by Mike Telin
Bosnian-born guitarist Denis Azabagić has won first prize in virtually every classical guitar competition in the world. He opens the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society’s Masters Series with a ticketed concert on Saturday, October 1 at 7:30 at First Unitarian Church of Cleveland in Shaker Heights (see the Calendar Listings for details), and will give a free master class there on Sunday at 1 pm. We reached him by telephone in Chicago, where he is on the faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at the Roosevelt University.
Mike Telin: How are things going in Chicago?
Denis Azabagić: Busy! I am head of the department now and there is a lot of teaching.
MT: A friend of mine referred to you as the King of Competitions because you have been awarded 24 prizes. How did winning these prizes help to establish your professional career?
DA: I was fortunate to be successful at the competitions, and it was also a way for me to make money. [Read more…]