CC Duo

Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan, CC Duo, have set a benchmark in the classical guitar world with their award-winning recordings, major orchestral commissions and competition performances. They are second (2023) and third (2021) prizewinners in the Guitar Foundation of America’s International Competition, arguably the world’s most prestigious guitar ensemble competition. Following their debut album, Focus, Tracy Anne Smith (American Record Guide) declared that, “with sensitive and authoritative interpretations, Adam Cicchillitti and Steve Cowan retain their individuality while communicating like old friends.” Focus was awarded Classical Recording of the Year at the East Coast Music Awards in 2021 while the duo’s third album, Intimate Impressions, was nominated in the same category in 2022.

The duo is an established force in contemporary guitar music. At the inaugural “21st Century Guitar” conference in Ottawa, Steve and Adam commissioned and premiered 9 new electroacoustic works written by ICEBERG, a New York-based collective of acclaimed composers. In 2022, the guitarists undertook their most ambitious project with the support of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, commissioning 6 new works for two guitars and orchestra with Ottawa-based ensemble Thirteen Strings. The pieces will be recorded in 2024 with the Leaf Music label and Montreal ensemble Collectif9. The duo has toured Canada with Début Atlantic (2018-2019) and Prairie Début (2020-2022), and will be touring British Columbia (April 2024), Texas (March 2025), and the U.S. East Coast (October/November 2025).