Matar-Itai Batjonathan, guitar, 18

Matar-Itai Batyonathan is an eighteen year old home-schooled classical guitarist residing in Oak Park, Illinois. He began his studies at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore. At age eleven, he was the first Peabody guitarist to be among the winners of the Preparatory’s Honors’ Competition, winning in both winter and spring. In 2003, Matar continued his guitar curriculum with Franco Platino (Washington, DC). He currently studies with Denis Azabagic in Chicago.

Matar has been a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, including first place in the Marlin-Engel Solo Competition (2004) and the Society of American Musicians Competition (2008). He was also a top prize winner at Elliot Fisk’s Boston Guitar Fest (2009). Between 2006 and 2009 Matar received the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award, the Steve Vai Scholarship to the National Guitar Workshop, and was chosen as one of only ten youth competitors for the Christopher Parkening International Classical Guitar Competition (2009).

Matar has had the opportunity to perform on NPR’s From the Top, at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and Millennium Stage, and at the historic Lincoln Theater for Washington, DC’s “Capital Talents”. Musically, he loves Bach, Scarlatti and the modern compositions of Leo Brouwer. As for interests, Matar embraces all things related to Japan. In June he will be featured with other young guitarists in a Showcase Concert hosted by the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society. This will be Matar’s first appearance on WFMT’s “Introductions”.

First Movement(Allegro) of Sonata Clasica by Manuel Ponce, 6:25