About Lawrence Spector

I have played the guitar since 1972. My first six years allowed me to experience a variety of styles, and in 1978 I decided to study classical guitar. The beauty of its sound seduced me, as I hope it will you. I chose as my teacher the late Vicente Gomez, a Spanish flamenco and classical guitarist. Señor Gomez was in his mid-60’s, and in his earlier life he composed for and played in several Hollywood movies. We were maestro and disciple for about seven years. In 1985 I sought out Los Romeros, the famous family of Spanish classical guitarists to instruct me in their ways. From them I learned a new approach to the technical challenges of the instrument — a method of solving its seemingly complex technique in a systematic and relaxed manner. During this time I was residing in Los Angeles, then in 1987 I moved to San Diego to be closer to Los Romeros and enjoy more intensive studies. I also enrolled at San Diego State University where Celin Romero was on the music faculty.

In the summer of 1990 I traveled to Malaga, Spain, for a special week-long master class with Los Romeros. During that summer I also attended a three-week master class in Salzburg, Austria with Pepe Romero. These experiences not only helped my guitar playing, but they have also given a sense of history to the music I play. (Most of the classical repertoire is from Europe.) The following summer I returned to Salzburg, to once again participate in a Romero master class and absorb the musical culture of this inspiring city. When I returned to San Diego I graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Guitar Performance. Since then, there have been more Romero master classes and private lessons, and I have performed many recitals throughout Southern California. In 1993 I organized and performed a concert featuring two guitar concerti of Los Angeles composer and conductor James Domine. These works were performed with a string section comprised of members of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. In 1994 I gave a series of guitar and piano duet performances with pianist John Danke, featuring music of the Italian virtuoso/composer Mauro Giuliani. We played the fabulous opus 70 — a 30-minute guitar concerto of rapturous beauty. In 1995 I performed Joaquin Rodrigo’s “Sones en La Giralda” with the Alcala Symphony Orchestra, and, with a string quartet, Giuliani’s opus 30. In 2000 I was invited to play with the Bakersfield College Orchestra under the baton of Robert Martinez. This concert offered the dazzling and rhythmic “Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra” by the Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos.