Michael Partington, guitar

Department: Instrumental Performance
Phone: 206-543-6939
Email: michael@michaelpartington.com
Website: http://www.michaelpartington.com

Michael Partington is one of the most engaging of the new generation of concert players. Praised by Classical Guitar Magazine for his “lyricism, intensity and clear technical command,” this award-winning British guitarist has performed internationally as a soloist and with ensembles to unanimous critical praise. Audiences are put at ease by his charming stage manner and captivated by his musical interpretations. His innate rhythmic understanding and sense for tonal colour combine to form some of the most memorable phrasing to be heard on the guitar.

He began playing guitar at age 6 while growing up in Wales, gave his first public performance at age 7, and won his first competition at age 9. He has trained with many of the world’s greatest guitarists, including Oscar Ghiglia, Eliot Fisk, Eduardo Fernandez, Manuel Barrueco, and David Russell, who commented on his “exquisite good taste and fluid perfection.” Partington received a performance degree from the University of Washington School of Music, where he was a Brechemin scholar and graduated magna cum laude.

Since moving to the USA he has received awards in several guitar, instrumental, and concerto competitions. He has appeared throughout the USA, UK, Russia, and Scandanavia in solo recital, ensemble, and with orchestra. He has performed live on radio stations throughout the US and UK, including BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, BBC Wales, and St. Paul Sunday on National Public Radio, and cable television in California, Montana and Washington.

An advocate of new music, he has commissioned and premiered works by Stephen Goss, Bryan Johanson, Toshio Hosokawa, Angelo Gilardino, Tom Baker, Kevin Callahan and others. He is a frequent performer and teacher at festivals, including the Guitar Foundation of America Festival, Llantilio Crossenny Festival, Portland Guitar Festival, Northwest Guitar Festival, Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, Cascadia Festival and Chelan Bach Fest. Partington has also performed with Orchestra Seattle, Seattle Chamber Players, Seattle Creative Orchestra, Wenatchee Valley Symphony, Rainier Symphony, Portland State University Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Chorale, Seattle Choral Company, and flutist Paul Taub in the duo Dinamici.

He has released five solo CDs for Rosewood Recording and can also be heard on the Cadenza Music and Present Sounds labels.

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