Cristobal Selamé
The Chilean guitarist Cristobal Selamé, described by Grammy Award winner Sérgio Assad as “inspired… every note comes straight from his heart,” is the only student ever to win the Guitar Concerto Competition at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Following this achievement, he was invited to major festivals, including the Mauro Biasini International Festival and Competition, where he performed the Giuliani Concerto Op. 30.
Classical Guitar Magazine praised his playing, noting that he handled the rapid passages of the first and third movements with ease and performed the Andantino with sensitivity and expressive control.
Biography
Selamé was born in Santiago, Chile, and first traveled to the United States in 2012 for a short summer visit. During this time he met Dr. Corey Whitehead, who described him as “the most talented 17-year-old classical guitarist I have met in 20 years.”
Education
He later returned to the United States to study with Sérgio Assad at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he completed his Bachelor of Music. He subsequently entered the master’s program at the Hochschule für Musik in Darmstadt under Tilman Hoppstock.
In Santiago, Selamé had previously studied with Jaime Calisto at the Modern Music Institute and with Luis Orlandini at the University of Chile.
Masterclasses
He has participated in masterclasses with internationally renowned guitarists including David Russell, Marcin Dylla, Alvaro Pierri, Richard Savino, and Manuel Barrueco.
Personal
Outside of music, Selamé enjoys hiking in Chile and exploring new landscapes throughout his home country.
Performing at Siccas Guitars
Every classical guitarist who performs at Siccas Guitars brings a distinct musical path to the instrument — shaped by years of study, competition experience, and the particular musical tradition they have chosen to inhabit. The classical guitar demands sustained technical commitment and a deep engagement with a repertoire that spans from the Renaissance through to works written for living performers. It is an instrument whose full possibilities only reveal themselves over time.
