Frederic Hand

classical guitarist

A graduate of the Mannes College of Music, Frederic Hand was a Fulbright Scholar to England and a student of Julian Bream. His solo performances, both in North and South America and Europe have received the highest critical acclaim. The New York Times wrote: “He played unerringly, with all the verve and spirit that one could ask.” Appointed the Metropolitan Opera’s guitarist and lutenist in 1984, he has accompanied Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Renee Fleming, and many other renowned singers. His scores for television earned him an Emmy Award and his arrangement and performance of the theme for the film “Kramer vs. Kramer” led to his own best selling recording for Sony, “Baroque and On the Street.” Among his other recordings are Jazzantiqua, Heart’s Song, and two recent albums of his compositions for New Focus Recordings: Odyssey and Samatureya, distributed by Naxos. His compositions have been published worldwide and performed and recorded by John Williams, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Brasil Guitar Duo, Paula Robison, Fabio Zanon, Trio Virado, and the Verdery-Schmidt Duo among others. Guest appearances include the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, Mostly Mozart Festival, Marlboro Music Festival and the Caramoor Festival with the Orchestra of St. Lukes. He has been an Affiliate Artist with the State Arts councils of New York, Colorado, Arizona and Washington. For his recording and performances with flutist Paula Robison, he won the Classical Recording Foundation’s “Samuel Sanders Award.”Formally head of the guitar departments at SUNY Purchase and Bennington College, he serves on the faculty of the Mannes College of Music, The New School.