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James Piorkowski is a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the Fredonia School of Music, State University of New York, serving as head of the guitar program
since 1983. In 2006, Piorkowski was the recipient of both the President’s Award for Excellence and the Robert W. Kasling Award for Scholarly and
Creative Excellence. He was the recipient of the University’s William T. and Charlotte N. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award in 1998.
James Piorkowski's live guitar performances have been described as "expressive and stupendous" -The Gleaner, (Kingston, Jamaica). His recitals have
been heard ...read more
James Piorkowski is a SUNY Distinguished Professor at the Fredonia School of Music, State University of New York, serving as head of the guitar program
since 1983. In 2006, Piorkowski was the recipient of both the President’s Award for Excellence and the Robert W. Kasling Award for Scholarly and
Creative Excellence. He was the recipient of the University’s William T. and Charlotte N. Hagan Young Scholar/Artist Award in 1998.
James Piorkowski's live guitar performances have been described as "expressive and stupendous" -The Gleaner, (Kingston, Jamaica). His recitals have
been heard in Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Jamaica, Canada, and throughout the United
States.
As a composer, James Piorkowski has written many pieces for guitar, both in solo and in chamber settings, having been published by Mel Bay
Publications, Clear Note Publications, and Sergio Assad/Editions Henry Lemoine. His musical language, while described as both erudite and multifarious,
remains accessible. “Piorkowski is a modernist, always experimenting as he moves easily from tonal to atonal formats.” –Fanfare. Piorkowski studied
composition with Anton Wolf at the State University College at Buffalo and with Donald Bohlen at the State University of N.Y. at Fredonia. He also has
had classes with Aaron Copland, Jacob Druckman, Lucas Foss, Morton Feldman and Milton Babbitt.
Piorkowski’s recording, Sentient Music, (Centaur Records) features seventeen original solo guitar compositions, including his increasingly popular Sentient
Preludes. Critics have called the recording, "an absolutely engrossing collection."- Buffalo News. Classical Guitar Magazine (UK) stated, “his compositional
skills are illustrated in a very favourable light, with his work conjuring up musical imagery, extending through a whole assortment of emotions from
jubilant and rhythmic, to the impressionistic.”
His collaborative album, Freedom Flight: Guitar Music by Ortiz and Piorkowski, features original compositions for solo guitar, two guitars, flute/guitar and
voice/guitar. Piorkowski’s works are "inspired by Shakespeare, Venezuela, and religious imagery when he sets out to work his magic" - El Nuevo Dia (San
Juan). The CD has been summed up as: "Great music and wonderful musicians" - American Record Guide.
For eighteen years, Piorkowski was a member of the world-renowned Buffalo Guitar Quartet. The BGQ toured internationally and released four highly
acclaimed recordings. Guitar Player Magazine stated that the Buffalo Guitar Quartet was "one of the world's premiere classical guitar ensembles." « hide |
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