In June 2023, Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan took home second prize at the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Ensemble Competition (IEC). Click below to view the preliminary and final round performances. Continue reading “2nd Prize at the 2023 GFA International Ensemble Competition”
News
Steve joins the CGQ!
As of fall 2022, Steve is a member of the renowned Canadian Guitar Quartet – an ensemble that has been active since 1999. The group presents a robust mix of clever new arrangements of classical masterworks alongside bold new works for guitar quartet – most often penned by past and present members of the ensemble. In August 2023 they recorded their next album for ATMA Classique – stay tuned for the release! Continue reading “Steve joins the CGQ!”
live@CIRMMT
The live@CIRMMT Performance Series includes performances that highlight the artistic research output of CIRMMT (Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Music Media and Technology). Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan teamed up with Edu Meneses, designer of the Guitar Augmented Musical Instrument, and Olivier Lassu, director, to produce two new videos of music for guitar and electronics. Continue reading “live@CIRMMT”
Chamber Music New Zealand, Concierto de Aranjuez
Mid-2022 saw Steve touring throughout New Zealand with flutist Hannah Darroch, as well as his first performance of Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra. Click below for videos of the duo – more coming soon!
Continue reading “Chamber Music New Zealand, Concierto de Aranjuez”
6 New Concertos for Two Guitars and String Orchestra
In 2021, with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan commissioned 6 new concertos to be premiered with the Thirteen Strings Chamber Orchestra at the Guitare Alla Grande Festival in Ottawa. Click below for videos of the premieres!
Continue reading “6 New Concertos for Two Guitars and String Orchestra”
Publication with Soundboard Scholar
My collaborative work with composer Jason Noble has been published in Soundboard Scholar, no.6. This article is focused on “Timbre-Based Composition for the Guitar” and discusses the novel approaches to technique and notation developed throughout Jason’s large output of guitar music.
GFA 2020, EuroStrings, Altamira
Summer 2020 was a busy period of online competitions. Steve was a semi-finalist in the 2020 GFA competition, a first prize winner in the Tallinn Guitar Festival in Estonia, and a finalist in the Altamira International Guitar Competition. Click below for details and links to the competition videos.
The 21st Century Guitar Conference, FOCUS album release and tour
The second half of 2019 saw Adam and Steve premiere 9 new works for two guitars and electronics by NYC-based ICEBERG New Music Collective, as well as the release of their debut album of new Canadian music, FOCUS
Continue reading “The 21st Century Guitar Conference, FOCUS album release and tour”
Reflections on 2018-2019 and Chamber Music Ventures Ahead
2018-2019 was a milestone season for Steve, including his concerto debut with Ensemble del Arte in Germany, his New York solo recital debut, the release of a new album with the EMEC discos label in Madrid, and several other concert appearances throughout Canada and Europe.
Continue reading “Reflections on 2018-2019 and Chamber Music Ventures Ahead”
2018: Tours, Competitions, and a New Album
After a summer full of concerts in Europe, Canada and the United States, Steve is currently preparing for next season’s projects. 2018-2019 will include solo performances in Copenhagen and New York City, world premieres of new works by David Leisner, Patrick Roux and Harry Stafylakis, as well as the release of a new album with EMEC discos in Madrid.
Continue reading “2018: Tours, Competitions, and a New Album”