A native of St. Petersburg, Russia, guitarist Grigory Goryachev has been acclaimed the world over for his blinding virtuosity and extraordinary musical sensitivity. As a master of both flamenco and classical styles, he has created a new genre all his own and garnered praise from such guitar luminaries as Paco de Lucía, Christopher Parkening, and Eliot Fisk.
Grisha at the outset of his performing career in Russia. Photo from a Belorussian newspaper, 1989. Following his debut at the age of nine, Mr. Goryachev enjoyed an extensive career as a child prodigy, performing regularly before large audiences in the most prestigious concert halls of St. Petersburg, Moscow, Minsk, Riga, and other major cities in the then Soviet Union. He also appeared regularly on Soviet television and radio and was featured in numerous major newspapers and magazines. His participation at the age of 13 in the T.V marathon, Revival of St. Petersburg, was transmitted live to more than one hundred countries worldwide.
Grisha performing for the Royalty of Iceland at her residence. Reykjavik, Iceland, 1992. In 1991, Goryachev was awarded second prize in the Danny Kaye International Children’s Awards held in the Hague, Netherlands. Sponsored by UNICEF, this competition featured participants on all instruments from twenty-six countries. Later that same year, Mr. Goryachev was invited to perform at the UN headquarters in New York City. Directly thereafter, he toured Scandinavia and performed by special invitation for the Royalty of Iceland. In 1993, Mr Goryachev was chosen to represent his native city in the “Days of St. Petersburg in Jerusalem” Festival, and in 1994 at the invitation of Vladimir Spivakov, he performed at the “Festival International de Colmar” held in memory of Andres Segovia in Colmar France.
Grisha meeting Paco de Lucía after his concert at Symphony Hall. Boston, MA, 1999. Following a tour of Spain, Goryachev was invited to play for flamenco legend, Paco de Lucía, who soon after personally intervened in support of his application for an American visa (subsequently awarded in the year 1997 on the basis of “Extraordinary Ability”).
Grisha at the recording studio producing his first album. Winter 1997, Merrimack, NH. Since coming to the United States, Mr. Goryachev has continued his lifelong love affair with flamenco while deepening his involvement with the classical style. His repertoire now includes classical solos, chamber music and guitar concertos and more than six hours of flamenco solos by such composers as Paco de Lucía, Vicente Amigo, Manolo Sanlucar and others. As the flamenco repertoire is for the most part unpublished, Mr. Goryachev has performed the somewhat incredible feat of transcribing it all himself by ear from the recordings.
Grisha playing in the Christopher Parkening masterclass. Summer 1996, Bozeman, Montana. Grigory Goryachev began to play the guitar at the age of seven, studying first with his father, Dmitry, an acknowledged master teacher of the instrument. Since coming to the United States he has also performed in master classes taught by Christopher Parkening, Manuel Barrueco , José María Gallardo del Rey, Sharon Isbin and John Williams. At present he continues to balance international concert obligations with study at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he is earning his Doctor of Musical Arts degree under American virtuoso, Eliot Fisk.
In May 2005 Mr. Goryachev received a special prize for the Best Performance of Spanish Music at the VI International Classical Guitar Competition "Julian Arcás" in Almería, Spain. As a winner of this prize, Mr. Goryachev performed recitals in Spain at "Festival de Música Española de Cádiz" and "Festival de Música de Jimena de la Frontera".
Grigory Goryachev was one of the 30 people to become a fellow of the prestigious Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans in 2006. The purpose of this special Fellowship is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields.
In June 2006 Mr. Goryachev produced a new CD, Alma Flamenca, under VGo Recordings label, which is available from online stores.