Artist description Tomo Iwakura was born in Great Britain. When he was twelve years old he began to learn the guitar with Iwao Suzuki. After his completion of afaculty of law at "Gakusuin Univaersity" in Tokyo he studied the guitar with Michael Koch at "Peter-Cornelius Konservatorium" in Mainz, Germany.He finished his study of music in 1997 with an excellent degree.Also he took lessons of N. Yepes, J. Bream, A. Pierri, D. Russel. He won the first prize and a special prize at "Gakusei Guitar Competopn" in Tokyo and is also a prize winner of "Concours International de Guitare" in Ile de Re, France.Concerts in Germany, France and Japan. Since 1989 he lives in Germany.

Music Style Classical Guitar

Musical Influences G. Gould, J. Bream, M. Koch

Similar Artists A. Segovia, J. Bream, J. Williams, L. Boyd

Artist History Tomo Iwakura, in England geboren, erhielt mit zwölf Jahren bei Iwao Suzuki ersten Gitarren Unterricht. Nach seinem Jura-Studium an der Gakushuin Universität in Tokyo studierte er Gitarre bei Michael Koch am Peter-Cornelius Konservatorium der Stadt Mainz. 1997 absolvierte er Künstlerische Reifeprüfung im Fach Gitarre mit "Auszeichnung". Bei den verschiedenen Meisterkursen nahm er Unterricht bei N. Yepes, J. Bream, A. Pierri, D. Russel, D. Tanenbaum, u.v.a. Er gewann einen 1. Preis sowie den Sonderpreis beim "Gakusei Gitarrenwettbewerb" in Tokyo und ist Preisträger des "Concours International de Guitare" in Ile de Re, Frankreich. Konzerttätig in Deutschland, Frankreich und Japan.Seit 1989 in Deutschland lebend.

Instruments Classical Guitar: Mario Gropp 1999

Press Reviews Dowland's lute pieces have often been transcribed for guitar and it is in this setting that virtuoso guitarist, Tomo Iwakura, takes them to a level of clarity and precision rarely heard. Iwakura, a well studied performer, has a Julian Bream-like emotional quality to his playing, while still retaining the accuracy required for these pieces. If you are a lover of renaissance music, then Iwakura's CD "DOWLAND-FANTASIES" will fit your collection like a glove! (from MP3.com's Hot Artist Spotlight on September 2002) _________________________________________________________ On "Bach: Complete Lute Suites I," Iwakura once again proves to the world that he is truly a master of the classical guitar. This CD features 10 of Bach's best works transposed for guitar. Tomo's playing and performance are strong and unparalleled. Sit back and let yourself be surrounded by "Bouree," or mellow out with "Sarabande." This is Bach like you've never heard before and may never hear again! - Rick Reed (from MP3.com's Hot Artist Spotlight on July 2002) _________________________________________________________ The Work of Tomo Iwakura By Chuck Leonard- Tomo Iwakura's classical guitar work is blissfully gifted from the first strike of the string through his last arpeggio. With six works to his name including, several discs that include the work of J.S. Bach, as transposed for guitar, particularly his Lute Suites and Partitas, through his other recorded works which include compositions by Astor Piazzola, Carlo Domeniconi, Johann Kaspar Mertz, and the more obscure work of the classical guitar repertoire, including Roland Dyens: Libra Sonatine. Tomo Iwakura's guitar work is some of the finest classical guitar work out there today. His work combines the softness of William Kannengiser and Andrew York, famous for their solo work, as well as their combined work in the L.A. Guitar Quartet; but at the same time Tomo Iwakura's work consists of a power, strength, and aesthetic sensibility that can only be found on the scratchy old LPs of the late Andres Segovia. Tomo Iwakura's brings his guitar to life, making it sing, dance the gigue, and even tango. His recorded work runs the gamut of the guitar repertoire, thus proving that Tomo Iwakura is a master of the classical guitar and all of it's various styles; from the early transposed works of J.S. Bach right through the compositions that made the guitar famous in the beginning and middle of the twentieth century, and up through to later works of Astor Piazzola, and his various tango experiments. Tomo Iwakura playing and performance are strong and unparalleled. His work is extremely gifted and while there are some artists that are comfortable playing these pieces, especially the J.S. Bach works, as if they're nothing more than dusty old LP's, Tomo Iwakura breathes new life into these pieces and lifts the beauty of their melodic and harmonic materials to the fore. Tomo Iwakura work is par excellence, and his playing is flawlessly top-notch. You can do no better than to check out his works, as most of them are available through the on-line music distributor Mp3.com, specifically: http://www.mp3.com/tomoiwakura Selected Discography: Bach:Partita II & Sonata III Fernando Sor Guitar Music Libra Sonatine ROMANTICO Bach:Complete Lute Suites I Bach:Complete Lute Suites II

Location Saarlouis, Saarland - Germany

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