Role

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Composer  

Period

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Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Crossover

 

Scott Tennant is a renowned classical guitarist, composer, and educator who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. He was born on August 18, 1962, in Lansing, Michigan, and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Tennant began playing the guitar at the age of six and was inspired by his father, who was a jazz guitarist. He later studied with some of the most prominent guitarists of his time, including Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening, and Narciso Yepes. Tennant's career as a classical guitarist began in the early 1980s when he won the Guitar Foundation of America's International Solo Competition. This victory launched his career and led to numerous performances throughout the United States and Europe. In 1989, he co-founded the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ), which quickly became one of the most successful guitar ensembles in the world. The LAGQ has released over a dozen albums and has won a Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album. Tennant's solo career has also been highly successful. He has released several solo albums, including "Guitar Recital" and "Scott Tennant Plays Piazzolla," which have received critical acclaim. He has also performed with some of the world's leading orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. In addition to his performing career, Tennant is also a highly respected educator. He has taught at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music since 1989 and has also taught at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the University of California, Los Angeles. He has written several instructional books, including "Pumping Nylon," which has become a standard text for classical guitarists. Tennant's contributions to the world of classical music have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. In addition to his Grammy Award with the LAGQ, he has received the "Distinguished Alumni Award" from the University of Southern California and the "Artistic Achievement Award" from the Guitar Foundation of America. He has also been named a "Distinguished Artist" by the Fulbright Commission and has been awarded the "Outstanding Alumnus Award" from the Interlochen Center for the Arts. Throughout his career, Tennant has remained committed to expanding the repertoire for classical guitar. He has commissioned and premiered numerous works by contemporary composers, including Leo Brouwer, Andrew York, and Sergio Assad. He has also transcribed and arranged works by composers such as Bach, Scarlatti, and Piazzolla for the guitar. Tennant's dedication to the guitar and to classical music has made him one of the most respected and influential guitarists of his generation. His performances, recordings, and teaching have inspired countless musicians and have helped to elevate the guitar to a position of prominence in the world of classical music.

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