BIOGRAPHY

José Antonio Chic, classical guitarrist and composer, born in Lleida (Spain).
He was musically formed first in this city with his uncle Ricard Chic, then in the «Academia d’Arts Musicals Luthier» in Barcelona (Spain) with Arnaldur Arnarson, and later in the «Hochschule für Musik Basel» (Switzerland) with Oscar Ghiglia. He was graduated with «Honour Award» and «Solistendiplom».

The master Ernest Xancó, Professor of Cello, Composer and Conductor, Pau Casals’ disciple, was a key figure in his musical development; directed and sponsored his career in his firts musical steps. He plays with public and critical success in important European Music Festivals and like a soloist with prestigious orchestras «Gonçal Comellas Chamber Orchestra,» Budapest Strings» and the «Virtuosi di Praga».

His Cd about the work of the eminent pedagogue of the guitar, Emilio Pujol, has received unanimous praises from critics and is included in the prestigious «Guitar’s Top 100», selection of the best guitar recordings of all time.

He was awarded with the «Excellence Diplom» in the «Guitar European Competition» in Paris.

He is the Ensemble XXI  founder and director, who has its headquarter at the Conservatoire of Monzón (Spain), where he teaches and with them has recorded 7 Cds. From this original instrumental project, his inquiring mind has taken him to experiment and gone into detail tone combination between the guitar orchestra and different orchestral instruments. As the years have gone by he has been specialized in this way creating a new innovative repertoire with an educational use which has been praised by some of the nowadays most important musical world figures: Roland Dyens, Ricardo Gallén, Andrew York, Joaquín Clerch, Hopkinson Smith …

Prestigious international journals of the guitar world as Classical Guitar or GuitArt, have dedicated him important articles and have highlighted his innovative proposal. Nature, tales, old legends, magic and fantasy worlds are the source of inspiration of his original works; which evoque images and sensations, always looking for new effects and tones, getting as a result, an amazing balance between guitars and the other instruments.

His works are part of the The Juilliard School curriculum in New York and other prestigious Conservatories, Universities and Music Schools worldwide and have been released in Canada, Austria, USA, Belgium, Finland, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Greece, Portugal, Russia, Korea …

In 2008 he was nominated by the Spanish Academy of Arts and Music Sciences in the «Best Composer of Classical Music» category.

His last record as director and performer with Ensemble XXI, wich includes his original compositions, was finalist to the Min 2017 Awards of the Spanish Independent Music in the section «Best classical music album».

Letter of recommendation from Maestro Leo Brouwer
Enjoy José Antonio Chic performances on Spotify!