2018 GFA Competition winner, Raphaël Feuillätre paid us a visit last week. He taught a class for the students and played a solo recital in Kulas Recital Hall. It was a remarkable concert in a number of ways: it was richly, sublimely expressive and musically sophisticated in a way we seldom hear on the guitar. And the artist is a mere 23 years of age. I was there, at the GFA finals in Louisville when Raphaël played his winning set. At the time, I agreed with the judges that he deserved the top prize, but he was considerably more impressive in his recital here at Oberlin. We have seldom heard such beautiful guitar playing! Bravo to Raphaël for his remarkable accomplishment, and for sharing his considerable gifts with us!

In addition, his class was engaging, and he had useful advice for five of the Oberlin performance majors. He was terrific company, visiting with all of us generously during his brief stay in town. We look forward to a return visit in a future season!

Below are some photos from his concert and class. His full program follows.

Suvan Agarwal played the Prelude from Bach’s Suite BWV 1006a:

Julia Bodian played the Introduction from Regondi’s Introduction and Caprice, Op. 23:

Caeli Massey played the The Ballad of the Young Girl in Love from Brouwer’s El Decameron Negro:

Craig Slagh played the first of Walton’s Bagatelles:

Aidan Wiley Lippke played the Variations on a Theme of Scriabin by Tansman: