In this lecture, Dr. Robert Trent discusses the question “Can I improvise in Classic/Romantic Music? An introduction to Interpretation and improvisation in guitar music of the early nineteenth-century.”

Classical Guitar soloist, performer of chamber music and concerti, Robert Trent has performed on the continents of North and South America and in Europe. Dr. Trent performs on modern guitar, Renaissance lute, on an original French guitar from the early 19th c. and a reproduction of a 10-string double-necked Romantic guitar of J.G. Scherzer.

He has been a first prize winner in numerous National and International competitions including; the Webb National Guitar Competition, the Masterworks Young Artist Competition (which includes all instruments) and the chamber music prize at the International Competition “Arturo Toscanini” in Italy.

The first recipient of the degree of Doctor of Musical Arts in guitar from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Trent is Professor of Music and Director of Guitar and Renaissance Lute studies at the College of Visual and Performing Arts of Radford University.