April 5, 2012 —The CSUB Guitar Arts Series is pleased to present guitarist Johannes Möller, winner of the 2010 Guitar Foundation of America Concert Artist Competition, for a two-day residency on April 18 and 19. His visit will culminate with a concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 19, at California State University, Bakersfield.

The Swedish guitarist and composer has captivated audiences throughout the world with charismatic and soulful performances. After playing his first public concerts at the age of 13, his performances now total more than 500 and span Europe, Asia, and the Americas. In 2010 he was awarded first prize in the GFA Concert Artist Competition, considered by many to be the most prestigious guitar competition in the world, resulting in a concert tour and a recording with the Naxos label.

At the age of 12 as a self-taught composer, Möller experienced an outburst of creativity that resulted in a large quantity of pieces that were performed and recorded with great critical acclaim. A selection of these works was recorded on a CD with some of the top instrumentalists in Sweden when he was 14 years old. In his later teenage years, Möller continued composing, experimenting with various compositional styles and techniques. Doberman-Yppan has published a number of his works and such groups are now performing his pieces as the Eden-Stell Duo.

Möller earned a bachelor of music with honors from the Royal College of Music in London and a master's degree from the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. He also received a scholarship from the Royal Conservatoire that allowed him to study in the Czech Republic as well as take composition lessons in the U.S. He completed a second master's degree at the Conservatoire in Amsterdam.

The April 19 concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the CSUB Music Building, Room 127. Parking is free in Lots B and C. This event will close the second season of the CSU Bakersfield Guitar Arts Series. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $8 for seniors (60+) and $6 for students with ID. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the night of the event, or reserved by calling 661-654-2511. Reservations are recommended, as seating is limited to 85.