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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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The Volterra Project is an innovative
experiment in classical guitar training offering a 360 degree formative
course with highest level guitar master classes, music physiology
training, and arts business management seminars taught by experienced,
internationally renowned professionals.
The mission of the Volterra Project is to help young
guitarists develop well-rounded and non-competitive approaches to
performing, to foster a generation of accomplished young guitarists who
are prepared for the multiple aspects of performing careers, and to
bring the guitar outside traditional performance venues into places of
community access. Faculty include former GFA winner Antigoni Goni and Carlos Barbosa-Lima. For more information, see the website at http://www.volterraguitar.org/
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Tuesday, March 06, 2012
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Dear friends,
We are happy to announce the dates and program of the competition which
will take place in terms of the 11th International Veria Guitar
Festival-Greece.
With respect to the tradition of the previous years of the festival, the
guitar competition aims to provide guitarists the opportunity to show
their artistic skills to its full extend. In order to pursue this target
we have worked on the following: The entire program selection in the
second round of both categories is left on the participants. Also, the
first price of the "no age limit” category consists of a financial
reward plus two paid concerts in á highly distinguished venue in Greece
in addition to a cd-album production by the label "Dissonance records”.
The competitions consists of two categories. A "no age limit” and an "up
to 21 years old” one. It will take place in Antoniadios Culture Hall of
Veria - Greece between 18 and 21 of April 2012. From February 10 and
onwards, you will be able to visit the festival website ( Veria Guitar
Festival - Home ) in order to receive information about accommodation,
participation fee as well as information concerning masterclasses,
concerts, lectures and guitar exhibitions included in the festival.
Please see the website of the festival here.
We are looking forward to meeting you!
With best regards,
Kostas Makrygiannakis
Artistic director of Veria Guitar Festival
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, March 05, 2012
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The 11th Annual Texas Concert Artist Competition (at UT Dallas) was held March 1-3, 2012. This unique Texas competition, designed to showcase outstanding
classical guitar students, awarded approximately $8,000 in cash
prizes to the winners. Over the three-day event, students competed
and attended master classes and concerts by internationally recognized
guitarists. This year's guest artists were Jeff Cogan and international artists Duo Melis. The competition winners were:
First Place: Chad Ibison
Second Place: Silviu Ciulei
Third Place: Mark Edwards
Fourth Place: Matthias Lang Congratulations to all the finalists.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, March 05, 2012
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With great sadness we report the sudden passing of the
eminent luthier, John Gilbert, on February 23, 2012 at his home in Woodside,
California. John was recognized by
the Guitar Foundation of America with the Industry Leadership Award at the 2010
GFA Festival in Austin, Texas. He is survived by his wife of more than 60 years, Alice, daughters,
Jane, Valerie, Linda and a son, William. Another daughter, Eileen, an artist,
passed away in 2003.
As a self-taught luthier who built his first instrument in
1965, John retired as the Chief Tool Engineer for Hewlett-Packard in 1974 to
build guitars full time. Gilbert
Guitars ushered in a new era of instruments with their great tonal clarity,
ability to project in large halls, and distinctive design. Receiving a U.S.
Patent for his tuning machine design, John began production of the Gilbert
Tuners in 1990, which are now made exclusively by his son-in-law, Greg Matonis,
who also trained as a machinist.
In addition, John was a mentor to many of the current generation of
luthiers, notably his son, William, who carries on the legacy of his father’s
approach and design.
A more thorough chronicle of John and his work will appear
in the next issue of Soundboard. A memorial service will be held on March 10, 1:30 PM at St. Denis Church, 2250 Avy Ave, Menlo Park, CA and details on a Celebration of Life event are forthcoming.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Updated: Thursday, February 23, 2012
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Texas-based guitarist and professor Sabine Madriguera passed away on February 22, 2012 after a courageous two-year battle with cancer. Sabine was an integral part of the guitar world in both her Texan community and the international GFA network.
Born in Berlin, Germany, Sabine held a master’s degree from the Hochschule fuer Musik "Hanns Eisler" in Berlin. She was the Director of Guitar Studies at Collin College in Plano, Texas. Sabine was a dedicated pedagogue, and her student ensembles were awarded first prizes in the competition at the UT Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition. A tireless advocate for guitar youth education, Sabine created the first Youth Division for the Texas Annual Guitar Competition at UT Dallas in 2010. She was also a member of the Advisory Board to the Allegro Guitar Society and was the first director of the Guitar Orchestra for Cross Timbers Youth Orchestra (CTYO).
In 1996, Duo Madriguera was formed together with her husband Enric. The duo enjoyed an active regional and international performance schedule and was featured at international festivals. They released their first CD on the Plano based Encore label. In 2009 the duo embarked on a four-city tour of Peru co-sponsored by Partners of the Americas and the U.S. Embassy. More recently, Sabine was a founding member of the Presti Quartet, the first all female guitar ensemble in the US. Sabine previously served as a juror for the GFA International Concert Artist Competition and will be missed by GFA staff and members alike. A press release about her passing can be found on the Collin College website.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Sunday, February 19, 2012
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The festival "Prospectives XXIIè Siècle" (Perspec- tives 21st Century) will begin this musical journey in several concert halls near Perpignan next month, March, with a concert of four Concertos for guitar and orchestra written by the composer- guitarist Jaume Torrent.
Previously Jaume Torrent has performed as a soloist on several occasions in the Festival "Aujourd'hui Músicas" (Music of Today) in Perpignan, interpreting works by Xavier Benguerel and Jordi Cervelló. On this occasion Jaume Torrent was invited to perform 4 of his own works by Daniel Tosi, Director of the Festival. Maestro Tosi is also a noted conductor and an enthusiastic proponent of the music of living Catalan composers.
The unique idea of presenting four Concertos for guitar and orchestra in two concerts (next March 2 and 11 in Sainte Marie and Pontiella respectively), with the composer himself as soloist, is a project which probably has never been done before (or at least in the history of the guitar).
JAUME TORRENT
Concerts of Music
for Guitar and Orchestra
Festival "PROSPECTIVES XXIIè Siècle”
Perpignan-Roussillon (France)
March 2nd and 11th 2012
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Friday, February 17, 2012
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SIERRA NEVADA CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL & COMPETITION 2012
Festival: July 11-15, 2012
Location: Squaw Valley Chapel
444 Squaw Peak Drive, Olympic Valley, California
Festival Co-hosts: Samantha Wells and Larry Aynesmith
  
Devoted to excellence but presented in a laid back spirit of
camaraderie, Sierra Nevada Guitar once again sets the stage for a
memorable weekend of music in one of the world's most spectacular
locations near Lake Tahoe and a chance to meet new musical friends and
colleagues from around the world. Plan on booking this event early as
attendance is limited!
Events take place at the acoustically excellent Squaw Valley Chapel, The Village at Squaw Valley, and more locations to be announced, all within walking distance. The Village at Squaw Valley
is the ultimate four-season mountain resort.
Dining, shopping, and other concessions are available within easy
walking distance to The Village at Squaw Valley and at nearby Graham's
Restaurant.
• Festival Guest Artists:
CELSO MACHADO, MARC TEICHOLZ, CONNIE SHEU, T.SINGH
 _  __  _ 
MESUT OZGEN, SAMANTHA WELLS, GIACOMO FIORE, M.OPHEEComplete festival information can be found on the Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Society website, here.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Friday, February 17, 2012
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Ticino Musica 2012 - Summer Courses in Lugano, Switzerland July 15-28, 2012 Lorenzo Micheli - Guitar Ticino Musica is a workshop for young musicians from all over the world who, through study and performance together with internationally renowned musicians and teachers, widen their cultural horizons and deepen their artistic experience as a preparation for their professional life.
TICINO MUSICA, c.p. 722, CH-6903 Lugano
Tel. 0041 91 980 08 72, Fax 0041 91 980 09 71
ticinomusica@bluewin.ch www.ticinomusica.com
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
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Derwyn Holder has composed a pleasantly modern-sounding Concerto for Classic Guitar and Orchestra (3 mvmts., 17:30), and wants to let GFA members know that it is available for consideration and programming. He has mounted 2-minute synthesized excerpts of each movement on YouTube to give classic guitarists a way to check out the sound and pursue further contact with the composer, if interested. The link is http://youtu.be/PAzsClrhvZg - Thomas Heck
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, February 06, 2012
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VIth International Guitar Competition "Ruggiero Chiesa," to be held in Camogli (Genoa) on 20-23 September 2012. The prizes are 8,000 Euros and concerts ("Città di Camogli" 1st Prize = 4,000Eu, 2nd = 2,000 Eu, 3rd = 1000 Eu. Additional "Ruggiero Chiesa" prize of 500 Eu for the best interpretation of a 19th century work, and a "Francesco Desgaco" prize of 1000 Eu to be awarded by the audience.
Preliminary: Two works selected from the following collections plus a work selected by the competitor (Overall: 15 minutes):
Carulli, 6 Andanti, Op. 320; Sor, Studi, Op, 29; Paganini, 37 Sonate, MS 84; M Giuliani, Giulianate, Op. 148.
Semifinal: One work chosen from the following plus a free program (Overall: 20 minutes):
Henze, Drei Tentos; Martin, 4 Pièces brèves; Ohana: Tiento; Petrassi, Nunc; R. R. Bennett, Impromptus; Takemitsu, Folios; Krieger, Ritmata; Bettinerlli, Sonata breve.
Final: Free program of 35 minutes, to include one of the following: Giuliani: 6 Rossiniane, Gran Sonata eroica, or Sonata Op. 15; Sor: Sonata Op. 22 or Op. 25, Fantaisie Op. 7 or Op. 30 or Op. 59; Aguado, 3 Rondò brillanti, Op. 2; Paganini, Grand Sonata, MS 3; or Regondi, Rêverie (Nocturne), Op. 19.
All 19th century works should be from Ruggiero Chiesa editions (published by Suvini-Zerboni, www.esz.it); all free-choice works should be original compositions for guitar, lute, or vihuela. Age limit 32. Applications due by August 1, 2012. For further information or applications, email concorsochiesa@libero.it
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