Rafael Aguirre – Klassiek

Rafael Aguirre is an internationally acclaimed musician whose deep understanding of music, dazzling virtuosity and immensely diverse repertoire has taken him to 22 countries.  13 first prizes  at international competitions (a spanish record), including Pro Musicis (New York) and Tárrega (Benicàssim), made possible the beginning of an extraordinary career being today one of the most celebrated guitarists, following the spanish tradition set by Andres Segovia and Narciso Yepes.

Highlights of past seasons include recitals in leading concert halls such as Carnegie Hall, Vienna Konzerthaus, Tchaikovsky Hall Moscow, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, London´s St John Smith Square, Gasteig Munich, Hamburg Laeiszhalle, Palau de la Musica Valencia and Tonhalle Dusseldorf. His playing has been described by the international press as “a blessing” (Mainz Echo) and  with “maturity and intensity” (Ritmo Magazine), whereby his hometown honored  him with the “Málaga Joven Award 2011″.

Rafael has premiered works by the Grammy-Award winner Sergio Assad, Joaquin Clerch, Agustin Castilla Avila, David del Puerto and Daniel Real. He has worked with orchestras such as Moscow´s New Russia Symphony Orchestra,Baden-Baden Philharmonic, Thüringer Philharmonic, Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen,Málaga Philharmonic Orchestra, Extremadura Symphony Orchestra and Syrian National Orchestra. His four recordings with Naxos, KSGExaudio and RTVE received the highest international recognition like a prenomination to the Latin Grammys and were broadcasted by the BBC,CBS, NPR, Radio Stephansdom Vienna, the Bavarian Radio, MDR, Radio Nacional de España and the new Classic FM in Toronto.

At the age of 16 he made his orchestral debut with the “Concierto de Aranjuez” and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Málaga touring Spain and Morocco.  He was awarded scholarships from the Andalusian Government and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation  that enabled his studies in Germany with Prof. Joaquin Clerch, from which he graduated with highest honors. Later he studied with Professor Michael Lewin at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

Since 2009, Rafael Aguirre teaches at the “Robert Schumann Hochschule” in Düsseldorf.