U of T music student lands prestigious recital in Amsterdam
Published: March 23, 2012
On the heels of winning two international competitions back to back, the Faculty of Music’s Tariq Harb has nabbed one of the most sought-after gigs in the music business – a solo recital at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
The Doctor of Musical Arts student will be the opening act on the “Meesters op de Gitaar” concert series at the prestigious venue in the 2012-13 season.
The opportunity follows Harb’s sweeping victory in December 2011 at the 2nd Barrios WorldWideWeb Competition in Paraguay where he triumphed over more than 70 contestants from 30 countries to take both the First Prize and the Audience Prize. Six months earlier, Harb also won the First Prize at the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition.
A student of Senior Lecturer Jeffrey McFadden, Harb attributes his recent successes to the strength of the guitar program at the U of T, which has produced graduates such as Liona Boyd, Dale Kavanagh, Laura Young, Michael Kolk and McFadden.
“I wouldn’t have been able to accomplish so much without the unceasing support of my instructor, faculty and peers,” Harb said. “The guitar program at U of T’s Faculty of Music has helped me develop a mature, effective musicianship along with first rank performing skills on my instrument.”
Harb took to the guitar and violin at the age of eight, and began studying at the Queen Noor National Music Conservatory in Amman, in his native Jordan. Soon he was performing for small audiences in various festivals and talent shows in the company of his rock band. Upon graduating from high school, Harb moved to Canada where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Concordia University. After a brief period working as a financial advisor, he realized his true passion for music, pursuing guitar studies at Concordia University and McGill University, before enrolling in U of T’s doctoral program in 2010.
“It has been a great pleasure working with Tariq Harb over the first two years of his doctoral studies here at U of T,” said McFadden. “The University guitar community and in fact, the Faculty of Music as a whole, are extremely proud of his recent triumphs.
“There is no doubt that Tariq will represent the University in the brightest light as his career continues to develop and thrive.”
Can’t make it to the Concertgebouw? Harb will be performing with the U of T Guitar Ensemble in a free concert at the U of T Art Centre on Wednesday, March 28 at 7:30 pm. The program includes music by W.A. Mozart, Leo Brouwer, Carlos Guastavino, Agustin Barrios Mangore, Napoleon Coste, and Edvard Grieg.
