ASU presents classical guitarist

Acclaimed Polish classical guitarist Marcin Dylla is the featured performer in a rescheduled event of Arkansas State University's Lecture-Concert Series. Originally scheduled as the seventh event of the series, Marcin Dylla's appearance was cancelled due to inclement weather in late January. Dylla is returning to ASU-Jonesboro at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 18, to present a selection of virtuosic masterpieces, performing works ranging from the Romantic era to the 21st century. Dylla's performance will take place in the Fine Arts Recital Hall, Fine Arts Center, 114 S. Caraway Road, Jonesboro.

This event, like all events in the Lecture-Concert Series, is free and open to the public. The lecture is co-sponsored by the ASU Guitar Guild and the Guitar Foundation of America.

After having won 17 first prizes in competitions around the world between 1996-2004, Marcin Dylla received his most recent award in 2007 as the winner of the Guitar Foundation of America's International Competition. That award earned Dylla a 50-concert tour of the United States, Canada and Mexico. His list of accolades also includes concerto competition victories, audience prizes and critics' awards.

Born June 6, 1976, in Chorzow, Poland, Dylla began learning guitar at the age of eight in the State School of Music in Ruda Slaska. Between 1995 and 2000, he studied at the Music Academy of Katowice with Wanda Palacz. He continued his musical studies abroad at the Music Academy of Basel with Professor Oscar Ghiglia, at the Music Academy of Freiburg with Professor Sonja Prunnbauer and at the Music Academy of Maastricht with Carlo Marchione. Dylla was granted a Gold Guitar musical critics' award for the best upcoming young guitar player at the seventh International Guitar Convent in Alexandria in 2002.

Marcin Dylla has recorded four CDs, including a Laureate Series-Guitar CD, "Guitar Recital" on the Naxos label, featuring compositions by Joaquin Rodrigo, Alexander Tansman, Nicholas Maw and Manuel Ponce. This CD has won high praise from critics. Dylla frequently performs works by Rodriguez, but he has also devoted a CD to Polish guitar music by composers such as Jerzy Bauer, Edmund Jurkowski, Feliks Horecki and Jan Nepomucen de Bobrowicz. Dylla is accompanied by Marek Mo and the Aukso Chamber Orchestra on "Polish Guitar Music."

Those who want more details may contact Dr. Gil Fowler, associate dean for the Honors College, at (870) 972-2308, via e-mail at gfowler@astate.edu, or visit http://honors.astate.edu. Visit http://www.marcindylla.com/ for details on Marcin Dylla, including a touring schedule.

The Lecture-Concert Series presents diverse programs to enrich the cultural life of the campus, community and region.