LONG VERSION

(226 words)

Emmanuel Jacob Lacopo is a post-classical guitarist and composer whose work explores what the guitar can become in the 21st century. Rooted in collaboration and experimentation, his practice moves freely between classical guitar, live electronics, progressive metal, improvised music, and post-rock, creating immersive sound worlds that blur the boundaries between genres.

Recognized as one of CBC’s 2023 “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians,” Lacopo’s performances often feature multi-instrument setups and real-time electronic processing, treating the guitar as a modular, expandable instrument rather than a fixed tradition.

His 2023 album Eastman (People Places Records) reimagines the music of Julius Eastman for guitar and electronics and was described by CBC as a “must-hear” recording. Moving between layered electric and classical guitars, the project engages with Eastman’s radical musical language while opening space for Lacopo’s own compositional voice.

His upcoming album, Dreamscapes and Our Modern Contradictions (The Watch That Ends the Night Records), will be his first full release of original music. Combining classical guitar with contemporary sound processing, the project explores the emotional and sonic possibilities of the instrument today.

Alongside his artistic work, Lacopo is an active educator and advocate for new approaches to music-making. He holds a Master of Music from Yale University and a Doctor of Music from McGill University, and regularly shares ideas about guitar, creativity, and contemporary music with a growing international audience online.

short version

(138 words)

Emmanuel Jacob Lacopo is a post-classical guitarist and composer exploring what the guitar can become in the 21st century. His work blends classical guitar with live electronics, progressive metal, improvised music, and post-rock, creating immersive sound worlds that move fluidly across genres.

Recognized as one of CBC’s 2023 “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians,” Lacopo often performs with multi-instrument setups and real-time electronic processing, approaching the guitar as a modular and expandable instrument.

His 2023 album Eastman (People Places Records) reimagines the music of Julius Eastman for guitar and electronics and was named a CBC “must-hear” recording. His upcoming album, Dreamscapes and Our Modern Contradictions (The Watch That Ends the Night Records), will be his first full release of original music.

Lacopo holds degrees from McGill University and Yale University and shares his work through performance, recording, and teaching.