Honorable Mention: Frank Wallace, Composer, Guitarist, Baritone, Antrim

American Record Guide calls Frank Wallace’s compositions “exciting, unpredictable, and fresh”. Fanfare magazine has dubbed him a composer with “an authentic expressive voice” and a “high standard of musical interest” who performs with “flawless technical proficiency”.  Self-taught as a composer, his style has influences from the blues and jazz to medieval and avante-garde. The compelling melodies and rich accompaniments in his songs fluidly combine the disparate influences of his mentors from Dowland to Schubert to Britten. Wallace’s works showcase the classical guitar in solo, duo, ensemble works from 3-6 guitars, and in chamber works with voice, flute, cello, English horn, mandolin, and piano. Wallace has written works for ChromaDuo, Jugend Zupf Orchestra of Germany, Mare Duo, Edel Muñoz, Marek Pasiezcny, Olson / De Cari Duo, Providence Mandolin Orchestra and others.
 
Frank Wallace founded and directed for four years the Boston Classical Guitar Society’s Festival 21, celebrating all that is new in 21st century classical guitar.  In New York City Wallace founded and co-directed the Second Sundays Classical Guitar Series at Roger Smith Arts.  He has taught at the New England Conservatory, Plymouth State College, Emmanuel College, Keene State College and Franklin Pierce College and has a B.M. degree from San Francisco Conservatory. 

Wallace is a two-time winner of the NH State Council on the Arts Individual Fellowship Award (2001 and 2006). Wallace’s complete works and recordings are available at www.gyremusic.com, a site rich with information and samples of sheet music and audio. 

Last updated: August 27, 2013