Andre Feriante’s upcoming concert at the Kirkland Performance Center marks his 20th year performing on Valentine’s Day. For the award-winning virtuoso guitarist, it also marks 20 years of showcasing his blend of flamenco, classical and Brazilian music. Playing at Benaroya Hall for years, he recently brought his unique, multi-instrument experience to the Eastside.

Playing for Valentine’s Day seems appropriate for Feriante, as love is a common theme in much of his artistic work that also includes poetry and painting. Although he has a had a strong affection for Spanish-style guitar playing since his teens, his repertoire now includes ukulele, banjo and the harp guitar.

The son of an Italian father and American mother from Eastern Washington, Feriante grew up near Rome, where he lived until he was 17. There, he was immersed in a millienia-old culture and architecture that helped encourage his artistic passion when he first started to play the guitar at 13, studying at the Overseas School of Rome.

One of the things that attracted him to the instrument, he says, is its nostalgic voice, its capacity to express the bittersweet and the mysterious. As a teenager, he said, its power fascinated him.

“As an adolescent our feelings are so deep,” he said.

The sense of mystery that came with the instrument seems to fit well with Feriante, who says he was destined to be a musician. At a Washington summer camp, years before he picked up the guitar, he said he and a friend were discussing what they would do when they grew up. For some reason, he declared he would be a guitarist, despite the fact he had little to no interest in it at the time.

“It kind of just came out,” he said. “I kind of knew guitar was going to be my life… The guitar had chosen me. I didn’t have a choice.”

After studying at a conservatory for five years, he performed his first concert in Rome at 17. Traveling to Colombia, he played concerts before coming back to the States to study at Whitworth College in Spokane, where he found himself heading up the guitar department at age 19. While teaching, he was accepted to study in Spain under guitar master Andres Segovia, now regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Training under him, Feriante said, was the highlight of his musical studies.

After a brief stint in computer programming, Feriante moved to Seattle and began a 13-year career playing at a downtown club. It was also then he began exploring other artistic outlets, writing poetry and painting.

“My true self rushed in,” he said.

It was also around this time he played his first St. Valentine’s Day concert, which proved to be a hit. He would go to perform it for years at Benaroya Hall until he decided to bring it over to Kirkland two years ago.

“I noticed there was a big appreciation for what I’ve been doing,” he said of the Eastside.

Over the years, he has released numerous CDs, mostly solo, including “Bohemian Boulevard,” which won “Best World Album” NAR Lifestyle Awards. Other albums include “Novella, Ukulele Mosaique,” and “Beatles Masquerade” in which Feriante plays classic Beatles’ songs.

Though he sets the appropriate tone for his audience, he likes to create a conversational atmosphere that personalizes the music.

“I respect my audience,” he said. “I basically put the energy out there like an open door… My music affects everybody differently. There is an intention behind it for people to look inwardly.”

At the same time, Feriante also believes silence plays an integral part of a performance.

“Music is all about playing with silence,” he said. “And silence is really what you are. That is your actual essence. I want you to actually go inward and enjoy the beauty of the mystery of the human experience.”

Recently, Feriante said he has also sought to incorporate other instruments into his concerts. He’s also performed alongside other musicians. At his upcoming concert, he will be accompanied by tenor Steve Thoreson, pianist Overton Berry, dancer Stella Rossi, with Steve Kim on the bass and Anil Prasad on the tabla – a pair of hand drums. In addition to gypsy songs, there will also be tribute songs to Segovia and the Beatles.

The concert will be held at 8 p.m. at the Kirkland Performance Center. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.kpcenter.org.

Listen to Feriante’s music and purchase his CDs at www.andreferiante.com.