Album Notes

David Solis Olson, guitar

A finalist and semi-finalist in several international guitar competitions, most notably, the 2002 Music Teachers National Association Solo Competition and the 1994 National Solo Competition of the American String Teachers Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, David Solis Olson is considered to be among the finest classical guitarists of his generation. Mr. Olson has appeared as solo and chamber recitalist in concerts and festivals throughout the United States and in Canada, France and Germany. He has performed at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and in Eastman Theater in Rochester, New York.

Mr. Olson began guitar study at age twelve and has been the recipient of numerous scholarships and accolades. These include: the Performer’s Certificate and the George Eastman Merit Scholarship from the Eastman School of Music; and the John G. Welch Scholarship for demonstration of “unusual talent and self-discipline” and the Chancellor’s Award of Excellence from the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

Mr. Olson has performed in masterclasses for such classical guitar luminaries as Roland Dyens, Angel Romero, Manuel Barrueco and David Russell and his primary teachers include Nicholas Goluses, Ricardo Cobo and James Ryan.
As an advocate for innovative and diverse solo and ensemble programming for the classical guitar, Mr. Olson’s recitals feature repertoire ranging in style and character from Bach lute works to Argentinean tangos. Past recitals have included Lou Harrison’s “Serenade” for guitar and percussion and Mr. Olson’s own transcriptions of Chick Corea’s, “Children’s Songs,” for solo piano. Mr. Olson has opened for rock guitarist Steve Vai.

In March of 2008, Mr. Olson was awarded the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Guitar Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music where he held a graduate fellowship. Mr. Olson currently resides in the Charlotte, North Carolina area where he is a freelance guitar instructor and performer.