Evan Hirschelman
Evan Hirschelman is an award-winning guitarist and composer, who has gained international acclaim for his unique compositions, virtuosic performances, and dynamic interpretational renditions. He has been heralded for “precise and prodigious technique” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine, “technical wizardry” by Los Angeles Times and “soulful musicality” by Malibu Times. Whether performing original compositions, traditional classical repertoire, or exploring diverse musical styles, Hirschelman seeks to find connections that stimulate the imagination.
The Grammy award-winning recording Guitar Heroes features Evan Hirschelman’s composition “Lament and Wake”, performed by the preeminent Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Peter B. King, music critic of the Post Gazette, described it as a “poignant, stirring six minutes of music.” He has been commissioned to write music for the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Guitar Foundation of America 50th Anniversary Festival, Chinese guitarist Xuefei Yang, and for the seminal classical guitar book Pumping Nylon. Hirschelman has composed numerous works for guitar, which have been published by Hal Leonard Corporation, Alfred Music Publishing, Les Productions d’Oz (Canada), and De Haske Publications (Europe). His compositions have been widely performed across the globe.
His recording Water in Darkness contains original and contemporary solo guitar works and duets with guitarist Scott Tennant. It was released to rave reviews, being called “complex and breathtaking” by Music Connection, “delightful and virtuosic” by American Record Guide, and a “two-handed symphony” by Minor 7th. He has been featured in guitar’s foremost publications, including Classical Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Premiere Guitar and Guitar Player. Hirschelman worked closely with the renowned boutique guitar company Circa Guitars to create his Signature Model steel-string acoustic guitar. This artistic foray led to one of the first steel-string guitars developed for classical nylon-string players.
Hirschelman is known for his impactful performances; after giving a recital at the Guitar Foundation of America Festival, Soundboard wrote “I was mesmerized. Not only does Hirschelman have the technique to play anything he wants to, but his compositions are interesting and attractive.” Musical performances have taken him throughout the world and he has been a top prize winner in multiple guitar competitions, including the renowned Stotsenberg International Guitar Competition.
Evan Hirschelman is the author of Acoustic Artistry: Tapping, Slapping, and Percussion Techniques for Classical & Fingerstyle Guitar, published by Hal Leonard Corporation. Its international popularity has quickly grown, and as a result it has been translated to multiple languages by De Haske Publications, Europe. His latest book, Classical Guitar Chops, explores guitar technique throughout the history of classical guitar repertoire.
As an educator, Hirschelman is frequently in demand for masterclasses and workshops. He has served on the faculty at several colleges, including the Musicians Institute (Hollywood), and currently runs a thriving private teaching studio. He holds a Master of Music degree from University of Southern California and was awarded a grant to pursue studies in France with composer Roland Dyens. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Evan Hirschelman resides in Los Angeles, where he divides his time between composing, performing, and teaching music.
Evan Hirschelman resides on the web at www.theguitarist.net