Masahiro MASUDA (Guitarist)

 Guitarist Masahiro Masuda performs extensively as a soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. He has been a featured soloist at several music festivals including Tokyo International Guitar Festival, Hakuju Guitar Festival, Nagasaki Guitar Festival.

After studying at Nagasaki University, he was invited by Sharon Isbin to study at the Juilliard School with several scholarships. In 2001, he was chosen for the first guitar concerto performer in the Juilliard school history, and he performed Concierto de Aranjuez with the Juilliard Symphony conducted by James DePreist in memory of Joaquin Rodrigo’s 100th birthday. He received Master of Music degree on May, 2003 at the Juilliard School.

Born in Nagasaki, Japan, he started playing guitar in his early childhood. He already performed guitar in a public place when he was 5 years old. Also, he had his first solo recital in his hometown, Nagasaki, Japan at age 12.

Mr. Masuda is the Youngest First Prize Winner of the 21st Classical Guitar Competition held in May 1991 in Tokyo, Japan and the first Guitar Concerto Competition at the Juilliard School in 2001 in New York. Also, he became a finalist at the Tokyo International Guitar Competition in 1992, the Guitar Festival Nurtingen Competition in 1998 in Germany and Barnett Foundation International Guitar Competition in 2003 in United States.

After his graduation form Juilliard, he has been recording almost 30 his solo CDs, for example “36 Caprices by Legnani”, “Villa-Lobos Guitar Works”, “Sonatas by F.Sor”, “Bach on Guitar I & II”, “Granados 12 Danza Espanolas”, “Segovia’s 20 Etudes by F.Sor, etc. These CD were received the Awards for “Best selection of month” from Record Geijutsu, “Best recommend of month” from CD Journal.

Now, Mr. Masuda is performing many solo recitals, several chamber music performances and masterclasses all the year round.