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 Philharmonia from 1986 until 1997.
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 concert tour and television appearances.
Her recitals have included very technically demanding works, such as the arrangement by Japanese virtuoso guitarist Kazuhito 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 Rachmaninovs 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, Sarasate, de Falla, Gimenez, Bizet, Rossini...) the modern guitar (Walton, Dyens, Rak...) to flamenco (Escudero, Sabicas, Peña...) and arrangements of South American and East European folk music (Cardoso, Ramirez, Shevchenko...). Her interpretation of pieces by the famous guitarist-composer tepan Rák inspired 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!She has also starred in three music films produced by Ukrainian State Television:Portrait with guitar (1987)
Strings and Sails (1991)
Spirit of Spain (1997)Her first CD The Legend was released in 1996 (under her maiden name Galina Vernigora) with the support of Gendai Guitar Foundation of Japan and Masaru Kohno.
It featured on US FM radio in the network programme edition of Great Women Guitarists produced by Classical Guitar Alive in 1997 and later with the Maltese National Radio on the programme Cantabile.
Galina now lives in England and continues with her career as a concert performer .During 2006-2008 , Galina has performed in Spain, Portugal, Turkey, Thailand, South Korea, Mexico and United States.Press review quotes:Fabulous virtuosity... La Guitarreria, FranceBirth of the star
Beautiful like Venus , plays like Paco de Lusia
Goniezc Pomorsky, PolandIf individuality could be measured on a scale of one to ten, Galina Vale
would surely score eleven
Classical Guitar, Great BritainThe Ukrainian-born Galina Vale is a guitarist of extraordinary daring and virtuosity.
Instituto Cervantes, Great BritainFairy of Crystal Strings Molod Ukrainy, UkraineBreathtaking I have never known such technical security with the
left hand.
Huddersfield Daily Examiner, Great Britain
Renowned instrumental star
East African Standard, KenyaHer playing is almost indescribable, with a lot of volume, an unusual, and a repertoire that few would choose to attempt. As my father used to say they broke the mould when they made that one.
Absolutely, I couldnt put it better myself!
Chris Dumigan, Classical GuitarThe finalist from Ukraine, Galina Vale, surprised the audience with her amazing musical skills, her incredible technique and unusual stage presence.
San Francisco International Guitar Competition, 2002Galina Vale - 4th October 2003 West Sussex Guitar ClubWhat an amazing performance from Galina Vale at the first of the new seasons concerts. Such incredible technique in all aspects of her guitar playing. The volume and speed and clarity were superb. Some say the pieces were played too fast, but I never found any loss of emotion in the playing. The programme of music was well chosen with many refreshing new pieces that I had not heard played on the guitar before. Because of the confines of the hall there is not room for a full orchestra, and yet on this occasion we were treated to Vivaldis Lute Concerto with a Kareoke style orchestra backing. What a beautiful piece and the sound balance between orchestra and guitar was just right. The Venetian mask added to the sense of fun.
All the pieces were enjoyable, in particular I liked the excitement of Rossinis Tarantella. The final piece from Mussorgskys Pictures at an Exhibition with its grand chords looked incredibly difficult to play and I later read in the programme notes that the arrangement was considered impossible to play!
All told it was one of the most entertaining evenings with many new pieces all brilliantly played. That evening we did a round trip of 100 miles just to see the concert and it was well worth every mile. I look forward to Galinas early return.
Terry Woodgate
West Sussex Guitar Club/U.K.
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