Roman Smirnov
is an award-winning artist performing in classical and flamenco virtuoso guitar styles, as well as a producer, arranger and composer
Roman has participated in international festivals and musical projects in various musical styles, ranging from early baroque to modern music and jazz.
His compositions have an emphasis on emotional, energetic and innovative expressions from a number of cultures and traditions in music. He is inspired by a variety of epochs and genres such as baroque, classical, jazz, flamenco, world, folk music and even rock which influenced by great artists like J.S. Bach, D. Scarlatti, A. Piazzolla, Wolfgang Lendle, Paco de Lucia, John Scofield, Herbie Hancock and many others.
Roman is a classically trained guitarist. He obtained his musical education from the Tallinn Music Conservatory in Estonia, the Rubin Academy of Music in Israel, and the Academy of Music in Kassel, Germany, with the renowned guitar virtuoso Wolfgang Lendle.
Since 2008 Roman lives in Canada and regularly performs solo programs, duets, trios, quartets and small orchestras. These performances feature a variety of musicians, from classical string quartets to jazz ensembles, opera singers and different ethnic instruments, like Chinese Pipa, Arabic Oud, etc.
Roman has transcribed and arranged a number of works by Scarlatti, Bach, Soler, Piazzolla, Hancock, and other composers from different periods and genres. He composes music for solo guitar as well as for ensembles.
Roman created a duo with Chinese Pipa virtuoso Wendy-Wen Zhao where he arranged Chinese music for guitar.
He has released two CDs with his original music in 2018 and song arrangements for guitar and soprano in 2015.
He works on his new album with his original music.
Awards
2016 - USA, New York, The Independent Music Award (IMA) - winner in the instrumental song category for the single “Reflection 1”.
2017 - USA, New York, The Independent Music Award (IMA) - nomination in the instrumental song category for the single “Ciento Viente”.
2017 - USA, Nashville, ISC - The Honorable Prize for the single “Ciento Viente”.
2018 – USA, Nashville, ISC - nomination for the single “Kuwaka”.
2019 - USA, New York, The Independent Music Award (IMA) - nomination for the album “Reflections”.
2020 - The UK, London, Songwriting Contest 2020 - Semi Finalist for the single “Reflection 1".
2020 - USA, New York, The Independent Music Award (IMA) – winner for the single "Old Friends".
2021 – Russia, Moscow, 2nd International Composer Competition - Grand Prix for the singles "Kuwaka" and "Thinking of You".
2021 - Russia, Moscow, 2nd International Composer Competition - nominations for the "Fox and Gardener", "Waiting for…", "Old Friends" and "Jerusalem Swing" in "Composition for guitar in ensemble".