Michael Erni is one of the most renowned and most innovative Swiss guitarists. He completed his studies with a teaching (Lehrdiplom) and concert diploma (Konzertdiplom) at the Zurich Musikhochschule. He acquired a Master’s Degree in Music Performance with distinction under Professor Miguel Rubio at the Bern Musikhochschule. Further studies followed under Andrés Segovia and Pepe Romero, as well as masterclasses with William Kanengiser (USA), Steven Thachuk (Canada) and Robert Brightmore (England). Michael Erni has made several TV, radio and CD recordings, such as “Italian guitar concertos” by Vivaldi and Giuliani, “Spanish guitar music” (Albeniz and Granados), “Nietzsche poems” and “Estudios diabolicos” (compositions by Michael Erni) and “Recital” (works for guitar, flute and oboe). The Swiss-British label GUILD published a much noticed CD “Jota” by Michael Erni with works by Francisco Tárrega (1852- 1909), devoted entirely to Tárrega’s music on the occasion of the centenary of the composer’s death and a second CD “Barrios–Passion”. For this recording, Michael Erni had selected music by the Paraguayan composer, Agustín Barrios Mangoré (1885-1944).  His latest CDs “The Lost Toccata”, “Isaac Albéniz” and “Gitarrenduo” with Anton Kudryavtsev had been published by “RC Strings” in Spain. On these CDs he documents his virtuoso technique impressively, his diverse and fascinating scope for composition, as well as his intimate relationship to Spanish music. Erni maintains a varied concert schedule, giving important performances with leading orchestras such as “Festival Strings Lucerne” (Giuliani) and “London Concert Symphony Orchestra” (Concierto de Aranjuez) and chamber ensembles, among others at international guitar festivals. Michael Erni’s own compositions include among others three guitar concertos with orchestra, works for solo guitar, a quintet for guitar and string quartet and works for two, three and four guitars. Several of his works were published by German publishing houses, such as Zimmermann Frankfurt. He has received various prizes and awards for his musical work. Michael Erni is an “Artist of Royal Classics”, a selected artist of the Spanish string manufacturer RC Strings. Erni is also president of the “European Guitar Teachers Association”, Switzerland.