Richter Uzur Duotonight at the JACC
<p>Taylor Arveson, a ninth grade student at New Vision High School in Post Falls, plays notes on a guitar as classical guitarist Brad Richter coaches him through a scale during a 2012 workshop.</p>
Brad Richter is back.
It's the eighth year the classical guitarist has visited North Idaho, spending time in schools, working with at-risk youth.
The Tucson, Ariz., resident will end another week-long residency tonight with a performance at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center in Post Falls.
Richter will perform with cellist Viktor Uzur at 7 p.m. Tickets are $20/adults and $15/students.
The Richter Uzur Duo has appeared regularly on NPR broadcasts of American Public Media's Performance Today.
Viktor Uzur and Brad Richter met in 2005 when Brad was commissioned by Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, where Viktor is a cello professor, to write a concert-length chamber piece. The piece prominently featured cello and guitar, and as it developed so too did a close friendship and a deep mutual respect that became the foundation for this collaboration.
Viktor and Brad are each classical musicians with successful international solo careers and intensive training from two of the world's most lauded musical institutions: The Moscow Conservatory and The Royal College of Music, respectively. Their musical interests and abilities, however, are far from limited to classical music. In their teens and 20s, while developing into classical virtuosi, they cut their teeth in rock bands - Viktor as an electric guitarist and Brad as a guitarist and singer. They also delved into folk and world music, but eventually put those interests aside as they pursued their classical concert careers.
The Richter Uzur Duo may be unique in their fusion of classical, rock, folk music and themes into truly original new compositions - as well as in the way they collaborate. Because they live almost 1,000 miles apart, they do a great deal of composing over phone and Internet. They will write parts separately, then combine and re-develop them while on concert tours together. It is rare that two successful classical composers come together to co-write music of such distinction. The fun and friendship Viktor and Brad share in this partnership are obvious on stage and in their music. The pair will perform again in North Idaho over in the Silver Valley on Sunday at 3 p.m. at St. Rita's Catholic Church, 27 Kellogg Ave., Kellogg. They will open the new season of the Shoshone County Community Concert Association. Memberships are $40 for five concerts and will be available for purchase at the door. Children are free. Info: 682-9030 or 699-7554