William Berdine is a gifted, rising talent of classical guitar music known for his musicality, expressiveness, technical mastery, and awe-inspiring performances. He is destined to becoming a world-class musician. Please contact William for performances, events, recordings, and guitar instruction.
William attended the prestigious, New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where he studied with Eliot Fisk (a direct student of Andres Segovia). William is a long-term student of Lito Romero of the famed Romero Guitar Quartet. William lives in Orange County, California.
William aspires to have a multifaceted musical career. He wants to perform as a soloist, perform with orchestras, play at ceremonies and events such as weddings, teach guitar, become a college professor of music, work as a studio musician, record music as a soloist, play in duos, accompany vocalists, perform in ensembles, and participate in guitar festivals worldwide. As an accomplished drum set musician who reads drum charts, William aspires to work as a drummer as well as a guitarist.
Although the guitar is one of the most popular musical instruments in the world, William hopes to see people play more classical music on guitar. Introducing the classical guitar in elementary schools can help accomplish this goal. William believes that classical guitar should be an integral part of orchestras.
At the age of four, William started taking drum lessons. His long-term jazz and rock drum teacher is Kris Berry, a professional drummer based in Orange County, California. At age six, William started studying guitar. He realized that both instruments are interrelated since drumming helps with rhythm, meter, and dynamics in guitar playing. His earliest musical interest was in singing and playing Beatles songs. At age 11, William performed Beatle’s music in coffee houses. When William was just a baby, he played with toys under his dad’s grand Yamaha piano while listening to his father play Mozart, Chopin, Bach and Beethoven pieces. William attributes his musical ability to the combination of genetics, parental encouragement, attending concerts, listening to all types of music, taking lessons from the best teachers, taking master classes, and thousands of hours of guitar practice. William enjoys attending musical concerts, watching professional and college football games, and bodybuilding at the gym. Having heard dozens of their concerts, William is a long-term fan of The Fab Four—a Beatles tribute band based in Orange County, California.
William listens to recordings of his favorite guitarists such as: Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, Pepe Romero, Angel Romero, Christopher Parkening, Eliot Fisk, The Romero Guitar Quartet, Paco de Lucia, Marcin Dylla, Johannes Moller, Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Roland Dyens, and Pablo Villegas all of which have had a profound effect on his passion for the guitar.
William has had master classes from: Zaira Meneses, Roland Dyens, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant, Sharon Isbin, Rafael Aguirre, Scott Morris, Jack Sanders, Jonathan Dotson, and Grisha Goryachev.
Early on, William developed a strong passion for Spanish classical music. Then in 2013-2014 he recorded his first CD, Spanish Guitar Reflections, while in high school.
Guitars: William plays Pepe Romero and Jose Ramirez guitars.
PAST PERFORMANCES
Orpheus Guitar High School Ensemble – 2013 Guitar Foundation of America Ensemble Showcase, 2013 Loyola Marymount Guitar Festival performance of Bach’s “Brandenburg Concerto,” 2013 Guitar Collaboration of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” with Classical Contemporary Dancers from California Elite, 2012 Guitar Collaboration with Shingo Fujii and USC Guitar Orchestra at Soka University, 2012 University of Texas at Dallas performance of Mussorsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” 2011 Orange County Guitar Circle Performance of Maximo Diego Pujol’s Suite Del Plata No. 3 at Chapman University.
Orange County High School of the Arts at solo, chamber ensemble, and group guitar ensemble performances from 2009 to 2013, which also included jazz guitar, flamenco guitar, rock guitar, and jazz drum performances. William performed as a soloist at: Orange County Guitar Circle Showcases at Chapman University, Orange, California; and at the Neighborhood Congregational Church, Laguna Beach.
COMPETITIONS
First place, ASTA/Aron Green Classical Guitar Competition, USC, 2013
Finalist, American String Teacher’s Association, State Competition, Cal State Fullerton, 2012
First Place, University of Texas at Dallas Guitar Competition, 2012
First Place, Pacific Guitar Festival, Monrovia, California, 2011
Second place, University of Texas at Brownsville, Guitar Ensemble Competition, 2011
Third place, University of Texas at Brownsville, Chamber Guitar Competition, 2011
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
New England Conservatory Presidential Distinction Award, 2015-2016
Selected to attend Grammy Camp Los Angeles hosted by The Recording Academy, 2014
Young Musicians Foundation - The Gaskill Family Scholarship, 2011
Guitar Foundation of America Los Angeles Regional Symposium, 2011
Selected to attend Arts-X-Press arts immersion camp organized by Carl St. Clair, conductor of the Pacific Symphony, 2011
RECORDINGS
Spanish Guitar Reflections – William Berdine’s debut solo recording of Spanish guitar favorites. Available on CD Baby and iTunes.
Grammy Camp LA 2014 – Played drums on four original songs written by the group Susnation under the guidance of Chris Sampson, USC. Available on SoundCloud.
RADIO BROADCAST OF CD
Featured Artist of the Morning on KUSC 91.5 FM on July 31, 2014, weekday program The Morning Show with Dennis Bartel who played tracks from William’s CD.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaches private guitar and drum set lessons to children since 2013.
Assisted teaching classes at Orange County School of the Arts Summer Guitar Camp, 2012.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Performances at Festival of Children, Balboa Beach Festival, Sak’s Fifth Avenue Brushes With Greatness, Kidseum, Santa Ana elementary schools, Camp OCSA, Music to Heal, OC Head Start Family Festival, Santa Ana Women’s Shelter, National Latina Business Women Association of Orange County.