Robert Friedman Presents

Gyan Riley, born in northern California in 1977, has emerged as a prominent figure of guitar and contemporary music, both as a performer and composer.  In 1999, he became the first graduate level guitarist ever to be awarded a full merit-based scholarship from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.  Gyan's awards include First Prize in the Portland International Guitar Festival Competition, First Prize in the San Francisco Conservatory Guitar Concerto Competition, and First Prize in the Music in the Mountains Young Musicians Competition.  Gyan played in the American premiere of John Adams El Nino, with David Tanenbaum, soprano Dawn Upshaw, and the San Francisco Symphony.  Concert tours have taken him to some of the world's most prestigious concert halls in the UK, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Croatia, Turkey, Norway, and throughout the United States.  Gyan tours regularly with the Europe based World Guitar Ensemble, the Los Angeles based Falla Guitar Trio, and father/composer/pianist Terry Riley.  Gyan has been commissioned to write various works, some of which were released on Gyan's debut CD Food for the Bearded, on the New Albion record label.  Following Gyan's recent solo appearance at Carnegie Recital Hall, he was invited to premiere a newly commissioned solo original work as part of a performance for the 2006 New York Guitar Festival. Gyan served as the artistic director for the San Francisco Classical Guitar Society from 2002-2004.   He is currently engaged as professor of guitar at Humboldt State University.