Suvan Agarwal's Remarkable Final Year Roundup
Suvan Agarwal has been a double-degree student during his five years at Oberlin; he walks away this spring with both a BA in Physics and a BM in Classical Guitar from the Conservatory. But based on the intensity of his guitar activities, one could be forgiven for forgetting he was also completing a degree in Physics.
This year, alone, Suvan was a winner in FIVE competitions and played at least ten public recitals. He made original arrangements and worked on his online presence. And he was accepted at several guitar programs for work on a Masters in Guitar, deciding, in the end, to accept a major scholarship offer from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (Glasgow), where he will begin studies with Matthew McAllister and Alan Neave in the Fall.
He Won 3rd Prize in the Louisville Classical Guitar Competition, Collegiate Division.
Suvan, center, in winners line-up at Louisville Competition; Director Stephen Mattingly is second from right.
He Won 2nd Prize in the Columbus Guitar Symposium Competition
Suvan, 7th from left, in the CSU Guitar Competition winners line-up; Director Andrew Zohn is 2nd from left.
He was a Winner in the Oberlin Conservatory Bach Competition. This event was open to all string players, and required the performance of an entire Bach suite in the winner’s concert. The other two winners were a cellist and a violinist. Suvan played Bach’s Violin Partita No 2 in Dm, including the Chaconne.
Suvan on stage in Fairchild Chapel, playing in the Bach Competition Final
Eleanor O’Brien, violin, Kotomi Inaba, cellist, and Suvan, with Director, Matilda Goldie
He Won 2nd Prize at the Appalachian State University Classical Guitar Competition
Suvan, 3rd from left, in the APSU Guitar Competition winners line-up; Director Adam Kossler, far left
He Won 2nd Prize in the East Carolina University Classical Guitar Competition.
Suvan set up public recitals in two mini-tours, one during his Spring Break, and one immediately after the semester ended. He gave performances at the Vermillion United Church of Christ, the Avon Public Library, the Cleveland Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the Lorain Public Library, Oberlin Conservatory (a special Commencement performance, shared with classmate, Nik Divall), Kendal at Oberlin Retirement Center, the Aron House, Union Church of Cupertino, and New Life Church in Cupertino. These experiences enabled him to refine his performances in a way no other activity can. (See my post on The Student Recital Tour). He also played a shared concert (again with, Nik), at my wife’s middle school, demonstrating adeptly for a large classroom of kids.
Suvan at Madison Middle School
Suvan with his family, after the Commencement concert
Suvan had been working on playing in front of a camera his entire time at Oberlin, recognizing, as he did, the importance today of presentable video footage. As a result, he already has a YouTube channel with twenty videos. During his final year here, he had professional photos taken of himself, then built a professional website, populating it with his impressive bio, video links, photos and resumé. He somehow still found time this year to make an original arrangement of Schumann’s entire Kinderszenen Op 15, which he performed numerous times to excellent effect.
Suvan played four full-length solo recitals at Oberlin. Read about them here: Suvan’s Sophomore Recital, Suvan’s Junior Recital, Suvan’s Senior Recital and Suvan’s Fifth-Year Recital.
Suvan was a terrific member of the guitar studio, always a dedicated and positive influence and a true leader. He will be missed here—we look forward to hearing all about his next adventures! Bravo and good luck, Suvan!
