Galina Vale

Classical guitarist Galina Vale (Vernigora) also known under nickname "Maestra" was born in the Ukraine and comes from a family of musicians. She began studying the guitar and made her first public appearance on state television at the age of eight, from twelve she was performing major guitar concertos with the Kharkov Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. From 1991 to 1995 she studied at the Moscow Gnesiny Music College while also employed as a principal guitarist with the Kharkov State Philharmonic from 1986 until 1987.

Galina has won prizes at international guitar and music competitions in Poland, Italy, Hungary, Spain, the United Kingdom and has performed over 2000 concerts across west and eastern Europe

In 1996 the British Ambassador and High Commissioner to Kenya invited her to Africa for a convert tour and television appearances.

Her recitals have included very technically demanding works, such as the arrangement by Japanese virtuoso guitarist Kzuhito Yamashita of "The Bogatyr Gate of Kiev" (from "Pictures at an Exhibition" by Mussorgsky), considered "impossible for guitar" (Goniezc Pomorsky) alongside her own arrangements of works like Rachmaninov's "Prelude no. 5 in G-minor" and "Hungarian Dance no.5" by Brahms.

Her repertoire has ranged from "orthodox" classical guitar (Sor, Mertz, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos), music from the renaissance and baroque (Galilei, Bach, Dowland, Scarlatti) through arrangements of classical instrumental, orchestral works and opera (Liszt, Paganini, Saraste, de Falla, Gimenez, Bizet, Rossinsi...) and arrangements of South American and East European folk music (Cardoso, Ramirez, Shevchenko..). Her interpretation of pieces by the famous guitarist-composer Stephan Rák inspire his praise before a huge audience at the 1987 Esztergom International Guitar Festival (Hungary)..

"finally I have found a guitarist who can perform my music!"