Karol Samuelčík | Classical guitar

Curiculum Vitae

Prof. Jozef Zsapka:

"His interpretation is meaningful, you can feel profound understanding of musical material... he already became world guitar personality.“

Duo Siqueira Lima:

"By listening to Karol's CD we can say that he is one of the most expressive talents of his generation.“

Prof. József Eötvös:

"His sensitive work with the interpretation of individual epochs, the work with colors is revealed by a very mature performer... His interpretation reveals absolute top view and deep musicality... Again, one excellent musician among the guitarists.“

Arturo Zeballos:

„...despite his youth is an exceptional, very musical, with a strong perspective to future.“

Karol Samuelčík

was born in 1991, Banská Bystrica (Slovakia), where he also studied at Music school of J. Cikker with Zuzana Meleková. During years 2007 – 2011 gained education at the Conservatory in Žilina in class of doc. Ján Labant. Between 2011-2016 was studying at the Academy of music and performing arts in Bratislava with prof. Jozef Zsapka. He has graduated with the highest honour, Prize of the Rector. He enriched his musical progress during exchange studies at Conservatorio Superior de Música in Vigo (Spain, pedagogue – Margarita Escarpa) and during studies at Escola Superior de Música de Catalunya in Barcelona (Spain, pedagogue – Álex Garrobé). In 2019 he finished his postgraduate study at Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava under tuition of world renowned professor Jozef Zsapka. Currently, he is teaching at Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava (Slovakia).

Karol had performed in the numerous cities in the whole Slovakia (Bratislava - International guitar festival J.K. Mertz, Sunday matinee; Žilina – Allegretto; Nitra - Cithara Aediculae; Prešov - Presov Music Spring, Presov Days of Classical Guitar, Iuvenilis Cithara; Banská Bystrica; and many others) and abroad (Spain, Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Czech republic, Italy, Serbia, Hungary, Greece, China, Hong Kong, ...). In 2019 realized his debut tour in countries of South America, in cities of Buenos Aires (Argentine), Montevideo (Uruguay), Santiago, Temuco (Chile) or Porto Alegre (Brazil). As a soloist performed with orchestras as The Slovak Philharmonic; The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice; Cappella Istropolitana; The Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina; Hong Kong Metropolitan Pop Orchestra and with string quartet Mucha quartet.

He recorded for company Diskant records two CDs: debut CD with compositions by Isaac Albéniz, Johann Sebastian Bach and Vicente Asencio and CD Impresiones de Catalunya focused on catalan music.

He has attented a lot of International guitar festivals and masterclasses with such a great artists like L. Brouwer, S. Assad, P. Steidl, C. Domeniconi, M. Socias, R. Smits, M. Dylla, A. Pierri, C. Marchione, R. Dyens and the others. Karol gained 1. prize at the International guitar competition of J.K. Mertza 2012, Thailand International Guitar Competition 2016, Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship program 2012/2013, International guitar competition of Ivan Balla in Dolný Kubín 2009, The Slovak Conservatories Students Competition 2009. In 2013 recieved prize for the best performance of an italian piece in international competition Udine (Italy). In 2015 became one of laureates at Forum Gitarre Wien. He was awarded prize of Student personality of Slovakia in acad. year 2016/2017 in category Culture and art.

From 2013 he has joined to the organization team of J. K. Mertz festival in Bratislava. Karol is playing the guitar by Masaki Sakurai, model Maestro RF and the romantic guitar, model Stauffer, made by slovak luthier Martin Okenica.

"By listening to Karol's CD we can say that he is one of the most expressive talents of his generation...“

— Duo Siqueira Lima

"... .His interpretation reveals absolute top view and deep musicality and is an excellent conclusion during one hour listening to the interpretation. After hearing this recording, I can only congratulate with a deep recognition. Again, one excellent musician among the guitarists.“

— Prof. József Eötvös

„ ... despite his youth is an exceptional, very musical, with a strong perspective to future.“

— Arturo Zebalos

Performances

1.10.2021 - Prešov days of classical guitar (concert with orchestra)
24.9.2021 - Concerts of South American music (Bardejov; solo recital)
23.9.2021 - Concerts of South American music (Prešov; PKO; solo recital)
22.9.2021 - Concerts of South American music (Levoča; City theatre; solo recital)
21.9.2021 - Concerts of South American music (Stará Ľubovňa; solo recital)
20.9.2021 - Concerts of South American music (Humenné; Humenne's castle; solo recital)
"Concerts of South American music" are supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council
Debut CD
1.9.2021 - Festival J.K.Mertz (Bratislava - Hall of Mirrors of Primate’s Palace; shared concert)
21.6.2021 - Bratislava (Museum of Ján Cikkera; solo recital - early-romantic guitar)
18.6.2021 - Guitar music of romanticism (Trnava; Dvor Domu hudby M. S. Trnavského; solo recital - early-romantic guitar)
17.6.2021 - Guitar music of romanticism (Banská Bystrica; Robotnícky dom; solo recital - early-romantic guitar)
15.6.2021 - Guitar music of romanticism (Košice; Nádvorie Východoslovenskej galérie; solo recital - early-romantic guitar)
Project "Guitar music of romanticism"
Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council Debut CD
20.3.2021 - Lecture: ""New" approach to development of right hand and its subsequent application in guitar playing" (Olomouc, Czech republic)

Performances Past

2020

19.7.2020 - Modra (Slovakia, concert)
16.8.2020 – Neusidler – Durant – Mertz (Bratislava, concert)
7.9.2020 - Recording of concert (Budapest, Hungary - solo and with string quartet)
Bratislava - Bratislava - Sunday's Matiné (recital)
7.10.2020 - Nová Dubnica (Slovakia, recital)
8.10.2020 - Banská Štiavnica (Slovakia, recital)
10.10.2020 - Landshut (Germany, recital)
2.11.2020 - Budapest (Hungary, concert - solo and with string quartet)

2019

18.12.2019 - 4. concert - autumn cycle of Museum of Ján Cikker (Bratislava)
18.-19.11.2019 - Opava (Czech republic) - recital, masterclasses
13.11.2019 - Meeting of The Slovak Philharmonic friends club (discussion, Bratislava)
17.-19.10.2019 - Cithara Aediculae (Synagogue, Nitra) - recital, masterclasses
september 2019 - Recording of solo CD
5.7.2019 - Music under Diamond Vault (Kremnica, Slovakia)
june 2019 - Festival of J. K. Mertz (Bratislava, Slovakia) - organization
16.6.2019 - Festival of J. K. Mertz (Hall of Mirrors of Primate’s Palace, Bratislava) - Opening concert
13.6.2019 - London (Purcell Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall)
10.-13.5.2019 - Naissus Guitar Festival (Niš, Serbia) - recital, jury
9.5.2019 - Smižany - Jury (Slovakia)
april 2019 - Tour in South America (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brasil) - Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council
13.4. - Buenos Aires (recital, Argentine) / 14.4. - Buenos Aires (recital, Argentine) / 17.4. - Montevideo (interview, Uruguay) /
18.4. - Santiago (recital, Chile) / 22.4. - Temuco (recital, Chile) / 25.4. - Porto Alegre (masterclass, Brazil) /
26.4. - Porto Alegre (recital, Brazil) / 27.4. - Porto Alegre (recital, Brazil)

9.4.2019 - Festival Allegretto (Dom umenia Fatra, Žilina, Slovakia)
19.2.2019 - Postgraduate concert (Dvorana VŠMU, Bratislava, Slovakia)
15.2.2019 - Gitarová Nitra - concert (Nitra, Slovakia)
7.2.2019 - Veľký Krtíš - concert (Slovakia)

2017/2018
Karol Samuelčík's participation in international guitar competitions in 2017 was supported. Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council.
Debut CD

Studying in Barcelona (ESP)- from October 2017 to June 2018
3.12.2017 Concert - Music Museum, Barcelona (ESP)
23.11-28.11.2017 - Concerts - Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CHN)
16.11.2017 - Bratislava - Doctoral Concert
5.-12.11.2017 - IGC Budapest (H)
25.10.-2.11.2017 - IGC Indianapolis (USA)
24.8.-28.8.2017 - IGC Forum Gitarre Wien (AUT)
16.6.2017 Opening concert of the International Guitar Festival J.K.Mertz, Bratislava

42.IGF J.K.Mertza
23.5.2017 Concert - Nitra Synagouge, Nitra, Slovakia (Karol Samuelčík, Arturo Zeballos)
19.5.2017 Concert - Vienna, Austria (Karol Samuelčík, Arturo Zeballos)
30.4.2017 Concert - Mirbach´s Palace, Bratislava, Slovakia
23.11.2018 - Day of the francophone-hispanic culture (SK, concert with Slovak Sinfonietta in Žilina)
14.10.2018 - Trenčín Music Autumn 2018 (SK, chamber concert with pianist Karin Remencová)
4.-7.10.2018 - International guitar festival in Trhové Sviny (CZ, chamber concert with violinist Adam Novák)
14.8.2018 - Les Garrigues Guitar Festival (ESP, solo recital)
17.-24.6.2018 - Guitar festival of J. K. Mertz (SK,organization)
17.4.2018 - Guitar seminar at Private conservatory of Dezider Kardoš in Topoľčany
December 2017 - Slovak Student Personality award in 2016/2017

2015/2016
Karol Samuelčík's participation in international guitar competitions in 2017 was supported. Supported using public funding by Slovak Arts Council.

29.11.- 5.12.2016 International Guitar Competition Bangkok, Thailand
21.11.2016 recording a promotional video
8.11.2016 Concert, Slowakisches Institut in Wien, Austria
23.9.-25.9.2016 International guitar Festival Melbourne, Australia
August 2016 Debut CD, recording
2.8.-9.8.2016 Festival International de Guitarra Coria,
16.7.-22.7.2016 BGQ, International guitar Festival VOLOS, Greece
19.6.-26.6.2016 J.K.Mertz Festival, Bratislava
15.6.2016 Concert BGQ, Nitrianska galéria, Nitra
12.5.2016 Concert, Hanušovce nad Toplou
11.5.2016 Concert, PKO Čierny Sokol, Prešov
5.-6.5.2016 Concert BGQ, Ružomberok Classical Guitar
27.4.-30.4.2016 Concurso international de guitarra de Viseu, Portugal
18.4.- 23.4.2016 International Guitar Festival Omiš, Croatia
15.4.2016 Concert, Dvorana VŠMU, Bratislava
31.3.2016 Diploma concert, Dvorana VŠMU, Bratislava
21.9. - 26.9.2015 ICGC, Alessandria
13.9.2015 Concert BGQ, Bratislava
8.9.2015 Solo Recital - Rimavská Sobota
27.-31.8.2015, IGC Wien
13.8.2015,19:00 – Concert BGQ, Prešov
9.8.2015,19:30 – Solo Recital, Piešťany
6.-11.7.2015, IGC Ligita – Eschen
21.6.2015,24.6.2015,28.6.2015,1.7.2015, Concert BGQ, Bratislava
19. 6. 2015, Concert BGQ, Kremnica
17.6.2015 Concert BGQ, Bratislava
7.6.2015 Solo Concert, Palisady, Bratislava
27.5.2015, Solo Concert, Music Radio Devín
19.4.2015 Concert, BGQ, Bratislava
12.4.2015 Concert, BGQ, Trenčín
22.3.2015 Concert with Cappella Istropolitana,Joaquin Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez, Bratislava
12.2.2015 final choosing, Bratislava, Slovnaft - Talents of new Europe 2015

2013/2014

21. 12.2014, Sunday, Christmas Concert with Cappella Istropolitana, Bratislava
4.11. - 8.11.2014 IGC, Hungary
27.8. - 1.9.2014 IGC, Austria
17.8.2014 Concert, BGQ, Slovakia
6.8. - 10.8.2014 IGC, Germany
13.7. - 17.7.2014 IGC, Spain
11.7.2014 Solo concert, Modra
14.5.2014 Solo concert, Nové Mesto nad Váhom
30.4. - 3.5.2014 IGC, Portugal
29.4. 2014 Concierto de Aranjuez with The Slovak Philharmonic Orchestra, Slovakia
6.4.2014 Bachelor's concert, Bratislava, Mirbach Palac
24.3.2014 New talent 2014, RTVS, Slovakia
22.1.2014 J.Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez with Slovak Sinfonietta, Slovaki
20.12,22.12.2013 J. Rodrigo, Concierto de Aranjuez with The Slovak State Philharmonic Košice
26.11.2013 J. Rodrigo - Concierto de Aranjuez with Slovak Sinfonietta
18.11.2013 Solo Concert, Smolenice
30.10.2013 Solo Concert, Bratislava
22.10. - 28.10. 2013 IGC, Spain
9.10.2013 Solo Concert, Banská Bystrica
22.9.2013 Solo concert, Cífer-Pác
25.8. - 31.8.2013 IGC, Austria
9.7.2013 Solo concert, Bardejov
2.7. - 6.7.2013 IGC, Czech Republik
1.7.2013 Solo concert, Bratislava
25.6.2013 Solo concert, Hungary
18.6.2013 Solo concert, R.Sobota
6.6.2013 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco - Concert for guitar and orchestra No. 1 in D Major op. 99 with the Slovak Philharmonic orchestra Košice
24.5.2013 Solo concert, Levoča,
23.5.2013 Solo concert, Hanušovce
22.5.2013 Solo concert, Prešov
3.5. - 5.5.2013 IGC, Udine, Italy
30.4.2013 Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco - Concert for guitar and orchestra No. 1 in D Major op. 99 with the Slovak Philharmonic
15.4.2013 Solo concert, Bratislava
24.3. - 27.3.2013IGC, Rust, Austria
11.3.2013 Audio recording, RTVS, Slovakia
27.2.2013 Yamaha Music Foundation of Europe Scholarship program 2012/2013
25.2.2013 Solo Concert, Ivanka pri Dunaji

Reviews

„ ... despite his youth is an exceptional, very musical, with a strong perspective to future.“

Arturo Zeballos

"...The opening 8 valses poéticos H147 of Enrique Granadosa Campińa was a unity of musicality, artistic fantasy, aesthetics and techniques..."

Ingeborg Šišková

"Z gitarového umenia Karola Samuelčíka padla publiku sánka."

Anna Weiss
Review - Anna Weis

“By listening to Karol's CD we can say that he is one of the most expressive talents of his generation, with an exuberant technical mastery that makes us forget the technical difficulty of the works in order to enjoy a flowing and energetic musical discourse. Interpretation preserves the aesthetic character of each composer, highlighting the brilliance, exuberance and lyricism of Spanish music, as well as the rich polyphony and depth of Bach music. We wish our colleague and dear friend the well deserved success for this exceptional work! “ Apríl 2017, Cecilia y Fernando - Duo Siqueira Lima

"Samuelčík's debut is a jewel of the classic guitar. ..." Anna Weiss

"... .His interpretation reveals absolute top view and deep musicality and is an excellent conclusion during one hour listening to the interpretation. After hearing this recording, I can only congratulate with a deep recognition. Again, one excellent musician among the guitarists. ..." Prof. József Eötvös ArtD. - Liszt Ferenc Zeneművészeti Egyetem

Program

Soloistic concert

Programs offers diverse repertoire for soloistic concerts and are directing to the following areas: Catalan music, Music of spanish maestros, Latinoamerican music and Slovak guitar music.

More info you can find in attached document Soloistic concert