Profile: David Franzen

David Franzen
Applied Classical Guitar Instructor

Office: XSB 123
Phone: 503.725.8113
Fax: 503.725.8215
E-mail: franzenmusic@netzero.net

David Franzen was the first classical guitarist to win the North Carolina School of the Arts Concerto Competition, an event open to all orchestral instrumentalists. Consequently, he performed as soloist with the NCSA Symphony and became eligible for the NCSA International Music Program. During the summer of l989, he toured Italy, and Germany, and performed 45 concerts, both as soloist and in chamber ensembles.

In 1991 he collaborated with Aaron Shearer of the North Carolina School of the Arts in the music interpretation section of the method book series, "Learning the Classical Guitar." Mr. Franzen plays all examples and pieces on the accompanying recording.

In l992 he was the winner of the Northwest Guitar Festival Competition in Boise Idaho.

He has performed as guest soloist with the Winston Salem Symphony performing Joaquin Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez,The Portland State University Chamber Orchestra performing Vivaldi's Concerto in G Major for two mandolins (assisted by guitarist Kristen Waligora),The Oregon State University performing the Aranjuez Concerto, the Vancouver Symphony performing the Tedesco Guitar Concerto in D.

In September 2001 he joined the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in a concert where original Latin songs some of which were co-composed by Franzen/Raphael and arranged for Orchestral Accompaniment by Norman Leyden were performed in a collaborative concert givenby "Pepe and the Bottle Blondes"and the Oregon Symphony.

In 2003 Franzen was a semifinalist in the Guitar Foundation of America international solo Guitar Competition in Merida Mexico.

David Franzen is currently on faculty at Portland StateUniversity

Where he teaches private lessons and ensemble classes.As of winter term 2006, David joined John Mery, the head ofthe Guitar department at PCC, Peter Zisa at MarylhurstUniversity, and Ian Luxton a music student at PSU forming the Oregon Guitar Quartet. They performed their Debut at the PortlandGuitar Festival 2006.Performing works of Piazzolla,Sibelius,Ravel,Haydn, and Vivaldi.

On February 11^th 2007 he will be performing theConcerto de Aranjuez With the Olympia Symphony, under the direction of MaestroHugh Edwards.