Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world's top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres; the GFA International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championship. He has twice won the coveted NEA Solo Recitalist Grant, and took First Prize in the Music Teachers National Association Guitar Competition. He also won the Silver Medal in Venezuela's VIII Concurso International de Guitarra "Alirio Diaz".
His Sonata Romantica CD, (now re-released as "Mexico"), is considered one of the definitive recordings for the instrument. Acoustic Guitar magazine wrote “…I have seldom heard a more beautiful album. Other young guitarists have excellent technique, but few have such style and musicality, and Chapdelaine's beautiful tone is the nearest to Segovia's that I can recall." Michael is Professor of Music and head of guitar studies at the University of New Mexico.
His teachers included the great Spanish maestro Andres Segovia.