model 2A

Boi Akih livestream at the Concertgemaal

These are guitarist/composer Niels Brouwer and vocalist Monica Akihary, the core of ensemble BOI AKIH.

BOI AKIH has a unique, striking sound based on musical traditions from the Moluccas (Melanesia/Oceania), Sunda and Bali, Dutch (European) jazz and improvised music, classical Indian music and traditional African music.

Singer Monica writes and sings in her father’s native language, regarded as moribund by the scientific world. Since 1998 Brouwer and Akihary have been working with Dutch and Australian linguists who study Haruku. With their help and support, Boi Akih not only keeps the tradition alive, but also employs the language in its most authentic form: poetic self-expression.

This video was recorded at the Concertgemaal, a former pumping station which was turned in to a cultural spot and concert venue. During the lock down it offered live streams for their audience.

Niels Brouwer plays a seven string, cutaway, Model 2A.

Norwegian Guitar Center

These are Peter and Kristoffer Kalisky at the Frankfurter Messe. Father and son are the owners of the Norwegian Guitar Center and since the end of April, they have a 2A model of mine in stock. I’m looking forward working with them!

otto vowinkel 2a model rosette-large — Model 2A

Cyprus Guitar Festival

Last year Mustafa Elmas and Can Belgeli came to my workshop to buy two of my 2A models. The guitars were meant for guitar students in Cyprus where there happens to be an active guitar community.

Mustafa, Can and the Academic Members of Near East University, Dr. Erkan Sülün and Ünal Dede are playing a leading role in this community. Together they organize a guitar festival to which Esther and I were invited.

There were lectures, concerts and masterclasses.

Zoran Dukic Guitar — Zoran Dukic (photo Emre Ünlenen)

2nd international cyprus guitar festival team — Erkan Sülün (most left) and Ünal Dede (most right) with their team members : Arda Özsegkin, Neriman Soykunt and Murat Alihan. (photo: Facebook)

And there was a boat ride hosted by Ünal Dede who, besides being a guitar professor, is also a renowned sailing instructor.

Zoran Dukic Sailor — Zoran Dukic after his concert

Matthijs van Delft

This is Matthijs van Delft, a young, Dutch guitarist, studying at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag with Fernando Cordas in his Young Talent Class. Matthijs came to the workshop together with his father to buy a new guitar. Less than a month later he sent me an email, telling me that he is very happy with his guitar and won the junior competition of the Antwerpen Guitar Festival as well as the Leo Brouwer prize!

Well done Matthijs!! Congratulations!

Matthijs_van_Delft_wint_GitaarConcours — Jan Depreter, Matthijs van Delft, Fernando Cordas , Izhar Elias (Foto KonCon)

Nelson Faria #2

This is Nelson Faria discussing his Otto Vowinkel in Fica a Dica, (this is a tip). Nelson Faria is a great Brazilian guitarist whom I wrote about earlier.

What a pleasant surprise it was when I opened the link Swedish guitarist Kristoffer Skoog sent me. I found this episode of Fica a Dica in which Nelson talks only positive words about his 2A model, Flamenco.

Fica a dica is part of Um cafe la em casa, the internet show in which Nelson discusses and plays music with colleagues and friends. A must see for all guitarists who want to play Brazilian music.

Galerie des Luthiers

This is Maurice Freton from Galerie des Luthiers in Lyon, France.

Esther and I only knew the city Lyon from passing it on our way southwards. Last time we decided to make a stop and pay it a visit, something we should have done a long time before. Lyon is a beautiful place, full of nice people and fantastic restaurants!

We went to see Galerie des Luthiers, a guitar shop specialized in classical guitars, run by Alice and Maurice Freton. That particular day Alice was out of town, but her father Maurice welcomed us with great enthusiasm.

Next week Galerie des Luthiers will have two guitars of mine in stock: a 2A and a 3A model.

Krisna and Prawira Pijloo

These are Krisna and Prawira Pijloo after having performed Manuel de Falla’s La Vida Breve in Concertgebouw Amsterdam. Both Krisna and Prawira play the guitar from an early age and both want to become professional guitarists.

We invited them to play one piece before Rafael’s concert, to get a taste of the real thing. In the video below you can see them getting prepared, at home as well as right before the concert.

I know Krisna and Prawira since 2013 as you can see in the other video, recorded when they visited the workshop with their parents.

Nelson Faria

This is Nelson Faria together with the legendary guitarist João Bosco.

Nelson Faria is a Brazilian guitarist, arranger and teacher. He performed with the greatest artists, can be listened to on numerous recordings and wrote a standard work for guitarists about how to play Brazilian music.

His program Um café lá em casa (a coffee at home) is ingenious in its simplicity: inviting colleague musicians for a coffee and a talk about their life, career and music. The conversations are in Portuguese but also for non Portuguese speakers it’s worth watching since live music forms it’s main part. A real must see for all those who love – Brazilian – music.

Allemande BWV 996

This is Drew Henderson performing Allemande BWV 996 by J.S. Bach. The Allemande consists of two parts, both repeated with ornaments. This makes four parts in one piece which in this video are used to compare four different guitars, built by four different makers.

In order of ‘appearance’ you hear instruments by Douglass Scott, Mathew Rubendall and James White. From 2:05 you can listen to a cedar top 2A guitar by me.

Listen and judge yourself. The 2A guitar from this video can be bought at the Canadian store Grand Salon the Guitare where the video was recorded. You can order a 2A guitar with one of my dealers or directly with me.

Sava Bozinovic

This is Sava Bozinovic. He is 17 years old and lives in Belgrade. He studies at the “Josip Slavenski” in Belgrade. He wrote me:

“I must say, I enjoy every second I spend playing on your guitar. I’m very pleased with sound of the guitar and it is also very easy to play on. I’ve improved my playing, sound and technique and also won several competitions here in Serbia. I was first on our state competitions in April this year, several competitions last year on republic level, and I also won 3rd price on Guitar Art Festival last year, all with your guitar.

Yesterday I had an honor to play a solo recital on a 53rd Festival of youth culture, in my hometown in Knjazevac, Serbia. I shared the stage with famous Macedonian guitarist, and a member of ” Kings of Strings”, Vlatko Stefanovksi. I really enjoyed, and the guitar was amazing as always. Here are some photos from last night. Hope we will meet soon.”