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Alberta Khoury Classical Guitar student / performer "...You have excellent facility and get through
the notes quite "brilliantly..." Christopher
J. Keane
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Biography |
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| How I started to play the guitar? In 1998 for my 3rd birthday, amongst other things, I had asked for a guitar. So my parents took me to Venue Music in Parramatta and we bought a small guitar. While still in the music store, the friendly salesperson gave me three guitar books as a gift (Progressive Guitar, Method for young beginners A/B and Book 2 by Andrew Scott & Gary Turner.) I played on this guitar for almost two years learning and memorising a lot of the pieces from the books I had with my parents help. In April 2000, I started my classical guitar studies with Alfred Alexander. I was four and a half years old then. In the begining I took a half an hour lesson per week and gradually increased it to an hour, then 3 hours as my ambition and patience with the guitar grew, thanks to my teacher who always found ways to keep my attention. For a while I was playing Aaron Shearer's studies, which stayed in my memory long enough and helped me to improve my technique. |
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biography (January 2012) Alberta Khoury (Born in Sydney, Aug 1995) received her first classical guitar at the age of three and a half. A year later, she commenced her classical guitar studies with Alfred Alexander. Active in both solo performance and competitions, Alberta performed at recitals in Australia and abroad. In 2004, she gave a 45mins solo concert at the Tara Anglican School for Girls organised by classical guitarist Michelle Blythe. At the age of eight, Alberta was awarded eight first prizes at the City of Penrith 2004 Eisteddfod. Shortly after she won first prize in the McDonald’s Performing Arts Challenge 16 years & under. In 2006, Alberta performed for 2MBS FM Radio as part of the “Even Younger Performers” program. This was followed by a private performance at the “Spring Soiree” for the Friends of the Sydney Cultural Council, hosted by Dr Thomas Wenkart. This featured six outstanding artists from across Australia. In 2007, she was invited to the "Heinsberg International Guitar Festival & Competition” in Germany with complimentary access to concerts and events. She also received special lessons with classical guitarists Roman Viazovskiy and Peter Katona. In Germany, Alberta visited the city of Koblenz where she participated in the “International Koblenz Guitar Competition “Hubert Käppel” 2007. She attended MasterClasses with Professor Hubert Käppel and Classical Guitarists Fabio Zanon and Jason Vieux. She was also invited to study classical guitar with Prof. Käppel at the Gitarrenakademie Koblenz for highly talented young classical guitarists. At the Rhein-Mosel-Halle Koblenz, Alberta performed for an audience of hundreds of guitarists, judges and general public in a last day concert organised for the festival participants. She also met many of her guitar inspirations, including Pepe Romero, David Russell, Pavel Steidl, Manuel Barrueco, Sergio & Odair Assad. In 2007, Alberta participated in a masterclass with Timothy Kain, Head of the ANU School of Music Canberra / Guitar. It was also an enlightened experience when she met Classical Guitarist and Conductor Maestro Carlo Barone on his visit to Australia. Two busy years with regular appearances at the celebrated Mosman Music Club, the St James Wednesday Lunchtime Concerts, the Rising Stars concert for the Open Academy, Lunchbreak Concerts at Sydney Conservatorium Verbrugghen Hall, Sydney Uni Live, the Musicians' Own Series 2008 Recital / Charmian Gadd and Friends, The Music on Sundays Series, Martin Place pre-Anzac Day musical event. In August 2008 and at the age of 13, Alberta won the “Open Age” division of the McDonald’s Sydney Eistdeddfod Classical Guitar competition. This was rewarded with a special guest invitation for a solo performance at the Sydney Classical Guitar Society, Spanish Guitars Concert. She was also invited to perform for the Sydney Eisteddfod’s 75th Anniversary celebration at Aurora Place, an event sponsored by Minter Ellison Lawyers. Alberta successfully completed her Licentiate of Music in Sep 2009. Not long after she was invited for a solo performance at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place for the Official Opening of the Sydney Region School Year. In August 2010, Alberta participated in the Sydney Eisteddfod Instrumental Duos and won first prize in the Open Age Division. Not long after, she participated in masterclasses at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music with Spanish Guitarist Ricardo Gallen and Australian Classical Guitarist Karin Schaupp. Shortly thereafter, Alberta travelled to Vienna, Austria for the Forum Gitarre Wien 2010. She took part in both the 15th Internationaler Gitarrewettbewerb and the 13th Internationaler Jugendwettbewerb. Celebrating the weeklong festival, she attended masterclasses with Marcin Dylla, Michael Tröster, Johannes Monno, Jorgos Panetsos and Hubert Käppel. Whilst in Vienna, Alberta was privileged to meet Professor Chen Zhi, head of Classical Guitar at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. In Sep 2011, Alberta participated in the 44th Concorso Internazionale di Chitarra Classica Michelle Pittaluga in Alessandria, Italy. During the competition, she was invited to perform to a full house at the 16th Convegno Internazionale di Chitarra at the Conservatorio di Vivaldi Auditorium. Being the youngest competitor, she also received a special prize at the award ceremony. Currently Alberta is continuing her Classical Guitar studies with Gregory Pikler at the Sydney Conservatorium High School. Under his direction and tutelage, Alberta focuses on shaping her music to the highest levels. |
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