Antoniy Kakamakov

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. At the age of 13, Antoniy had already won three International Guitar Competitions. 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 prestigious all arts boarding school Idyllwild Arts Academy (Colburn Affiliate), where his teachers were Terry Graves and Michael Kudirka. After finishing his high-school education, Antoniy was awarded a scholarship to attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Music - one of the major guitar departments in the country. He received his Bachelor’s degree from SFCM in 2007, under the tutelage of David Tanenbaum, and continued his studies there as a Master’s candidate under famed guitarist/composer Sergio Assad.

Antoniy has received many awards and prizes from guitar competitions of National and International levels. Antoniy is the first prize winner of the Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival and Competition and is currently the competition director of the festival. In April 2008, Antoniy won first prize of the first of its kind Wesley Day Solo Classical Guitar Recording Competition providing the winner with a CD Recording and a tour around several UC and State colleges and universities. Antoniy received second place in the SFCM Concerto Competition and is a prize-winner of the Portland, Louisville and Tennessee Guitar Festivals and Competitions.

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 edition of the leading guitar festival in the USA - Guitar Foundation of America. 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. Antoniy has performed at yet another major festival in the US - La Guitarra California. Antoniy appeared during David Tanenbaum's concert at the festival, where they gave the the second ever performance of a newly written 30 minute piece by noted Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina "Repetence," featuring three classical guitars.

Antoniy  is an active performer all over the USA. He has appeared in concerts and given masterclasses at La Guitarra California, Guitar Foundation of America, O1C Concert Series, South Bay, Sierra Nevada, Sacramento Guitar Societies, San Francisco City College, Humboldt State University, Colombia College, Modesto Junior College, UC Santa Cruz and Cal State University East Bay. He has appeared at the Portland, Louisville, Tennessee, Sierra Nevada Guitar Festivals and others. Antoniy performs with the Pacific Guitar Ensemble - a unique group of 8 guitarists consisting of the SFCM guitar instructors and a few exceptional alumni. Their debut CD on the boutique classical guitar label GSP is coming out in October and will be followed by a tour including concerts for the OMNI Series, Napa Valley Opera House, Raven Theater, The Palms and others. Antoniy also performs with the Silver and String duo with his flutist Tracy Goodwin and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. 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.

Take classical guitar lessons with a seasoned, award-winning and professional classical guitarist! I am an active performer throughout the country as a soloist and member of the Pacific Guitar Ensemble alongside David Tanenbaum and Peppino D'Agostino. I graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and hold bachelor's, master's, and professional studies diplomas. I am currently the classical guitar faculty at the top rated charter Oakland School for the Arts. 

I welcome students at any age or skill level! I focus on classical guitar playing but can also provide lessons in other styles. 

I am very passionate about music and take joy in teaching this art to kids and adults! I have been teaching classical guitar for over ten years and take great enthusiasm in it. I focus on proper technique, which will allow the guitarist to play relaxed and with ease, musicality, which is such an essential part of classical guitar music, as well as having a beautiful sound. I will provide you with a good approach to guitar playing, including exercises to strengthen your technique and ways to practice in order to build a solid playing foundation. Each and every student is unique and I do everything possible to tailor my lessons to that specific individual, taking in consideration their playing style as well as personality. I am patient, but I will also challenge my students to progress naturally.