Ukraine-based classical guitarist Marko Topchii to perform in Whitefish
Award-winning Ukranian classical guitarist, Mark Topchii is set to perform April 22 at Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway, Whitefish. The concert is presented by North Valley Music School. (Courtesy photo)
Internationally acclaimed Ukrainian classical guitarist Marko Topchii will showcase iconic masterpieces and rare gems during a concert in Whitefish on April 22.
North Valley Music School is bringing Topchii, winner of the prestigious 2023 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, to the Flathead Valley.
Born into a family of musicians in Kyiv, Ukraine, in 1991, Topchii began playing guitar at 4 years old. He pursued rigorous studies at leading conservatories in Ukraine, Switzerland and the United States, including mentorship under Judicaël Perroy at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Haute École de Musique de Genève.
Topchii has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, Yamaha Ginza Hall in Tokyo, Salle Cortot in Paris and Grand Hall of Liszt Academy in Budapest and has performed more than 15 concertos for guitar and orchestra. He’s earned 115 international competition awards, including 55 first-place prizes.
His discography includes several solo albums recorded under classical music labels, Naxos and Contrastes. His most recent Naxos recording was released in spring 2024 as part of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America’s Laureate Series.
The concert includes Maurice Ravel 's “Sonatine” (arranged by Topchii), Bach's “Partita No. 2 in C Minor.”
"As a lifelong student of the classical guitar and proud Whitefish resident, I cannot overstate how fortunate we are to host an artist of this caliber in our community. Marko Topchii is, without peer, one of the greatest young guitarists of our time. Hosting him in Whitefish is akin to welcoming Yo-Yo Ma on cello or Itzhak Perlman on violin," said Jim Stroud, event sponsor and Guitar Foundation Association board trustee.
“Having won every major classical guitar competition in the world, his technique is nothing short of astonishing. He transforms the guitar into a full orchestral experience, elevating the music to extraordinary heights. This promises to be an unforgettable musical event," Stroud said.
The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway, Whitefish.
The concert is free, but a suggested donation of $35 is requested to support the North Valley Music School endowment, which funds music programming. Donations may be made online at https://bit.ly/NVMSMarkoTopchii.
For more information, email info@northvalleymusicschool.org.