91探花

The 91探花 Music Department Recital series continues on Saturday, March 15 at 7:30 pm with Montreal classical guitarist Patrick Kearney.
Kearney represents a rare balance between sheer technical virtuosity and intense musicality. A true artist, he consistently spellbinds audiences through his deep musical insight and natural dramatic flair, interspersing his performances with narration and anecdotes discovered through deliberate research into the guitar repertoire.

Born in Montreal, Kearney discovered the classical guitar early on in life. Having won his first national competition in Ottawa at the age of ten, he pursued his studies first under Daniel Boyer and then with Jacques Joubert at Vanier College. Convinced that music was his true calling, Patrick went on to complete his Superior Diploma in Performance at the 脡cole Normale de Musique de Paris, where he received the highest honours under the direction of Rafa毛l Andia and Alberto Ponce.

Upon his return from France in 1993, Patrick began his professional career as an international competitor and touring artist, winning top prizes in several international competitions. Patrick has performed in concert and conducted master classes on numerous tours throughout Europe, the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He has appeared as a soloist with several orchestras, including the Orchestre Philharmonique de l'脦sle, the Shenandoah University Orchestra, Montreal's I Musici, and the Ensemble Appassionata. In 1997 he completes his Master's degree under the guidance of Peter McCutcheon.

Never content to remain confined within the standard guitar repertoire, Patrick has taken steps to contribute significantly to the world of art music. He has commissioned and premiered several works by contemporary composers such as Andrew Zohn, Atanas Ourkouzounov, Jay Kauffman, Ginette Bellevance, and Robert F. Jones, and has inspired composers such as Daniel Boyer and Claude Engel to create and dedicate new works to him.

Kearney has released four guitar albums: Bouquet (1997); Stringendo (2002), which is a tribute to contemporary Montreal-related composers and was nominated for the prestigious OPUS Prize; the powerful Diabolico (2004), in which the listener follows a musical timeline between ambitious youth and understated maturity; and recently the acclaimed Impressions (2009), featuring the works of M.M.Ponce, on the ATMA classique label.

Kearney teaches guitar at Concordia University in Montreal as well as at Vanier College. He is the founder and director of the Montreal International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition (), which is hosted by Concordia Music.

The repertoire for his concert at 91探花 will include Spanish and Mexican guitar repertoire as well as one of Kearney's own compositions. 91探花 vocal professor Sung Ha Shin-Bouey will also be joining Patrick in performance.

Admission for this recital at the Dr. Steel Recital is $15 Adults / $10 for Seniors and Students, and are available at the door, or in advance by calling 566-0507 or music@upei.ca.