CLICK TO GET TO KNOW EMMA RUSH: Press, Engagement Videos & More!

TOUR DATES: November 4-13, 2016 and April 1-9, 2017  (Other dates available upon discussion)

BIOGRAPHY:

Over the past decade, Emma Rush has established herself as one of Canada’s preeminent classical guitarists. Known for her innovative programming and powerful stage presence, along with her warm sound and virtuosic technique, an event with Emma Rush is not a typical classical music concert. She is a compelling and engaging performer, a passionate educator, and a dynamic arts impresario.

Emma Rush’s career has commanded world recognition. Highlights of her 2014-15 season include a ten-day, 4-city tour in China, starting with the Altamira Shanghai International Guitar Festival, appearances at guitar festivals including Festival de Guitarras Lagos de Moreno (Mexico), Guitarfest Peru, the Lonestar Guitar Festival (Texas), ’Women of the Guitar’ Festival (Buffalo, NY), and a prestigious concert at the Internationales Gitarren Symposion, Iserlohn (Germany). Canadian appearances of this season have included concerts in Edmonton, Calgary, Halifax, Moncton, and Winnipeg, along with performances throughout Ontario as both a soloist and chamber musician. She performed in March 2015 at a sold-out JUNOfest showcase concert as a soloist and in collaboration with Canadian pop-folk sensation Jeremy Fisher. She will perform Rodrigo’s famous Concierto de Aranjuez with Burlington Symphony by the Bay and Cambridge Symphony Orchestra in the 2015-16 seaon.

Rush has been a prize winner at international music competitions (Great Lakes Guitar Festival and Competition, Columbus State International Competition), and was nominated for a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award for Arts and Culture . She is the only artist to have received three City of Hamilton Arts Awards (as Established Artist in Music, in Arts Education, Arts Administration categories).
Folklórica, Rush’s much-anticipated debut CD, was released in the fall of 2014. The CD showcases a global classical guitar repertoire that draws inspiration from folk legend and traditional music harmonies; programmatic selections that evoke culturally diverse narratives.

Rush completed her post-graduate studies at the Hochshule für Musik in Detmold, Germany, following an honors Bachelor of Music degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, NS. Her faculty appointments at Mohawk College and Redeemer University College serve to not only stimulate an increasing number of students in developing classical guitar skills, but also to integrate them in the community ‘entity’ she inspired – Guitar Hamilton.

She is the Founder and Artistic Director of the Guitar Hamilton concert series that includes the Hamilton International Guitar Festival. This year, the Festival celebrates its 5-year anniversary. The Festival brings together classical guitar enthusiasts (students and a widespread community) to appreciate world-renowned artists for a 3-day celebration of master classes, musicians/artists-in-concert, guitar makers, and lecturers.

---