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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Friday, February 8, 2013
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The St. Louis Classical Guitar Society will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
its founding during 2013. The first St. Louis appearance in ten years of the
world-renowned Paco Pena Flamenco Dance Company on February 28 at the
Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL campus, is the first of several high-pro-
file activities presented to raise community awareness of its Jubilee year. In
addition, on June 9--in commemoration of the actual date of its founding as the
George C. Krick Classic Guitar Guild in 1963--the Society will hold a gala
Commemorative Dinner at the Missouri Athletic Club, 405 Washington Ave,
St. Louis, MO, 63102, with focus on the singular achievements of the St. Louis
Classical Guitar Society. St. Louis guitarists and educators both past and present who have sustained and furthered the art of the classical guitar in St. Louis
and beyond will be featured as special guests. In addition, the Gala will also
include a retrospective look at classical fretted instrument players hailing from
St. Louis who were among the most important national figures of the guitar,
mandolin, and banjo: William O. Bateman (1825-1883), William Foden (1860-
1947), and George C. Krick (1872-1962). Gala Sponsorships are being sought
and the public is invited. For further information call the St. Louis Guitar Society at (314)567-5566.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Friday, February 1, 2013
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A new novel by author Ann Ireland, The Blue Guitar, focuses on an international classical guitar competition. Here is a synopsis of the book from Dundurn Press:
At the International Classical Guitar Competition in Montreal,
top-flight musicians fly in from all over the world to compete in a
grueling week. A career can be made or lost here, and the slightest
mishap - a lapse of memory, a shaking right hand, a broken fingernail -
can ruin years of preparation.
More than a decade ago Toby made the finals in a similar competition
but suffered a breakdown and is only now venturing back into the fray.
Middle-aged Lucy is tired of playing bar mitzvahs and weddings and is
determined to perform the recital of her life. Trace is a kayaking
teenager from the West Coast who seems careless in her talent.
Judges and contestants alike battle and scheme to achieve what they
desiremost. There is much more than pretty music being performed
on this stage. Watch the book trailer here.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, January 21, 2013
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On November 30, 2012 the internationally renown Canadian music producer,
Bonnie Silver, attended a ceremony presided over by The Honourable Lois
Brown and was presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee
Medal. The medal was presented "By Command of Her Majesty The
Queen”..."in commemoration of the sixtieth anniversary of Her Majesty’s
Accession to the Throne and in recognition of your contributions to Canada”
Bonnie Silver is an internationally admired Canadian musician and prolific
record producer, and is credited with having recorded, edited and produced
over 500 recordings. Many of the artists she has worked with include
classical guitarists Norbert Kraft, Lorenzo Micheli, Jeffrey McFadden,
Marcin Dylla, Jason Vieaux and Pavel Steidl (to name but a few). Her work
is recognized internationally and includes multiple Grammy-nominated CD's.
The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal is a tangible way for Canada
to honour Her Majesty for her service to this country. At the same time, it
serves to honour significant contributions and achievements by Canadians.
For more information, please contact
Mariette Stephenson
mstephenson@guitarsocietyoftoronto.com
www.guitarsocietyoftoronto.com
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Friday, January 18, 2013
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LOS ANGELES (January 15, 2013) – The Music Department as well as the College of Arts and Humanities is proud to welcome Julian Coryell as a member of the Spring 2013 teaching faculty. Julian has played guitar on TV shows such as The X Factor and American Idol, as well as The Tonight Show and David Letterman. He's also played on numerous records for artists such as Aimee Mann, Jewel, Marc Broussard and Linda Perry. He has performed and toured with many other artists including Alanis Morissette, Aimee Mann, Leonard Cohen, Madeleine Peyroux, Dave Brubeck, and Billy Cobham among others. He is also a member of the Coryell Auger Sample Trio (AKA CAST) and Line Forms Hear.
Son of famed guitarist Larry Coryell, Julian’s musical gifts were nourished and he began writing music at a young age. The Coryell household was never lacking in musical visitors, and Julian was exposed to everyone from Miles Davis to James Taylor, each adding to the mix of influences from which Julian is inspired. We are certain that he will inspire the students at CSU Dominguez Hills and look forward to the upcoming semester.
Julian joins a guitar program that also includes Matthew Greif of the Grammy Award™ winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) and well-known classical guitarist and author Dr. Scott Morris (Supervisor of Guitar Studies).
For information on the Department of Music at CSU Dominguez Hills please visit: http://cah.csudh.edu/music/
For information on the Guitar Program at CSUDH please email Dr. Morris at ssmorris@csudh.edu
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, January 14, 2013
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The 13th New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes BE A PLAYER: Exploring Entrepreneurship and Creating Performance Opportunities July 9 - 14, 2013 Mannes College The NewSchool for Music 150 West 85th Street, New York City, New York Sharon Isbin, Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Eliot Fisk, Antigoni Goni, Zaira Meneses, The Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, Richard Patterson, Newman & Oltman Guitar Duo, Mariano Aguirre, Francisco Roldán, Carlo Valte, Álvaro Mendizabal, and flutist Laura Gilbert, among others. Early Registration (Save $100!) before February 15! For registration and more information, visit: www.newschool.edu/mannes/guitaremail: mannesguitar@newschool.edu or call (212) 580-0210 ext. 4883 Join an international array of top guitarists for New York’s only week-long guitar festival of concerts, master classes, rehearsals, and hands-on workshops that offer an intensive, interactive experience for classical guitarists of all levels. July 9 – 14, 2013. Join us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NYGSMannes "We invite guitar players of all ages to this year’s seminar, where you can learn how to be proactive in creating opportunities to perform, to establish careers in music, or to just have fun playing for others.” --Laura Oltman & Michael Newman, Artistic Directors For information on registration, ticket reservations, full schedule, faculty bios, audio and video clips, sponsors info and web site links, please visit the web site at www.newschool.edu/mannes/guitar New York Guitar Seminar at Mannes email: mannesguitar@newschool.edu web: www.newschool.edu/mannes/guitar Tel: (212) 580-0210 ext. 4883
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, January 7, 2013
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The School of Music at the University of Missouri-Columbia ("Mizzou”) will be holding undergraduate and graduate classical guitar auditions for the fall, 2013 class of Anthony GLISE: — Monday, February 18, 2013 — Saturday, March 2, 2013. FOREIGN STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. Guitarists outside the US may submit a DVD. Non-US citizens must pass the TOEFL ("Test of English as a Foreign Language”), but guitar lessons with Glise may be conducted in English, French or German. Scholarships and a graduate Teaching Assistantship in classical guitar (INCLUDING FULL TUITION WAIVER) are available. See: http://music.missouri.edu/graduate/gradfinancialsupport.html Please contact School of Music recruiter, John Slish for more information: phone: [USA] + 573-882-4471 email: slishj@missouri.edu For more information, contact: Anthony GLISE Adjunct Asst. Professor of Guitar University of Missouri-Columbia glisea@missouri.edu
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
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The 2011 GFA International Concert Artist Competition winner Vladimir Gorbach is on the latest edition of the new guitar podcast, All Strings Considered hosted by guitarist Scott Wolf. Gorbach discusses how he prepared for the competition, his tour repertoire, and his philosophy on competitions in general. For more information about the podcast, check out this page.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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THE INTERNATIONAL GUITAR FESTIVAL BRNO 2012 By
Jim Skinger
Brno is the
second largest city in the Czech Republic. This historical city, nestled in the
surrounding south Moravian hills, boasts a skyline filled with magnificent
church spires, golden domes and an ample supply of 17th/18th century
buildings, to satisfy the most ardent architectural historian.
Wide "pedestrian only” streets lined with sidewalk cafes,
restaurants and endless varieties of shops and stores extend well beyond the
historical district. This year marked the 21st anniversary of this
Festival, under the direction of Vladislav Bláha.
Looking back to past programs and events celebrated here, it
is a virtual who’s who of the guitar world that have participated, no doubt giving it the status as one of
Europe’s most important guitar festivals. Divided into four main parts, the program included: Concerts, Competitions, Master Classes
and afternoon Lectures and Concerts. From the 5th to the 9th of August, six
concerts were presented, each featuring traditional repertoire as well as new
works, often composed by the performers themselves.
The Competition, known as Guitar
Talent, is organized yearly by the Czech Guitar Society. All competitors are divided into two age
groups. Group I is required to
play one round and group II, two rounds.
Group 1
1st place: Barbora Kubiková, Czech Republic, Vera Danilina, Russia
2nd place: Ronald Janeček, Slovakia
3rd place: Martin Cabá, Czech Republic
A guitar made by Czech guitar
maker Pavel Kriha was presented to 1st place winner Barbora Kubiková,
and a guitar made by the Czech company Strunal, was presented to Vera Danilina. Group II
1st place: Adam Woch, Poland
2nd place: Dimitry
Kudryaustov
3rd place: Oleg Sergeev,
Czech Republic, Igor Klokov, Russia, Darius Lampkouski, Poland
The first prize winner, Adam Woch,
received a Guitar made by luthier Masaki Sakurai
All competition winners received a
generous supply of guitar strings from Savarez and D’Addario, plus accessories such as guitar
support by FEEL, nail files from SOFIT and handcrafted guitar cases from IKA
Company – Jiri Bednar.
In closing, I say wholeheartedly that
the Brno festival remains one of the biggest and most successful guitar
festivals in Europe. The quality of the performances, staff and students that
attend make this festival one of the most enjoyable experience one can hope
for.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
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Hamilton International Guitar Festival 2012
by Heather Morand Clark
The second annual
Hamilton International Guitar Festival took place in Hamilton Ontario from July
13 to 15, 2012. In only its second
year of existence in this industrial city on the shore of Lake Ontario, the Hamilton
Festival boasted registrations more than double the number from the previous
year. Students ranged in age from
teens to seniors, and came from the local area, as well as further away: Ottawa,
New Brunswick, Rochester and Cleveland.
Director Emma Rush was pleased with attendance at the concerts also,
having brought in performers Jorge Caballero, Shawn Pickup, Isaac Bustos, Gohar
Vardanyan, Kevin Manderville, and the
Laura Young/Frances Pappas duo that call themselves Lagrimosa
Belta.
Jorge Caballero
kicked things off with his concert at the MacNab Street Presbyterian Church, a different
venue being tried out this year.
Last year’s venue, the Hamilton Conservatory, was still the scene of all
lessons, lectures, the vendor fair, and the afternoon concerts.
Jorge Caballero’s
concert began with a Bach Partita, and continued with five pieces by Isaac
Albeniz. After the intermission,
only one more piece, but what a long one!
Jorge is becoming well known for his performance this past year or so of
Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an
Exhibition arranged by Kazuhito Yamashita. Yamashita has not performed this in many years, and no other
guitarist has attempted it either, until Jorge took it on. This amazing piece of music is a
personal favourite, in both orchestral and piano versions, and now too on
guitar. Jorge’s phenomenal
technique is breathtaking to watch.
Listening to the orchestral version again afterwards, with its loud
brass and loads of percussion, after having heard it on guitar, one wonders how
it is that Jorge was able to convey everything from the original composition
without the feeling that there was anything missing! A masterful arrangement and stunning performance!
Halifax guitarist
Shawn Pickup, who lived and studied in Germany for a number of years, was
featured in the Saturday afternoon concert. He performed music by Nuccio D’Angelo, Franz Schubert,
Joaquin Turina, and Alberto Ginastera.
The Ginastera Sonata for guitar ends with an energetic finale that pushes
both instrument and player to the limit.
The percussive nature of it is such that it is amazing that the guitar
survives!
Saturday evening’s
concert was a double feature, with Isaac Bustos performing in the first half,
followed by Gohar Vardanyan of
Armenia. Isaac’s programme
included selections by Albeniz, two Sonatas by Scarlatti, Rodrigo and Giuliani. Gohar joked that she would not be
playing the same selections as Isaac, despite the printing error in the
programme stating that she would!
She played Introducción y Rondo, Op. 2, No. 2 by Dionisio
Aguado, Un Sueño en la Floresta by
Barrios, two Spanish pieces by Sainz de la Maza and Albéniz, Invocación y Danza by Joaquín Rodrigo,
and Fantasie Hongroise by Mertz.
The next concert,
Sunday afternoon, with Kevin Manderville, was the scene of a bit of comedy, as
after the first piece, Leo Brouwer’s Canticum,
there was a prolonged standing ovation.
Kevin joined in the humour, leaving the stage and coming back a couple
of times, feigning surprise at such adulation! He eventually continued with Suite in A minor by MM Ponce, Dos
piezas Afro-Antillanas, and the Suite
del Recuerdos by Jose Luis Merlin.
The final concert
of this year’s festival was by the duo of Frances Pappas(voice) and Laura Young(guitar). This wonderful combination was making a
return appearance in Hamilton, having performed for the Society in its first
year of existence. The
appreciative audience was treated to a variety of music by Bach, Kellner and
Dowland of the 16th and 17th centuries, through to such
contemporary composers as Carlo Domeniconi and Stefan Hakenberg.
Next year's
festival, already in the planning stages, will feature, among others, David Leisner, a return appearance by Johannes Moller, along
with his wife and duo partner Laura Fraticelli and others, to be determined. The festival next year will also include a competition for the first
time. Two preliminary rounds will take place on Friday the 12th and
Saturday the 13th, and the finals will be a public concert on the evening of
Sunday July 14th. (Festival dates are July 12-14). More information will be available soon
on the Guitar Hamilton web site, www.guitarhamilton.com
or by email addressed to Emma Rush at info@guitarhamilton.com
.
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Posted By Connie Sheu,
Monday, November 19, 2012
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Crown of The Continent Guitar Festival
by Aaron Green
Last August, I had the great fortune to spend a week in one of the most beautiful and inspiring places on earth.
Beautiful in scenery and inspiring to be among those who love guitar as much as I do. I am speaking of the Crown
of the Continent Guitar Workshop and Festival in Bigfork Montana, on the shores of the majestic Flathead Lake.
The Festival has taken the basic mold of the National Guitar Workshop and successfully expanded on it in many
significant regards. That which stayed the same is the guitar being represented in all it’s incarnations and the world
class status of the teaching staff. Many NGW teaching alum such as Jody Fisher and Andrew Leonard. Matt Smith,
Mark Dzuiba and James Hogan are on staff and with guest artists such as Dennis Koster, Lee Ritenour, Julian Lage
and Patty Larkin. Previous years have seen such artists as Scott Tennant and Pat Metheny, Joe Bonamassa, Steve
Lukather among others.
The Crown of the Continent Foundation has set their sights very high and it shows in every facet of this annual
weeklong guitar celebration. The workshop and festival takes place at the Flathead Lake Lodge, a world class
retreat with cabins for guests, gourmet meals, thousands of acres of woods and fields. For those not attending guitar
classes there is horse back riding, fishing, swimming, boating and all of 45 minutes away, Glacier National Park,
from which the Crown of the Continent got it’s name.
Every evening there was a concert to attend, held in a massive festival tent. These concerts were very well
attended not only by those taking part in the workshop but also people who lived in or were visiting the area.
Julian Lage, Dennis Koster, Lee Ritenour, Sonny Landreth, Chris Hillman Herb Pedersen, Patty Larkin along with
special guest Dave Grusin all gave stellar performances. To attend these concerts night after night was a real treat
and the response from the crowd made sure the artists knew that. There was also a student concert so those
attending could show off their stuff and that was not only fun but impressive as well.
The 3rd annual Yamaha six string theory competition finals were held during the festival, at a beautiful art deco
inspired theater in downtown Bigfork. The competition is for all styles of guitar, broken up into 6 categories, blues,
rock. acoustic, jazz, country and classical. The event was open to the public and the venue was packed. I was
most impressed with all the finalists and did not envy the judges the job of trying to determine who was the winner.
After all was said and done, the winner who emerged was Karl Marino, from Quebec, classical guitar.
Congratulations Karl!
One aspect of the Festival very much worthy of note is the scholarship program for gifted young guitarists who
otherwise would not be able to attend. In classical guitar there were two, both extremely talented guitarists, one
from Japan and the other from New York. They took daily classes with Andrew Leonard and Dennis Koster and by
the end of the week had assimilated many years worth of insight and musicality. The classes were conducted in a
group setting a la Masterclass with these young virtuosos sitting side by side with older and avid afficianados. This
underscored the feeling of the entire week, which was one of mutual support and enthusiasm across all genres, it was
kind of like a little bit of heaven.
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