Vancouver’s finest double bill: classical guitarists Michael Kolk and Anna Pietrzak, solo and in an exciting new duo.
When the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society was looking for the best classical guitarists for our 2023-24 International Artists concert season, we didn’t have to look far. Acclaimed guitarist Michael Kolk, famously of the HK Duo, had just moved back to Vancouver after years in Toronto and performing worldwide. And one of the best guitarists in Poland, Anna Pietrzak had decided to make Canada and Vancouver home. Together, they form an outstanding double bill as solo players, but the story gets even better.
In July, Anna sent Michael an email asking if he’d like to meet over coffee to discuss forming a new duo. Michael replied yes immediately, saying forget the coffee, just bring your guitar. The second concert in our 2023-24 season features Michael Kolk and Anna Pietrzak, performing solo and debuting a newly formed duo on Saturday, November 4th, 7 pm at Koerner Hall in the Vancouver Academy of Music. In person and livestream tickets are on sale now at www.vancouverguitar.org
Long time Vancouverites will remember Michael Kolk as a young rising star, who started studying at the Vancouver Academy of Music at just 6 years old. Now, Michael is one of Canada's most accomplished classical guitarists. Hailed as ‘brilliant and expressive’, he has starred at festivals and concert halls throughout North America and Europe both as a soloist and as the hugely popular HK Guitar Duo with Drew Henderson. Michael has released nine CDs including solo recordings and with the HK Guitar Duo, including many original transcriptions of Mozart, Chopin, Bach and Beethoven.Anna Pietrzak is one of Poland’s best guitarists, now living in Vancouver. She’s an exceptional performer, teacher, recording artist, adjudicator and founder of the Vancouver Guitar Orchestra. Laureate of over a dozen guitar competitions in Europe, she has performed as a soloist and with chamber music ensembles all over Europe and Canada. Anna received her PhD from the Academy of Music in Wroclaw in Poland. She has released three albums including a duo with her brother Łukasz Pietrzak and a jazz collaboration GITANA Electric-eclectic.
Anna and Michael on you can expect: “We’ve chosen music that we both love, which tends to feature lively rhythms and strong, beautiful melodies. You’ll hear some Spanish dances by Enrique Granados that I arranged recently, Tres Cenas Brasileiras by Sergio Assad, a very lively and fun suite, and some pieces by tango master Astor Piazzolla. Plus, the allegretto from Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and some Polish folk music adapted for guitar duo by Marek Pasieczny.”
Anna about Michael: “He is a fantastic musician, with excellent technical skills and wonderful musicianship.” Michael about Anna: “I think I most appreciate the energy and vitality in Anna’s playing. She’s a very strong player, with a big sound.”
Michael on Vancouver: “For me it’s the mountains, the ocean, the air… just the beautiful natural environment of Vancouver.” Anna on Vancouver: “I love the amazing nature here. And the great people with open minds and hearts I’ve had the good fortune to meet.”
More about Michael. Vancouver native Michael Kolk began studying classical guitar as a child at the Vancouver Academy of Music with Robert Jordan, where he stayed for 11 years. In 2000 he completed his ARCT in performance through the Royal Conservatory of Music. In 2005 he received his Master of Music degree in guitar performance from the University of Toronto under Jeffrey McFadden. Michael has won numerous guitar competitions and been awarded several prestigious scholarships. In addition to playing classical guitar, he also plays in rock bands.
More about Anna. Chamber music has always played a very important role in Anna’s life. From an early age, Anna played in a duo with her brother, Łukasz. Together, they were regarded as among the best Polish guitar duets until Łukasz’s tragic death in 2009. She has played with opera singers, string and guitar quartets, choirs, pianists, flutists, violinists and accordion players. Four years ago, Anna took a significant step, relocating to Vancouver in spite of having a thriving career in Europe. Here, she teaches and collaborates with colleagues.
The concert starts at 7 pm, with a pre-concert performance of up-and-coming guitarists at 6:15 pm at Koerner Hall in Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut Street, Vancouver. There’s lots of free parking beside VAM. If you can’t make it to the concert, stay home and enjoy it via our high-quality livestream.