Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, October 22
This week, Ira talks with Grammy-winning classical guitarist Jason Vieaux (during the UNLV Performing Arts Center’s 49th Season) in the intimate lobby of the Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall.
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Jason shares his remarkable journey — from “goofing around” with a guitar as a kid to winning his first major competition at 19 and launching a career that’s redefined what classical guitar can be. He talks about the instrument’s unique sound (yes, those nylon strings!), the thrill of connecting emotionally with audiences, and how his playing evolved from proving his technical chops to simply playing what moves him.
In this conversation, Jason reflects on taking creative risks in his recordings, blending genres during his encores, and the mentors who shaped his artistry. He also opens up about what it means to “pay it forward” to the next generation of musicians.
A conversation full of insight, inspiration, and the pure joy of music-making.
Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux is celebrated by Gramophone as “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” and hailed by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.”
Performing everywhere from New York’s Lincoln Center to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the Seoul Arts Center, Jason has earned acclaim for his “eloquent and vibrant performances” (Gramophone) and “virtuosic, flamboyant, dashing, and lyrical” style (New York Times).
A sought-after soloist, he has appeared with leading orchestras including Cleveland, Toronto, St. Louis, Houston, and Nashville, and premiered works by composers such as Pat Metheny, Jeff Beal, and Jonathan Leshnoff. His album Playwon the 2014 Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Classical Solo, praised by The Huffington Post as part of “the revitalized interest in the classical guitar.”
Jason’s discography includes acclaimed recordings such as Bach Volume 2: Works for Violin, Shining Night with violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, and Concierto del Luna (Sony Classical). He is also co-founder of the guitar department at the Curtis Institute of Music and has taught for 25 years at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
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