LONG VERSION
(298 words)
Emmanuel Jacob Lacopo is a post-classical guitarist, composer, and educator whose work explores what the guitar can become in the 21st century. Through a practice that moves fluidly between performance, composition, improvisation, and technology, he creates immersive musical experiences that expand traditional notions of the instrument and its role within contemporary music.
Recognized as one of CBC’s 2023 “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians,” Lacopo has developed a distinctive artistic voice that bridges classical guitar with live electronics, experimental production techniques, progressive music, and collaborative creation. Whether performing on classical guitar, electric guitar, synthesizers, or custom electronic setups, he approaches music-making as an open-ended process of discovery, treating the guitar not as a fixed tradition but as a platform for exploration.
His work is driven by a fascination with sonic possibility and by a desire to build connections between musical communities that do not often intersect. This approach has led to projects that move comfortably between concert halls, experimental music spaces, recording studios, and educational settings.
In 2023, Lacopo released Eastman (People Places Records), a reimagining of the music of Julius Eastman for guitar and electronics that was named a CBC “must-hear” recording. His upcoming album, Dreamscapes and Our Modern Contradictions (Watch That Ends the Night Records), marks his first full-length release of original music and reflects several years of artistic research into the relationship between acoustic performance, electronic transformation, and the possibilities of 21st century classical music.
Alongside his creative work, Lacopo is an active educator, lecturer, and advocate for new approaches to music-making. He holds degrees from Yale University and McGill University, including a Doctor of Music degree focused on post-classical practice. Through performances, recordings, teaching, and online content, he continues to engage audiences with new perspectives on creativity, collaboration, and the evolving possibilities of the guitar.
short version
(176 words)
Emmanuel Jacob Lacopo is a post-classical guitarist, composer, and educator exploring what the guitar can become in the 21st century. His work blends classical guitar, live electronics, improvisation, and contemporary production techniques to create immersive musical experiences that move beyond traditional genre boundaries.
Named one of CBC’s 2023 “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians,” Lacopo performs with multi-instrument setups and real-time electronic processing, approaching the guitar as a flexible and evolving creative tool. His 2023 album Eastman (People Places Records), a reimagining of the music of Julius Eastman for guitar and electronics, was recognized by CBC as a “must-hear” recording. His upcoming album, Dreamscapes and Our Modern Contradictions (Watch That Ends the Night Records), is his first full-length release of original music and reflects years of artistic research into post-classical music, sound design, and contemporary listening practices.
Lacopo holds degrees from Yale University and McGill University, including a Doctor of Music focused on post-classical practice. Through performance, composition, teaching, and research, he seeks to expand how musicians and audiences engage with the guitar and contemporary music today.