COREY WHITEHEAD

Dr. Corey E. Whitehead, was one of five flamenco guitarists in the world chosen by the legendary Manolo Sanlucar to receive the full scholarship to study in Cordoba at "La forma y naturaleza de la guitarra flamenca" and is the only guitarist from the United States ever chosen for this scholarship, having done so twice, in 2009, and 2010. He also composes flamenco music for Mel Bay Publications, having written two books that are in press for 2024 release. "Mel Bay Repertoire Series: Formative Works for Flamenco/Classical Guitar" and "The Flamenco/Classical Guitar Tradition, Volume II" both being co-authored with Ricardo Marlow. Dr. Whitehead performs classical period (1780-1850) repertoire on a guitar made by Gennaro Fabricatore, (Napoli, 1808) later repertoire on a guitar by Robert S. Ruck, (Miami, 1974) and performs flamenco on a guitar made in 1966 by Manuel Reyes Sr. (Cordoba). Dr. Whitehead also plays Renaissance and Baroque literature on lute, a replica of an 8-course lute from 1627, from the British Museum made by Allen Clark and David Rubio (1974, England). Dr. Whitehead is a Professor of Music at Fresno State, and joined the faculty as lecturer in January 2003, after having received the Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Music Performance under the guidance of Prof. Thomas Patterson in May 2002 at the University of Arizona. Since then, he has studied extensively with the legendary Cordoba-born flamenco guitarist Juan Serrano, and with the legendary Manolo Sanlucar, and with luminaries such as Manolo Franco, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Romero, and Paco Serrano. Dr. Whitehead was appointed in May 2006 as Juan Serrano's replacement in Guitar Performance, at California State University, Fresno after an international search. Dr. Whitehead has received international acclaim for his direction of the program. Under his leadership, the program continues to be widely considered as the top flamenco guitar program in the United States.