Cowan-Cicchillitti – Under the Spire Music Festival

From the lyricism of Debussy and Ravel, to the introspective melodies of Mompou, to the clarity and wit of Tailleferre, Intimate Impressions offers a unique portrait of 20th century music written in Paris. Guitarists Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan push the boundaries of the classical guitar repertoire by presenting these original arrangements of music originally written for piano or harp, and contrasting them with works they’ve commissioned or premiered by celebrated Canadian composers.

Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan have set a benchmark in the world of classical guitar with their award-winning recordings, commissions of major orchestral works, and competition performances. On their debut release, FOCUS, Tracy Anne Smith (American Record Guide) states that “with sensitive, authoritative, au courant playing, Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan retain their individuality while communicating like old friends.” FOCUS was awarded Classical Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards in 2021. Also in 2021, the duo released it’s third album with Analekta Records, INTIMATE IMPRESSIONS, featuring original arrangements of piano, harp, and guitar music written in 20th century Paris. The album has been streamed over 1.5 million times worldwide. Cowan and Cicchillitti toured Canada under the auspices of Prairie Debut in 2020-2022 and with Debut Atlantic in 2018. They were awarded third prize at the 2021 international ensemble competition of the Guitar Foundation of America, arguably the most prestigious guitar ensemble competition in the world.