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VERY SHORT BIO:

Canadian guitarist Andrew Mah is a unique and exciting musician, widely regarded for his virtuosity, versatility, and heartfelt musicality.

Born in Ottawa into a family of guitarists, he has performed professionally on classical guitar for more than 26 years, carving out a uniquely eclectic international career as a solo concert artist, chamber musician, teacher, arranger, producer, and adjudicator.

For more information please visit www.andrewmah.com

SHORT BIO:

Canadian guitarist Andrew Mah is a unique and exciting musician, widely regarded for his virtuosity, versatility, and heartfelt musicality.

Having concertized throughout Canada, the US, and Europe, he was the first North American ever to tour in the Republic of Cape Verde.

Adjunct to his performing career, he has been active in a presenting capacity as former President of the Ottawa Guitar Society, and is often sought out for his expertise in the arrangement and notation of music from other cultures and styles into readable scores for classical musicians.

His long term project to record J.S Bach's entire catalog of solo music for lute, violin, and cello is currently underway.

For more information please visit www.andrewmah.com

LONG BIO:

Canadian guitarist Andrew Mah is a unique and exciting musician, widely regarded for his virtuosity, versatility, and heartfelt musicality.

Born in Ottawa into a family of guitarists, he has performed professionally on classical guitar for more than 26 years, carving out an eclectic international career as a solo concert artist, chamber musician, clinician, arranger, producer, and adjudicator.

A recipient of numerous grants and awards, he began his career touring France with the ensemble Guitares Nouvelle France, premiering some of the earliest work of Canadian guitarist/composer Patrick Roux. In 2003 the Governor General of Canada invited him to be the featured soloist at her Performing Arts Awards ceremony.

In 2005, he was the first musician from the Americas ever to tour the * Republic of Cape Verde and returned there that same year to * research the regional guitar styles with Cape Verdean composer Vasco Martins, and guitar legends Bau and Voginha. Mr. Mah was the first international guitarist ever to travel there for this purpose and was invited to Yale University in March 2006 to perform two concerts of Cape Verdean and Brazilian music at in both solo and chamber music capacities.

In Nov. 2006 he traveled to the Czech Republic to produce an orchestral recording of the music of Vasco Martins and later that month toured Atlantic Canada as a soloist under the auspices of the Debut Atlantic organization.

As an avid arranger and ensemble musician, he specializes in transcribing complex music by ear and is often sought out for his expertise in the arrangement and notation of music from other cultures and styles into readable scores for classical musicians.

Mr. Mah’s orchestral arrangements have been performed for the PM of Portugal, Premier of China, General Pervez Musharraf, former South African President Thabo Mbeki , former US President George Bush, and former Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan. His work for various other ensembles have been toured in Spain, Canada, United States, and Cape Verde. He is the in house arranger for all ensembles he works with.

His long term project to record J.S Bach's entire catalog of solo music for lute, violin, and cello is currently underway.

For more information please visit www.andrewmah.com

*Generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts

DISCOGRAPHY:

Presenting Andrew Mah - solo recital CD 2001
Shadows of the Bossa - Brazilian music for solo guitar 2003
Melodia - Duo Brazil with Donna Brown - Brazilian music for voice and guitar 2008
Jewels - traditional repertoire for solo guitar 2008
Alegria - Ioan Harea group (arrangements and guitar by Andrew Mah) 2009
Historia - Duo Aperio with Renee-Paule Gauthier 2010
Bach - Complete Solo works of JS Bach for violin, cello, lute. TBA
Cacique - Solo works of Agustin Barrios Mangore TBA

ENSEMBLES:

Duo Brazil - with Donna Brown, voice
Duo Aperio - with Renee Paule Gauthier, violin
Dragons Tea Trio - With Rachel Eugster, voice and Joan Harrison, cello
Alegria - Led by Ioan Harea, violin, with Paul Mach, bass, and Alvaro de Minaya, percussion

QUOTES:

A few comments on Andrew Mah:

“ Canadian Guitarist ANDREW MAH astonished the audiences at the Yale
PORTUGUESE WORLD MUSIC conference with his brilliant and virtuostic
performances of music from Brazil and Cape Verde. Mr. Mah's
technical versatility and musical dramatics brought out all the
nuances of rhythm and melodic line in this complex, syncopated music
of Portuguese-African roots. With a dramatic flair and a keen sense
for communicating his musical sensibility, Mr. Mah enchanted his
audience more as a star then even a virtuoso. His presentation of
Brazilian popular music was fluid and lively. Mr. Mah's special
interest in Cape Verdian music came out in his performance of two
compositions (one dedicated to him) by contemporary composer Vasco
Martins, both expressive and technically demanding. Andrew Mah's
performances were the high point of two evenings of Portuguese World Music.”

K. David Jackson, Organizer-Conference on Portuguese music
Yale University

'a truly gifted concert artist with a very special command and understanding of the guitar music of Brazil '

Valdemar Carneiro Leão, Brazilian ambassador to Canada:

'one of the most brilliant guitarists of the new generation; his Barrios interpretations, especially "La Cathedral", are magnificent.’

Vasco Martins, Composer/Guitarist -Cape Verde

‘astonishing technique and musicianship. I wish you great success in your artistic career'

Roberto Di Marino, Composer-Italy:

"...meticulous technique and a fine musical sense on his debut CD. A must have for guitar lovers....Mah's rendition of the famous Bach Chaconne is the best I've ever heard on guitar.....Mah, more than almost anyone else, remembers the Chaconne is a dance…..but the repertoire wasn't the main thing that made the night remarkable. Rather it was Mah's aggressive pursuit of technical excellence and the expressive power that his enormous prowess gave him." -

The Ottawa Citizen

"Mr Mah is a musician of exceptional talent and dedication. He approaches his work with an honesty and integrity that I am sure he will always develop towards a most artistic level of performance. He possesses a sizzling, refined technique and powerful tone on the guitar."

Nicholas Goluses, D.M.A. Professor of guitar, Director of the guitar programs, and Chairman of the string department at the Eastman School of Music

"Presenting Andrew Mah is a tremendous recording that shows Mr. Mah's thoughtfulness and attention to the tiniest of details on all accounts. He plays with an unabashedly exposed musicianship that is clear and absolutely direct, without the slightest taint of obscuring affectation. Mr. Mah's bristling rhythmic energy, rich, powerful sound, and complete technical command make this recording impossible to ignore" -

Karl Wohlwend, Professor of Guitar, Capital University Conservatory of Music Columbus, OH

"one of the most talented guitarists ever to cross my path"

Alan Torok , Acclaimed Canadian composer and guitarist

'What strikes me is the precise articulation and phrasing, a sense of always moving forward'

CBC radio, Canada

'spirited and heartfelt'

Christopher Teves D.M.A Guitar Performance, Eastman School of Music

"We would like to thank Andrew Mah for the excellent playing he treated us to last night. If this young man continues on his present course, we could be witnessing the birth of another world class guitarist right here in Ottawa."

Ottawa Guitar Society circa 1986

Technical requirements:

Armless chair of normal height. (Stool not acceptable).
Microphone and PA may be necessary depending on the specific circumstance of performance.
Please inquire. Small diaphragm cardioid condenser mic preferred if possible. (AKG CK391 or ULS series are
my favorite for guitar) I can bring my own if needed.

Lighting must be of stage type adequate to highlight a solo performer, but need not be a full professional lighting rig. In church venues, the standard existing stage lights are usually fine. If program is not all performed from memory, stand lighting may be critical. Please inquire.