Eliot Fisk

Classical guitarist who has performed with orchestras around the world

What is Eliot Fisk known for?

Eliot Hamilton Fisk, born on August 10, 1954, is a celebrated American classical guitarist. Fisk was born into a Quaker family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, before finishing his high school education at Jamesville-DeWitt High School in DeWitt, New York.

He then pursued music at Yale University where he studied under the tutelage of renowned harpsichordists Ralph Kirkpatrick and Albert Fuller. Fisk had the esteemed honor of being the last private student of legendary guitarist Andrés Segovia, who served as his mentor throughout his career.

Fisk had a remarkable educational journey, with both Bachelor's and Master's degrees under his belt, he kick-started Yale's guitar department in 1977. This propelled him towards a career in teaching, where he has left an indelible mark. He became an instructor at the Mozarteum University of Salzburg in Austria and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. Fisk also founded the Boston GuitarFest, a testament to his dedication to the craft.

In addition to his teaching career, Fisk is a world-renowned performer. His music has resonated in concert halls globally, as he has played with prestigious orchestras such as the Orchestra of St. Luke's, Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Houston Symphony, American Composers Orchestra, and the Pro Arte Orchestra. He has also shared the stage with various talented artists such as Paula Robison, Ruggiero Ricci, Joe Pass, Bill Frisell, Paco Peña, and Ute Lemper. Fisk's early recitals with soprano Victoria de los Ángeles were particularly celebrated.

His contribution extends to expanding the repertoire for classical guitarists by transcribing music composed for other instruments. His extensive repertoire includes work from luminaries such as Bach, Scarlatti, Paganini, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert. His commitment to the development of music saw him commission fresh pieces from composers like Leonardo Balada, Robert Beaser, Luciano Berio, William Bolcom, Nicholas Maw, Xavier Montsalvatge, George Rochberg, and Kurt Schwertsik.

Such significant impacts on teaching and transcriptions led Fisk to be referred to as "the Liszt of the guitar." A noted milestone in Fisk's career was when Segovia's widow shared unpublished compositions by Segovia with him. He transformed these into 'Segovia: Canciones Populares,' which became a bestseller on the Classical Album chart of Billboard magazine. His transcription of violinist Niccolò Paganini's '24 Caprices' was also a chart hit and was widely appreciated.

To learn more about Eliot Fisk's astonishing journey and his exceptional contributions, visit his website at EliotFisk.com.