The Illinois Times wrote that guitarist Martha Masters "…is on a swift and certain trajectory to star
territory." Masters' playing has been described as "seductive" (Ft. Worth Star Telegram), "intelligent
and natural" (Guitar Review),
and "refined and elegant" (American
Record Guide). She has received critical acclaim as a solo recitalist, as a
chamber musician with Duo Erato, and as a soloist with orchestras. Recent
concert seasons have included performances on concert series and at festivals
in China, England, Denmark, Spain, Poland, Germany, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto
Rico, Canada, Mexico, and throughout the United States.
Masters' first CD, Serenade, is now in its second printing,
and her Naxos recital disc sold over 10,000 copies worldwide in the first year
of its release. Her recording of Italian music was released in 2006 on the GSP
label, and a recording of early 20th Century Spanish music was released on GSP
in 2009. Masters' book, Reaching the Next
Level, a method for experienced guitar students, was published in 2010 by
Mel Bay, and has received extensive critical acclaim.
In October of 2000, Martha
Masters won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International
Solo Competition, including a recording contract with Naxos, a concert video
with Mel Bay, and an extensive North American concert tour. In November of
2000, she also won the Andrés Segovia International Guitar Competition in
Linares, Spain and was a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International
Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland. Prior to 2000, Masters
was a prizewinner or finalist in numerous other international competitions,
including the 1999 International Guitar Competition "Paco Santiago Marín"
in Granada, Spain, the 1998 Tokyo International Guitar Competition and the 1997
GFA International Solo Competition.
In addition to teaching at
Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Masters teaches annually at the
National Guitar Workshop Classical Summit in Connecticut, and on
WorkshopLive.com. Masters is also the President of the Guitar Foundation of
America (GFA), dedicated to supporting the instrument, its players and its
music in the US and throughout the world.
Masters received both the
Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she
studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree
at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant.