Versatile and fearless…that’s the perfect way to describe Guy Few’s attitude and performances on stage. Guy grew up in Saskatoon, and made his orchestral debut with the SSO in the 1980s.
His interpretations have been noted by the international press, “outrageous… simply phenomenal” (Le Devoir, Montreal) and “sheer brilliance” (L.A. Times). He has performed with many Canadian and US symphonies as trumpet, piano, corno and vocal soloist.
Guy has debuted concerti by well-known composers including Melissa Hui, Glenn Buhr, Mathieu Lussier, Michael Occhipinti and Jacques Hetu. In 2017, 2018 he will present a new concerto by John Estacio.
A prolific recording artist, Guy has released CDs on numerous labels including S.N.E., Arsis Classics, CBC Musica Viva, CBC SM5000, Naxos, Hänssler Classics and MSR Classics labels. Recording awards include a JUNO nomination, (CCP/Paetkau/MSR), a Grammy for Penderecki Credo (OBF principal trumpet/Rilling/Hänssler), and Best Classical Orchestral Album from Just Plain Folks Music Awards (Bacchanale, TCO/Kevin Mallon/MSR). Guy also received a 2017 JPF nomination in the contemporary classical category (CCP Vol 1/MSR).
Guy has appeared on CBC-TV, CTV, BRAVO, TV5 and European television broadcasts and is heard regularly on CBC Radio, and NPR. He is a Yamaha artist.
In addition to his active career as a soloist, Guy remains a committed and prolific chamber artist in a range of ensembles including Few Mara Duo, Bellows and Brass, Few and Fewer and Project Aria. Guy has been a featured guest at acclaimed summer festivals including Festival of the Sound, Tanglewood, Takefu International Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Sweetwater, Elora Festival and Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival.
Guy has been a keynote speaker for brain injury associations in Canada and the USA. The presentations concern his two brain surgeries for Cavernous Hemangioma, the resulting memory loss and complications. Guy has been invited to speak on this topic for CBC TV and Radio (Peter Gzowski, Shelagh Rogers, This is my Music), Global TV affiliates, CTV, NPR, as well as symposia such as Bach and the Brain, Surgery Grand Rounds and OMEA. His speech, “Mokuso”, features meditations for pain and stage fright. He is also featured regularly in the international press.