Vladimir Gapontsev

Vladimir Gapontsev (; born 6 September 1985) is a Russian classical guitarist, specializing in solo and chamber music repertoire from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic, avant-garde, jazz, folk and pop genres.

Biography Gapontsev was born in Volzhskiy, Russia in 1985, and began to play the guitar at age 11. In 1997 he won a local guitar competition. In 2000 he entered the Volgograd Municipal College of Arts and in 2004 he continued his studies at guitar at Serebryakov Institute of Arts in Volgograd, studying under with Sergey Matokhin. During his studies he won prizes at many international guitar competitions in Russia and abroad and won scholarships from the Administration of Volgograd Region (2002), Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation (2003), Federal Agency of Culture and Cinematography ("Young talents of Russia", 2006).

Since 2005 he has been a regular participant of international master classes in Russia and Europe.

Gapontsev began teaching in 2006 as a classical and electric guitar teacher at the Serebryakov Institute. In 2010—2012 he was a guitar teacher at Igumnov music school, Moscow. In 2014, he is regularly invited as a performer, teacher and member of the jury to international festivals in Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Israel and other countries.

As a solo player and a chamber musician, Gapontsev has performed at venues such as Glinka state museum of musical art, Moscow Conservatoire Grand Hall, Central House of Journalist in Moscow, Vladimir Philharmonic Hall, S. Prokofiev museum, State Tretyakov gallery, Volgograd Central Concert Hall, Elena Obraztsova Cultural Center in Saint-Petersburg, Royal College of Music, London and others.

Besides solo recitals and teaching, he is also devoted to chamber music, arrangement and composing. Since 2012, Gapontsev has been a member of the Russian Guitar Quartet, a group of musicians concentrated on professional playing the original music of modern Russian composers. He also performs guitar concertos with symphonic orchestras in Russia and abroad, and collaborates with musicians of different styles including classics, jazz, bossa nova, and folk.

Prizes Year Competition 2001 Regional Competition in Kamyshin 2002 V International competition of classical guitar performers in Belgorod) 2003 Guitar competition in Saratov (I prize) Music Colleges Students competition of South of Russia in Rostov-on-Don International guitar competition «Tabula Rasa», Volgograd (Grand Prix of competition) 2004 VIII International competition of young musicians in TogliattiVI International competition of classical guitar performers in Belgorod 2005 I international competition of guitar art «Git As», Kiev, Ukraine International Festival and Competition Il de Re, France) 2006 International Guitar Competition Kiev, Ukraine I International competition «Guitar Gems», Netania, Israel VII International competition of classical guitar performers in Belgorod 2007 International competition of chamber ensembles «Music without limits», Druskininkai, Litueva II International competition «Guitar Gems», Netania, Israel]. (I prize) III International guitar competition «Tabula Rasa», Volgograd 2009 I National guitar competition «Alexander Frauchi», Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia 2010 Baltic International video competition «Per Oktava» (I prize)International Sharpach guitar competition, Oberhausen, Germany International guitar competition «Eduard Pamfil», Bucharest, Romania 2011 International competition Sinaia, Romania 2013 International competition «Alexey Khorev», Saint Petersburg, Russia