102.1 KDFC Presents: Gyan Riley 'A Dialogue with Bach' March 1, 2010

Gyan Riley is a classical guitarist and composer from Northern California. While studying as the first full‐scholarship guitar student at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, he received a recording contract for his debut CD of original works, Food for the Bearded, released in 2002 on New Albion Records. He has since expanded his career as a composer and instrumentalist, receiving commissions from the Carnegie Hall Corporation, the New York Guitar Festival, the Paul Dresher Ensemble and the Elaine Kaufman Cultural Center.

Riley has performed in ten European countries and across the U.S., both as a soloist and in ensemble with various artists such as Zakir Hussain, Michael Manring, Dawn Upshaw, the San Francisco Symphony, the Falla Guitar Trio, the World Guitar Ensemble and his father, the composer/pianist/vocalist Terry Riley. Last season he appeared at Carnegie Hall and gave a ten-concert tour of Ireland. Among the highlights of his 2009/10 season, this past fall he appeared at Bard College and Le Poisson Rouge in New York, and this winter he is premiering two new solo works at the New York Guitar Festival and a new quartet for the 15th Other Minds Music Festival in San Francisco. Upcoming highlights include a featured performance for the Boston Classical Guitar Society’s Festival 21, and two performances of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with the Philadelphia Chamber Orchestra. As a teacher, Riley has served on the faculties of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, California State University Sacramento, California State University East Bay, and Humboldt State University. His website is www.gyanriley.com

"Mind blowing chops . . ."
-Acoustic Guitar, Jan. 2003

"Hats off, gentlemen. A genius."
- Guitarra Magazine

Official Website: http://www.yoshis.com