Visual and Performing Arts
The highly-praised Beijing Guitar Duo will be performing in Reynolds Recital Hall Friday, March 14 as a part of the NMU Department of Music's Siril Concert Series! The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12 General Admission and free for NMU Students and Youth (under 18).
This concert is made possible by the Siril Endowment for the Musical Arts.
Praised by the distinguished Classical Guitar Magazine as “having the star potential to serve as inspiration for new generations of guitarists to come,” the Beijing Guitar Duo made their New York debut in Carnegie Hall in 2010 and launched their international concert career.
Guitarist Meng Su and Yameng Wang, the Beijing Guitar Duo has performed around the world in halls such as the Concertgebouw, Palau de Musica, Tchaikovsky Hall and the National Theatre in Beijing. This season will take them to a 12-city concert tour in the United States in February (Washington D.C., Cincinnati, Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, Knoxville) as well as other performances in Europe and China. The duo regularly collaborates with orchestras, in ensemble with flutist Marina Piccinini, guitarists Grigoryan Brothers and with their mentor Manuel Barrueco touring in Europe, Australia, Asia and the U.S.
The Beijing Guitar Duo's performances and recordings have impressed the public with “an ability and artistry that exceeds their years.” Their debut CD Maracaípe, received a Latin-GRAMMY nomination for the titled piece, which was dedicated to them by renowned guitarist/composer Sergio Assad. Their second CD, Bach to Tan Dun, has been widely noted for the world-premiere recording of Tan Dun’s Eight Memories in Watercolor, specially arranged for the duo by Manuel Barrueco. A recording in trio, China West, with Maestro Barrueco was released in May 2014.
Meng Su and Yameng Wang were born in the coastal city of Qingdao, China. They came to the partnership with exceptional credentials, including a string of competition awards. Ms. Su’s honors include victories at the Vienna Youth Guitar Competition and the Christopher Parkening Guitarist Competition, while Ms. Wang was the youngest guitarist to win the Tokyo International Guitar Competition at the age of 12, and was invited by Radio France to perform at the prestigious Paris International Guitar Art Week at age 14. Both young artists had given solo recitals in China and abroad, and had made recordings before they formed the duo.
In addition to concertizing, the duo shares a love for teaching which brings them to major conservatories in the world for master classes and to judge competitions. The duo served as Artists-in-residence from 2011-15 for the San Francisco Performances which brought them to the Bay Area two weeks a year for community outreach, performances, and masterclasses in public schools as well as for the SF Conservatory.
