Biography
Antoniy Kakamakov was born in 1985 in a family of professional violinists. He began studying the guitar at the age of ten with Milena Valtcheva, in his native country of Bulgaria. In 1997 he won first prize in the junior division of the International Classical Guitar Festival and Competition in Sinaia, Romania. The following year he won two first prizes in the junior divisions of the international guitar competitions in Kraiova, Romania and Assenovgrad, Bulgaria. In 1999, he was awarded full scholarship to study guitar at the Idyllwild Arts Academy , where his teachers were Terry Graves and Michael Kudirka. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) in 2007, under the tutelage of David Tanenbaum, and continued his studies there as a Master’s candidate. In 2007, he received second place in the SFCM Concerto Competition and was a prize-winner in the Portland Guitar Festival and Competition. In April 2008, Antoniy won first prize in the inaugural Wesley Day Solo Classical Guitar Recording Competition providing the winner with a free recording of a CD and a tour around several UC and State schools. SFCM teacher and renowned guitarist Marc Teicholz and Antoniy led the San Francisco Conservatory Guitar Ensamble for the US premiere of Sergio Assad’s piece Trios Brasiliens a Saint Paul at the 2008 Guitar Foundation of America Festival and Competition. He was also a part of Guitarrada IV, which is a showcase of rare collector guitars from WWII to present, showcasing the John Harris Collection. In May 2009 he received his Masters Degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under famed composer/performer Sergio Assad. Antoniy is the first prize winner of the 2009 Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival and Competition. Antoniy Kakamakov has played concerts and given masterclasses at San Francisco City College, Humboldt State University, Colombia College, Modesto Junior College, UC Santa Cruz and Cal State University East Bay. He has played in masterclasses for William Kanengiser, Duo Assad, Nigel North, Manuel Barrueco, Paul Galbraith, Ana Vidovic, Antigoni Goni, Pavel Steidl, Gyan Riley, David Grimes and the Katona Twins.