Cristobal Selamé, classical guitar
Described as “inspired… every note comes straight from his heart” by Grammy-Award winning artist Sérgio Assad, Chilean guitarist Cristobal Selamé is the only undergraduate to ever win the prestigious Guitar Concerto Competition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Since then, Selamé has been invited to perform in prestigious guitar festivals, including the Mauro Biasini International Festival and Competition, where he performed the Giuliani Concerto op.30.
Of this performance, Classical Guitar Magazine said: “…Selamé appeared to have no trouble negotiating the speedy passages in the first and third movements, and handled the middle Andantino with great feeling and delicacy…”
A native of Santiago, Chilé, Selamé first came to United States in 2012 on a short summer trip. During this trip he met Dr. Corey Whitehead, the guitar teacher at Cal Fresno, who described Salamé as “… the most talented 17-year-old classical guitarist I have met in 20 years.” He returned to the United States to pursue studies with legendary guitarist Sérgio Assad at the San Fransisco Conservatory of Music, where earned his Bachelor of Music Degree.
Selamé has participated in masterclasses with world-renowned guitarists such as David Russell, Marcin Dylla, Alvaro Pierri, Richard Savino, and Manuel Barrueco. Selamé has previously studied in his hometown, Santiago Chile, with Jaime Calisto at the Modern Music Institute, and with Luis Orlandini at the University of Chile. Selamé was recently accepted into the master’s program at the prestigious Academy of Music in Darmstadt, Germany under the instruction of the world-renowned musician and pedagogue Tilman Hoppstock.
When not playing guitar, Selamé enjoys backpacking through his native Chile with friends, and exploring new places.
