Biography
Pakistani-born guitar virtuoso and composer Mir Ali (also credited as Ali Mir) has been described by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as “an exceptional nylon string guitarist” and by NPR as "mesmerizing and hypnotic" Since winning his first guitar competition at the age of thirteen, Mir has been raising eyebrows of audiences and music critics around the globe with unique, expressive and dazzling performances.
He is a fluent performer of flamenco guitar, an experienced jazz stylist, a trained practitioner of North Indian classical music, an award-winning classical guitarist, and a composer of music in several genres. Ali’s compositions are published with Mel Bay Publications as part of a graded repertoire series for guitarists. In 2003 Mir composed an original soundtrack for the documentary Roots and Branches- personal reflections on adoption, which was given the “Award of Excellence” by the Niagara Film Commission.
A much in-demand soloist, chamber and studio musician and guitar pedagogue, Mir’s performances and masterclasses have taken him to three continents and have been greeted with standing ovations and critical acclaim. He has performed across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. In the past two seasons, he has toured Spain, Italy, Canada, and has performed at New York’s Shea Stadium before a crowd of over 5,000 people. His appearance with the Irish Classical Theater Company in the production of Federico Garcia Lorca's “Blood Wedding” awarded him outstanding reviews. Buffalo News referred to his performance as "…stunningly perfect…”
His popularity as a teacher continues to grow throughout the United States and Canada. Mir has produced several guitar students who have won competitions and gone on to successful performance careers. He has given masterclasses, lectures and workshops at many colleges and universities throughout the United States including Austin Peay State University, Northern Illinois University, Wheaton College, Appalachian State University, Cleveland School of Music, University of Akron and Oberlin Conservatory of Music. He continues to perform and adjudicate at prestigious guitar competitions and festivals such as the Appalachian Guitar Festival, Charlottesville Guitar Festival, North-East Ohio Guitar Festival, Rantucci International Guitar Festival and competition and The St. Carles Festival in Tarragona, Spain.
As an administrator and organizer, Mir is very well recognized as President of the Buffalo Guitar Society and Director of one of the most prestigious International guitar festivals, the Rantucci International Guitar Festival and Competition. Many of today’s leading guitar personalities from around the world have been presented at these festivals. Some of these have included Roland Dyens, David Russell, Jason Vieaux, Steve Aron, Trio Gitano, Panebianco/DelMonoco Guitar Duo, The Buffalo Guitar Quartet, Dennis Koster, Stanley Yates and Nicolas Goluses.
Notable composers have dedicated works to Mir including the American guitarist/composer and founder of one of the very first guitar programs in the United States, Richard Pick. Mir has also given numerous world premiers of works by other notable composers such as Chet Mais who wrote a suite for the Reeds/Ali flute and guitar duo and Steven Zajonk who has written a work for Mir Ali and pianist Lorraine Abbott. Mir has also premiered several chamber works for guitar duo with guitarist Steve Aron.
Mir is the founding member of both the Cleveland and the Chicago Guitar Quartets and currently performs in the Reeds/Ali Flute and Guitar Duo. The duo was accorded a standing ovation at its premiere performance in Buffalo and has been invited to perform at prestigious festivals throughout the United States and abroad including the National Flute Association’s flute convention in Columbus, Ohio, the Northeast Ohio Guitar Festival at the University of Akron and the St. Carles Festival in Tarragona, Spain. The duo has been critically acclaimed for its masterful ensemble playing and innovative programming. National Public Radio's broadcast of "Jugal Bandi," an original work for flute and guitar by Mir, received rave reviews. NPR commended the duo for having performed the work “with the deepest artistic conviction and superb technique”.
Mir’s first recording “Café” with Buffalo Philharmonic flautist Betsy Reeds on the Triloca label features music from Pakistan, Flamenco transcriptions from Spain (Andalusia), Latin America, Cuba, Ireland and Italy. The CD is heard throughout the country on numerous radio stations including National Public Radio. Mercury News of San Jose, California, refers to the CD as "…an absolute joy…" Richard Bruné from the Guild of American Luthiers in a recent review comments "…well played and artfully presented by some of the leading proponents of their instruments today…" His new album “Dances and Romances” features a collection of Nuevo Flamenco and classical works, Jazz standards with vocalist Beth Aschbacher and two new original compositions. A solo classical guitar recording and another featuring chamber music will be released in the 2004-05 season.
Mir currently resides in Buffalo, New York where he serves as President of the Buffalo Guitar Society and Director of the Rantucci International Guitar Festival and Competition. He has served on the music faculties of Villa Maria College and the Community Music School in Buffalo, New York and University of Akron in Ohio.
Mir Ali is represented by Jaffar Shah Management of New York and Performing Arts Management by special arrangement with Sandra Wicinski.
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