8 STRING GUITAR

Biography · 8 String Guitar

Brian Canzanella · 8 String Guitar Biography

Brian Canzanella's use of an 8 string guitar adds a unique sound to produce effects unknown to the 6-string guitar. Since switching to an 8 string guitar in early 2002, this young artist has been creating a notable repertoire with works spanning from the Baroque period to music of the Twentieth century.

Becoming frustrated with the limitations of the 6 string guitar, Brian decided that an investigation beyond the world of the 6 string guitar was necessary. In March of 2002 Brian purchased his first 8 string guitar. It was a 1977 cedar top Ramirez 8 string. The 8 string Ramirez was a wonderful instrument with a classic Spanish sound, but Ramirez guitars are notoriously difficult to play, and this was no exception. In 2004 Brian began the search for a new 8 string guitar. In late 2004 Brian decided to purchase an 8 string guitar made by John Gilbert from Dutch guitarist Raphaella Smits. An exquisite example of precision and detail, this 1990 John Gilbert 8 string guitar is a perfect example of excellent guitar building.

Mr. Canzanella graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music in classical guitar performance from the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music, one of the oldest and most developed performance-based guitar programs in the country. During his four years at Hartt, he studied with accomplished 8 string guitar professor, Baroque/Renaissance lutenist, and award-winning painter Alan Spriesterbach. He then went on to earn a Master of Music in Performance and Literature at the prestigious Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. While in Rochester Brian performed, held a private guitar studio and taught classical guitar lessons at Nazareth College. He has performed in master classes with some of today's top guitarists, including Antigoni Goni, David Tanenbaum, William Kanengiser, Adam Holzman and Raphaella Smits.

In his spare time Brian enjoys website design / HTML. He is currently living in the central Connecticut area.