most prestigious guitar festivals in the world. Thomas called the compared the young prodigy’s tone with that off David Russell. David himself was also impressed, quoted saying that Kuang is a prodigy and “a real pleasure to listen to.” Pepe Romero, a popular classical and flamenco guitar player wraps up the praises by saying: “You will bring this world the love and the beauty with your guitar.”

Although Celil Refik Kaya is ten years older than Kuang, he is still within the acceptable age to be called a “young genius of the guitar”. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1991 and started playing the guitar when he was 6 years, showing an almost immediate passion for music. He is now a busy competitor, known for winning some of the top prizes from many of the world’s international guitar competitions. When not competing, Mr. Kaya is busy performing on television, radio and live performances. For his age, he has already performed as the featured soloist for many symphony orchestras around the world. In his quest to master the instrument Mr. Kaya also attends master classes with world-renowned guitarists, studies privately with Grammy-award-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin, and is a scholarship student in the graduate program at New York City’s Mannes College at the New School For Music.

Suzanne D’Addario Brouder, director of the D’Addario Foundation, had this to say: “We are extremely proud to host such amazing young artists on the opening night of the new Performance Series season. After last season’s record-breaking ticket sales, we’re looking forward to Junhong and Celil inspiring our biggest audience yet, which also helps us work toward fulfilling the foundation’s primary goal of music education and inspiration.”

The D’Addario Foundation was started in 1981, committed to inspiring and assisting the growth and appreciation of music throughout the world. The primary mission of the foundation is to support community-based music-education programs in under-served areas. School visits are arranged for many of the musicians who perform in the foundation’s D’Addario Performance Series.

The event is set to take place at Weill Hall, the adorned and intimate 268-seat theater nestled inside New York City’s famous Carnegie Hall. An after party will be hosted by the D’Addario Foundation in Carnegie Hall’s Jacobs Room directly following the event. During the party, audience members will have the opportunity to meet the performers and enjoy the open bar. All ticket holders are invited to the after party.

The ticket prices begin at $20, you can secure your ticket now by going to Carnegie Hall’s website.

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