Marco Tamayo

(Mozarteum University Salzburg | Regional Conservatory of Carinthia) The cuban born guitarist (Havana, 1973) with Austrian citizenship, renown musician acclaimed by the italian newspaper “La Stampa” as “Il Re della Chitarra” (the king of the guitar), praised by musicians like John Williams (7), Leo Brouwer or Eliot Fisk, is one of the leading figures of the classical guitar worldwide. Marco Tamayo started to perform at the age of three having his father as teacher. His first performances took place at the age of six, and up to the age of ten, he won several competitions in Cuba. At the age of ten, he went on tour in Germany and Bulgaria, starting a still going career. His teacher at that time, Antonio Alberto Rodríguez, put in him the seads of all his knowledge, as Tamayo was his last student at the island. While finishing his education with famous musicians and guitarists, among others Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Early Music), Antonio Alberto Rodríguez and Leo Brouwer (guitar), Anthony Spiri (Harpsichord), Eliot Fisk and Joaquín Clerch (guitar), and Reinhard Schmidt (violin), Tamayo had won more than 25 first prizes at major international guitar competitions like “Andrés Segovia” in Herradura and Granada (España), Michelle Pittaluga-Citá di Alessandria (Italia), Leo Brouwer Competition (Havanna). He has performed as soloist with famous orchestras like the Philarmonic of Turin; Italy, Philharmonic of St. Petersburg, Chamber Orchestra of St. Petersburg, Philarmonic of Culiacán – Mexico, Philarmonic of Havanna – Cuba, Oulu Philarmonic Orchestra – Finland, among others, and with famous conductors like Ennio Morricone and Andrea Morricone, Philippe Bender, Leo Brouwer, Paolo Ferrara, Gordon Campbell, Kurt Redel, Hannu Lintu etc. His six albums, three of them with the Naxos Label and countless reviews express his, like commented by the guitarist Eliot Fisk: “(…) perfect technical development and an extraordinary musical intelligence (…)”. Mr. Tamayo is an active performer with a vast repertory including works from the Renaissance, through the Baroque, Classic and Romantic, to the XXth and XXIst centuries music. He has transcribed for the guitar several works written originally for orchestra, harpsichord, luth, violin or different ensambles, and also some of the most popular tunes of today. Some composers have written music especially for him, and the renown Leo Brouwer has lately arranged some songs of the Beatles for the duo Tamayo-Montesinos. Marco Tamayo also performed the premier of “Ciudad de las columnas” by Leo Brouwer, in France, and has been invited to different festivals in the year 2009 and around the world performing the music of Leo Brouwer, celebrating his 70th birthday. Mr. Tamayo was offered a guitar Professorship at the Mozarteum University, did his Habilitation on the 2006 for classical guitar at the same institution and he is, since 2005, Professor at the Regional Conservatory of Carinthia. From Summer 2013 till Summer 2014 Mr. Tamayo was invited at the University of Sydney, in Australia, where he won a Professorship among 130 candidates from all over the world, and from 2014 on he is also the first Guest Professor at the Gdansk Music Academy, in Poland. His classes are visited by guitarists from all over the world, and his students are prize winners of international guitar contests, some of them on the way to major careers. Mr. Tamayo is a regular invited juror by international guitar competitions and guest performer and teacher by many festivals around the world. He taught among others master classes in New York City, followed by several concerts in Mexico, Russia, Italy and Germany, performed the Concerto de Aranjuez, by Joaquin Rodrigo with conductor Justus Frantz at the KKL Luzern (a sold out concert); Maestro Andrea Morricone has composed a guitar concerto that was premiered last September by Marco Tamayo and the composer as conductor. 2012 included tours among others in Bahamas, GFA (Guitar Foundation of America) and Russia. Mr. Tamayo has introduced a new way of approaching the instrument by his way of performing and teaching. His book “Essential principles for the performance on the classical guitar” will come out at the end of the year by Chanterelle Verlag, Germany and the first edition is already sold out at this time. In August 2014 “Marco Tamayo Edition”, scores of many important works enriched with Marco Tamayo’s fingerings and suggestions, was created. Marco Tamayo is a Honor Citizen of Alessandria and Solero, both in Italy. Tamayo is a Savarez artist, performs with Savarez Corum Blue and on a Simon Marty guitar, from Australia.