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24 Oct 2014

Player Spotlight: Tavi Jinariu

Player Spotlight

tavi1

Tavi Jinariu is one of our favorite guest guitarists to frequent the GSI showroom. His contributions to our blog have enriched and enhanced the content we strive to deliver in order to build the guitar’s reputation. Having just released his first CD (available on our webstore), we thought it was time to find out more about Tavi. Continue on to read his bio and learn more about his musical and life story.

tavi2Tavi Jinariu has distinguished himself as one of the most sought-after classical guitarists in the Los Angeles area. His artistry is defined by deep emotional expression, focused attention to technical accuracy and details, as well as a certain performance pathos that never fails to captivate audiences.

Tavi was born in 1980 in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania, Romania. He comes from a family of gypsy musicians where singing and dancing were an integral part of life. At the tender age of five, Tavi watched his uncle performing on an electric guitar, and a newfound passion overcame any thought of restraint in him as he stealthily snuck into his bedroom to strum that enchanting guitar with all his might. Years later, against stifling obstacles, Tavi would gravitate towards the same magical instrument.

The age of thirteen marked Tavi’s official start on the guitar at his father’s request to choose an extra-curricular activity. When asked to choose between Romanian folk dances and playing the guitar, he chose the lesser of the two evils, of course; the prospect of wearing leggings was not wildly enticing to him. At the age of sixteen, Tavi heard the sound of a classical guitar for the first time and was captivated by its mellow and mysterious sound. He remembers now vividly the first few bars of Lauro’s third Venezuelan waltz; he was stricken, as is often the case upon hearing this piece, and a lifelong musical journey began for him. Tavi began playing the guitar without a guitar. His family’s modest income was not sufficient enough to purchase one, so he practiced on borrowed instruments and much of his musical growth took place at the homes of friends who did own guitars. In 1998, he was invited to tour the US with a group of musicians from Hungary and Romania, and it was during this part of the tour in Montana that Tavi was given his first guitar. By anyone’s standards, the guitar was not much to boast about, but, in Tavi’s estimation, that guitar may well have been the best guitar in the world.

In the fall of 1999, Tavi was awarded a generous scholarship that made it possible for him to receive the personalized instruction of the world’s preeminent classical guitarist, Christopher Parkening. Tavi completed a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on Classical Guitar Performance by the age of 23, studying under the tutelage of Christopher Parkening and John Nelson.

tavi1During his time at Pepperdine University, Tavi participated in numerous guitar competitions and won the 1st prize in the ASTA Classical Guitar Competition for the great Los Angeles Area (2001 & 2002), and the ASTA Artist Guitar Competition for the state of California (2003). His guitar performances have taken him to numerous European countries (Romania, Hungary, Germany, The Netherlands), to Israel and through most of the United States. He has been featured as a solo artist with various orchestras and has participated in numerous recording projects and radio appearances.

After pursuing several graduate degrees in Classics and Theology, Tavi found himself returning to his undeniable passion for the classical guitar. Currently, Tavi Jinariu is the guitar professor at The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, CA and maintains a busy performing and teaching schedule. Professor Jinariu, his wife Melissa and two children reside in Southern California and enjoy their busy, exciting lives together, while together sharing a deep commitment to their religious faith.

Reflections Along the Way by Tavi Jinariureflectionstavi

Tavi’s latest CD is an expression of his musical and cultural curiosities. As a listener, you are invited to imaginarily travel and experience various cultures of our world through the evocative sounds of the classical guitar. Tavi Jinariu has distinguished himself as one of the preeminent classical guitarists in the Los Angeles area. His artistry is defined by deep emotional expression, focused attention to technical accuracy and details, as well as a certain performance pathos that never fails to captivate audiences.

 

TAVI JINARIU GUITAR DEMOS (view all)

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