Mandolin and Guitar Chamber Music Workshop with Keith Harris.

An Activity of The Mandolin Academy in Venice

We are pleased to announce that Keith Harris will be holding a chamber music workshop for plucked string ensemble in St. Augustine, Florida, at the beginning of February 2018.

Schedule - February 1 to 5:

Thursday evening: arrival, settling in, discussion of coming days

Friday: 9:00 -12:00 workshop; 12:00 – 4:00 lunch break and opportunity for sightseeing; 4:00 -8:00 workshop

Saturday and Sunday: same

Monday: 9:00 – 1:00 activities and discussion

Costs:

·         Workshop Fee  -  $350

·         Hotel in Historic District - TBA

Optional Extension:

·         Evening of Tuesday, February 6 to noon, Saturday, February 10

·         Extension Workshop Fee - $350

·         Hotel in Historic District - TBA

The workshop is part of the activities of The Mandolin Academy in Venice. The MAiV is an organization offering all kinds of activities around the mandolin. As the name suggests, it is based in Venice (Italy) but operates internationally as well. Keith Harris is Director of Mandolin Studies for the MAiV, and is of course well known internationally as both a performer and teacher.

It will be a “playing workshop”, like the enormously successful one in Philadelphia in 2016. So players of all standard instruments in a plucked string ensemble / mandolin orchestra are welcome. If you feel nervous about whether you meet the technical level required, please talk to us. On the other hand, nobody need be afraid of being underchallenged. The workshop is a special opportunity for anybody, and especially so for classical guitarists seeking ensemble experience.

The repertoire for the Florida workshop will consist largely of compositions and arrangements by Keith himself, along with other music he particularly admires. All the music has been carefully chosen not only because of its proven popular success, both with players and audiences, but especially because it naturally exemplifies many musical and technical aspects which Keith believes are worth examining.

•             Please apply by December 8, 2017. The total number of participants will be limited.

•             And please do your music friends the favor of letting them know about the workshop.

The nearest airport is Jacksonville. Attractive and inexpensive accommodations within convenient distance are readily available in the historic old town; specific hotel information will be sent shortly.  Please talk to me (Bob Hammond) about all logistical aspects of the workshop, and please feel free to contact Keith directly keith.harris@mandolin.academy for any issues related to the workshop music.  This division of labor will allow Keith to focus on the music, whereas being “stateside,” I am in a better position to coordinate practical matters. You now have my email address, and you can also phone or text me at (301) 351-1364.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you in the nation’s oldest city: historic St. Augustine, Florida!

Best regards,

Bob Hammond

Former Vice President

Classical Mandolin Society of America (CMSA)