 “The centerpiece of this concert was the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joa[q]ui[n] Rodrigo, brilliantly performed by classical guitarist, Steven Thachuk…..the performance belonged to Steven Thachuk, who caressed his guitar with crystal clear fingering and fine musicality. The audience demanded an encore and Thachuk obliged with Neil Young's 'After the Goldrush'." Prince George Citizen Prince George, British Columbia “Thachuk conquered with a flawless concert!…A master of interpretation and artistry.” “...perfectly and sensitively done.” “...astounding virtuosity and musicality…a passionate proponent of new music.”  Steven Thachuk is known as one of Canada’s most outstanding and versatile guitarists. Performing works from J.S. Bach and Toru Takemitsu to John Lennon and Radiohead, he consistently challenges the nature of the instrument’s repertoire and boundaries. Playing both traditional classical guitar and a steel string instrument he has appeared in recital, as a chamber musician, and soloist with orchestra throughout North America, Great Britain and Europe. Thachuk has performed most of the major concertos in the guitar repertoire with orchestra and has had concerts broadcast on NPR in America and the CBC in Canada. His playing has drawn critical acclaim. The Westfalen Post in Germany has commented that after his concerts “the audience remains in the seats for a long time, saddened that the concert has ended” and the Nordeste in Mexico has called Thachuk “a master of interpretation and artistry” In addition to many other awards, he received the prestigious Chalmers Performing Arts Training Grant in 1994.
An avid supporter of new music, Thachuk has premiered numerous works by composers such as Gerald Garcia, Liviu Marinescu, Elisabeth Sellers, Robert Baker, Denis Dion, Luke Mercier and Scott Adams. In 2007 he appeared soloist with the Pacific Symphony and Chorus in Oswlado Golijov’s Oceana with Grammy Award winning guitarist John Dearman. Thachuk has also given the world premiere performances of Gerald Garcia’s Heart of the Rose-Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, in Manchester, England and Scott Adams’ Eurasia for Guitar and Orchestra in New York.
In addition to his performing career, Thachuk has an international reputation as a leading teacher and pedagogue of the instrument. He is much in demand for masterclasses and concerts at universities, conservatories, and major guitar festivals throughout North America and Europe. Recent festival appearances have included the Koblenz Guitar festival, Iserlohn Gitarren-Symposium, National Guitar Summer Workshop, the Gevelsberg Gitarren-Festival, the Stetson International Guitar Festival, the Culiacan International Guitar Festival, the Halifax International Guitar Festival, and the Eastman Summer GuitarFest in Rochester, New York. In 2002, Steve Thachuk was appointed as Professor of Guitar and Chair of Guitar Studies at California State University, Northridge. Previously, he has served on the faculties of the University of Toronto, the Glenn Gould Professional School at the Royal Conservatory of Music and Queen’s University. Thachuk also serves on juries for many major international guitar competitions.
Steven Thachuk’s studies began when he was eight years old. He pursued his undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, and continued his studies in Germany and at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he completed his doctorate degree in 1998.
Thachuk regularly collaborates with other artists. He performs with flutist Sarah Wass and is a member of the experimental music ensemble Freshly Squeezed. He also appears in duo concerts with American fingerstyle virtuoso, Michael Chapdelaine. Thachuk was also a member of the Meyer/Thachuk Guitar Duo
Recent highlights of his performance career include solo appearances with the Pacific Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Lancashire Chamber Orchestra, Toronto Sinfonietta, Quinte Symphony, Prince George Symphony Orchestra, and the Toronto Philharmonia, as well as concerts and masterclasses throughout the world. Thachuk has released two CDs, Evocacion, with the Meyer/Thachuk Guitar Duo, and Currents, a solo recital CD of 20th century guitar works.
Thachuk engages in various musical activities outside of performing and teaching. He is currently the director of the Guitar Workshop for California SummerArts, which began in 2004. In addition to this, he serves on the artistic board for the American Guitar Society and the board of directors for the Aaron Brock Memorial Guitar Competition.
Steven Thachuk currently lives in Toronto and Los Angeles
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