The Ambassadors of Les Productions d’Oz are a program of passionate and committed artists who embody and promote our values of creativity, excellence, and outreach. More than just a title, being an Ambassador means playing an active role in promoting our catalog and enriching the repertoire for plucked string instruments, particularly the classical guitar.
Through concerts, recordings, social media, and musical events, our Ambassadors use their talent and influence to further our mission. Their commitment allows Les Productions d’Oz to continue offering musicians around the world a rich, innovative, and accessible repertoire, breathing new life into guitar music.
Adam Cicchillitti
“A passionate ambassador for classical guitar” - CBC MUSIC
Adam Cicchillitti, a prominent Canadian guitarist and a passionate advocate for musical creation, enjoys a thriving career both in Canada and internationally, sharing his passion for performance, composition, arranging, and teaching. His musical projects, from his numerous commissions of new music to his recordings of piano music arranged for two guitars, demonstrate his commitment to expanding the guitar repertoire.
As an ambassador for Les Productions d'Oz, Adam strives to promote the publishing house's extensive catalog, highlighting lesser-known composers and encouraging the discovery of new works. His dedication to the creation and performance of contemporary music makes him a natural choice to represent our publishing house. His perseverance, unwavering commitment, resourcefulness, and contagious optimism are all qualities that make Adam an inspiring ambassador. His primary goal as an ambassador is to increase visibility for the concert repertoire published by Oz Productions.
Biography
Montreal-born guitarist Adam Cicchillitti has received several rave reviews in the media over the past few years. The renowned American magazine Classical Guitar called him "a virtuoso at the top of his game," and CBC Music described him as "an ardent ambassador for the classical guitar." Adam has commissioned more than twenty new works since 2019 and has recorded five albums, including three with Analekta, one with Atma Classique, and one with Leaf Music. His album Focus, dedicated to new Canadian music for two guitars, received the Classical Recording of the Year award at the East Coast Music Awards in 2021. His album Impressions intimes was nominated in the same category in 2022. Cicchillitti received second prize in 2023 and third prize in 2021 from the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, arguably the most prestigious guitar ensemble competition in the world. He is only the second guitarist to win the grand prize at the Canimex Concerto Competition in Sherbrooke and has been a finalist and prizewinner in over a dozen national and international competitions.
Adam has toured extensively across Canada and the United States and has been represented on tour by prestigious agencies such as Prairie Debut, Debut Atlantic, and Jeunesses Musicales. Adam is a professor of guitar at Mount Allison University, holds a PhD in Music Performance from McGill University, and is the founder of the Ottawa Suzuki Strings guitar school.
"His performances are simply impeccable—he doesn't try to embellish the music excessively, but truly captures the very essence of these pieces." - American Record Guide
Celil Refik Kaya is a Turkish/American virtuoso guitarist and a champion of musical refinement. His journey, from his studies in Istanbul to his prodigious career in America, is steeped in influences ranging from John Williams (as both guitarist and composer!) to Andrés Segovia, shaping his diverse musical palette. Today, internationally acclaimed as a composer, performer, and teacher, Celil approaches each role with meticulous attention to detail and unwavering dedication, reflecting his pursuit of musical and personal excellence.
Celil's relationship with Les Productions d'Oz began when Adam Holzman, premiering his piece Sonatina, inspired the guitarist to pursue publishing with d'Oz. Impressed by the publishing house's efficiency, positivity, and understanding of the guitar, he found a home for his compositions and arrangements. Celil embodies patience, commitment, and confidence as an ambassador. He shares with d'OZ the mission of encouraging the musical and personal development of musicians through quality performances and compositions, while disseminating our repertoire and values to a wider audience.
What Celil likes best about d'OZ: the large number of easy and intermediate pieces available in the catalog.
Biography
Dr. Celil Refik Kaya is a Turkish-American guitarist and composer who began his concert career at the age of 6. A winner of numerous international competitions, he notably won First Prize at the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition in 2012. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including "Young Musician of the Year" at the Donizetti Classical Music Awards in 2017.
His recordings, particularly for Naxos Records, have received critical acclaim. He collaborates with renowned orchestras throughout the United States and Europe and performs at prestigious festivals and venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. He has also given numerous masterclasses at universities and festivals internationally. In addition to his performing career, Kaya is a prolific composer with over a hundred works, published notably by Les Productions d’Oz. He has received prestigious scholarships, including the Dumbarton Oaks Fellowship at Harvard. He is currently the Coordinator of Guitar Studies at New Jersey City University and Kean University.
Chuck Hulihan is a guitarist, teacher, ensemble leader, and director passionately advancing the accessibility and diversity of classical guitar ensemble music.
Chuck is deeply committed to training the next generation of musicians and expanding the repertoire for guitar ensembles. Chuck's musical journey began with teacher Mark Davis, leading him from electrical engineering to a music major where his passion for guitar ensembles blossomed under the direction of Frank Koonce. Today, Chuck enriches the guitar community through various educational roles, including conducting for the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) and teaching at Glendale Community College. Embracing the unusual, he draws inspiration from diverse styles such as flamenco, gypsy jazz, and hard rock. Chuck's eclectic taste in music fuels his dynamic and captivating approach to guitar education and ensemble performance.
His passion, commitment, and musical curiosity align perfectly with Oz Productions' mission to showcase ensemble music and promote quality and variety in classical guitar literature through affordable and educational sheet music. Chuck's enthusiasm as an advocate makes him a natural choice as an ambassador, connecting audiences and musicians with the dynamic world of guitar ensemble music.
Biography
Chuck Hulihan has had a rewarding career as a guitarist, educator, conductor, vocal talent, arts administrator, and classical music radio host. Since 1999, he has directed the guitar program at Glendale Community College, organizing concerts featuring world premieres by many contemporary composers of guitar ensemble music. Chuck is one of the most prominent and prolific conductors of guitar ensembles in the United States, regularly collaborating with composers from around the world on new works for guitar ensemble. He has conducted the All-Arizona Guitar Ensemble, the Arizona Guitar Orchestra, the New Mexico Guitar Festival Orchestra, the GFA Youth and Community Guitar Orchestras, All-State Ensembles in Nevada, Florida, New Mexico, Virginia, and the NAfME All-National Honor Guitar Ensemble. He is the Director of Education for the GFA and Director of The Bridge: The Guitar Foundation of America's Teen Academy and a board member of the Phoenix Guitar Society.
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