6. New England Conservatory – Boston, MA
Notable Faculty: Eliot Fisk
Voted “Best Classical Guitarist” in the readers poll of Guitar Player magazine, the last student of the legendary Andres Segovia leads a program of the top classical guitar students in the nation. In addition to his work at NEC, Eliot Fisk also teaches a course at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg. A noted virtuoso, his students have advanced through concerto competitions, solo careers, and professorships throughout the nation.
Listen to the Faculty: Check Out Eliot Fisk’s arrangement of Paganini’s 24 Caprices
.
5. Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins – Baltimore, MD
Notable Faculty: Manuel Barrueco, Julian Gray
Led by legendary guitarist Manuel Barrueco and eminent performer Julian Gray, the Peabody Institute guitar program is an elite-level classical guitar program. Barrueco, who has performed with the likes of tenor Placido Domingo and prominent fusion guitarist Al Di Meola, heads an impressive studio of accomplished students; his students’ biographies for the 2012-2013 school year are available to view online here. Guitarist Julian Gray, Chair of the Classical Guitar program at Peabody, will be holding a dual appointment with the rising Shenandoah Conservatory this coming fall.
Listen to the Faculty: Check Out virtuoso guitarist Manuel Barrueco and his classic recording entitled 300 Years of Guitar Masterpieces
4. Curtis Institute of Music – Philadelphia, PA
Notable Faculty: Jason Vieaux, David Starobin
Launched in the 2011-2012 school year, this new department at the Curtis Institute of Music features the talents of guitarists David Starobin, who has been an ardent and passionate commissioner of new classical guitar music since the 1970s, as well as Jason Vieaux, a young guitarist with a very busy performance schedule in a number of national and international engagements yearly. Taking on a very select and small student base, the guitarists at the Curtis Institute are among the most gifted in the world.
Listen to the Faculty: Check Out David Starobin performing music By Giuliani