Colby-Sawyer College to Host Performance by Italian Guitarist Peppino D'Agostino
NEW LONDON, N.H. – Colby-Sawyer College will host a performance by renowned Italian fingerstyle guitarist Peppino D'Agostino, who has been hailed as a musical poet by the San Francisco Chronicle. D'Agostino has developed a successful international music career through his talents in playing the guitar, composing, arranging, improvising and singing in both English and Italian.
D'Agostino will perform on Thursday, March 31 at 7 p.m. in Wheeler Hall at the Ware Campus Center. This event is funded by the Olivetti Series Endowment Fund and sponsored by the Cultural Events Committee. Admission is free and the public is invited to attend.
D'Agostino's expansive musical career and passion for the guitar began in his native Italy when he was 10 years old. After listening to a cousin play the guitar in church, he asked for lessons. Soon he was able to teach himself new techniques and set out on his own to discover his potential.
Driven by his passion for the guitar in his teens and twenties, D'Agostino developed a self-taught style that enabled him to adopt a unique sound. His capabilities encompass every genre from classical to pop and draw from folk and ethnic styles. He has received high praise from critics and fellow guitar players across the world, including being named “Best Acoustic Guitarist” in 2007 by the readers of Guitar Player. D'Agostino has also been awarded a bronze medal for Best Acoustic Album of All Time by the Acoustic Guitar's People's Choice Awards for his 2002 release, “Every Step of the Way.”
D'Agostino's recording career began 30 years ago in Italy with the release of his first album “Bluerba.” Two years later, in 1983, he released “Silk and Steel.” Well established in Italy, D'Agostino then headed to San Francisco, where he launched his American music career by playing on the streets and at Fisherman's Wharf. After landing a booking agent, he graduated to playing in clubs and released “Acoustic Spirit” on Shanachie Records in 1987. His international renown as a guitarist has continued to grow since that time, leading him to collaborate with great musicians like contemporary classical guitarist David Tanenbaum and close friend and electric guitar player, Stef Burns.
D'Agostino has released more than 10 albums, including “Nine White Kites,” a 2010 Italian release that explores the musical influences that have led him to develop his own sound. He credits his knowledge and technique to his open-minded approach to music, taking bits and pieces from various genres to create a style entirely his own. In homage to his native country's culinary culture, D'Agostino calls his musical style “minestrone music.” He likens his composition process to creating an Italian food dish. “If you only know about tomatoes, garlic and basil, you will only make a certain kind of sauce,” he says, “But if you know about maybe thyme, parsley, onions and olives, you make a different kind of recipe. But you have to know how to mix those elements with discretion and elegance.”
D'Agostino succeeds in combining musical elements with pieces of himself, creating a musical dish that satisfies listeners' ears like fettuccini fills an empty stomach.
The event is sponsored by the Cultural Events Committee. For other upcoming events at Colby-Sawyer, www.colby-sawyer.edu/events.
-Jessica McLavey '10
Colby-Sawyer College is a comprehensive college that integrates the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Founded in 1837, Colby-Sawyer is located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. Learn more about the college's vibrant teaching and learning community at www.colby-sawyer.edu. Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000
