Part of Classical Guitar Archives

Jorge Guillen began his musical studies at a very early age. He studied classical guitar with  Maestro Jose R. Cisneros at "Escuela Superior de Musica J.A. Lamas" in  Caracas, Venezuela, and with Rodrigo Riera at  "Universidad Centro Occidental   Lizandro Alvarado".  

He has been chosen to play in master classes for luminaries  including; Narciso Yepez, Abel Carlevaro, and Ricardo Iznaola.

While in his native Venezuela, Guillen was particularly known for his  interdisciplinary enterprises; taking leave of his busy concert schedule to produce  Radio and TV programs and also to promote the clinical application of music and  synthetic sound. 

In 1979 he made his first recording with an unusual performance of music by Latin  American guitar composers, and two years later he released an audio tape   featuring the Principles of Audiotherapy. 

Composition is an important part of Guillen's musical life, many of his guitar works have been premiered in cities such as, London, Dublin, Prague, and Washington  D.C. As a composer Guillen is defined as a profound melodist and colorist whose  catalogue shows an inner love for the music of his native land. 

The Venezuelan guitarist made Washington D.C. his home in 1984. He has been  the head of the Guitar Department at the University of the District of Columbia since 1987, where he is also in charge of the Music Technology Lab.

His repertoire reflects a passion for music from around the world, and it is not surprising to see him playing his own guitar arrangements of pieces from Ghana, Ireland, Russia, the United States, and Venezuela. 

Most Recently the British guitar virtuoso Paul Gregory recorded the world premier of Guillen's now celebrated Canela and Vals Serenatero. In addition  many contemporary composers have written music for him as a tribute to his  refined musical phrasing and technical ability. 

Jorge Guillen is an active promoter of the Music Technology, touring extensively in South America with his very well known series of “Computers Applied to Music” seminars. He has been appointed in several occasions as Music Director of the Annual Summer School at the "Academia Integral de Bellas Artes" in Quito, Ecuador.

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