Reverberations Live

Obituary for Julian Byzantine

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:53:59 GMT

Julian Byzantine - Classical Guitarist

Born 11.06 1945. Died 15 April 2026 aged 81

Julian Byzantine is one of the world's most widely acclaimed classical guitarists. His performances in 77 countries have taken him to many of the most prestigious musical venues in the world from Carnegie Hall to the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Wigmore Hall and Sydney Opera House. He is frequently cited in the press for his artistry, individual style and virtuosity, and the New York Times at Carnegie Recital Hall commented, “the current season may not produce another guitar recital as auspicious as Julian Byzantine’s a formidable artist with a style of his own”.

Born in London, Julian Byzantine was the first recipient of an ARCM diploma for guitar at the Royal College of Music, under the tutorship of John Williams. During this period the Ralph Vaughan Williams and Gilbert Foyle trusts awarded him scholarships to further his studies with Andrï Segovia, Julian Bream and Alirio Diaz.

Throughout his career, Julian Byzantine's recordings for EMI/Classics for Pleasure (UK), Meridian Records (UK), and Walsingham Classics (Australia) have been lauded highly by leading international periodicals “In this recording Julian Byzantine proves just why he is one of the most respected names in the guitar world” - “an elegance and finesse not heard in other performances of the same pieces”- Classical Guitar (UK), “superb command of his instrument. - Hi-Fi News and Record Review (UK), “one of our best ambassadors” “utterly musical and lyrical” - “cultured musician”- Gramophone (UK).

In the field of concerti Julian Byzantine has appeared with major orchestras in Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, which have included the Royal Philharmonic, Scottish Chamber, City of Birmingham and BBC Symphony. He has achieved wide popularity through extensive international concert tours for the British Council, and from radio broadcasts and television appearances worldwide. In the early part of his career his rise to prominence on the guitar scene at large has been linked by many to a unique television documentary he was invited to present on the life and guitar music of Villa Lobos. This highly acclaimed production for Thames Television, one of the UK's premier television networks, was broadcasted in many countries around the world.

In the area of contemporary music he has collaborated with eminent composers such as Pierre Boulez, Peter Maxwell Davies and Peter Sculthorpe. The Arts Council of Great Britain, Australia Council, and Shell Darwin International Guitar Festival have provided generous support for his commissions from composers in the UK, Australia and Latin America. Notable compositions written for his duo partnership with flautist, Gerhard Mallon, include “Simori” by Peter Sculthorpe (Australia) and “Suite Buenos Aires’” Maximo Diego Pujol (Argentina). Both these works have been recorded by the duo for Walsingham Classics.

Julian Byzantine has achieved distinction as an educator; at the age of twenty-one he was appointed a Professor of Guitar at the Royal Academy of Music (the youngest such appointment in the history of the institution at that time), and for over thirty years was head of classical guitar studies at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Australia. He has presented master classes and lectures in thirty-five countries, which have included invitations from world-renowned schools of music in Europe and America. He is author of “Guitar Technique Rationalised’” MelBay/Chanterelle, which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive publications on guitar technique

Smith College | Lecturer of Music in Guitar

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 18:31:03 GMT

The Department of Music at Smith College invites applications for a three-year, benefits eligible faculty position in Guitar at the rank of Lecturer to begin July 1, 2025. Lecturers at Smith College teach the equivalent of five courses per year, perform department service, and are voting members of the department. In this position, teaching responsibilities will normally include weekly lessons to twelve students, two sections per semester of MUS 961: Electric Guitar Lab/Ensemble, and weekly one-hour chamber music coaching as needed. Successful candidates will also be expected to perform regularly with colleagues as part of the artistic programming of the department. In addition, the position entails administration and oversight of the guitar program, including equipment and space management, and supervision of pro-rata guitar instructors. Other departmental service, such as committee work, will also be expected.

We seek an accomplished musician with substantial college or university teaching experience and a strong record of performing and teaching excellence. Candidates should have the ability to teach in a variety of musical styles from classical to folk, pop, and rock on acoustic and electric guitar and at a variety of levels from beginning to advanced. Applicants must possess a Master’s degree or higher. Candidates from groups underrepresented in academia are encouraged to apply.

Located in Northampton, MA, Smith College is the largest women’s college in the country and is dedicated to excellence in teaching and research across the liberal arts. A faculty of outstanding scholars interact with students in small classes, as advisors, and through student-faculty research projects. Smith College offers opportunities to foster faculty success at every career stage, such as those listed here. The College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire and Mt. Holyoke Colleges, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Students cross-enroll and faculty cross-teach across the Five Colleges.

Details about the Department of Music may be found athttp://www.smith.edu/academics/programs-courses/academic-programs/music.

Submit application at http://apply.interfolio.com/159387 with a one-page cover letter, curriculum vitae, diversity/inclusion statement, contact information for three confidential letters of recommendation, and a document with links to no more than 20 minutes of video footage showing performances on acoustic and electric guitar. Candidates who advance in the search may be asked for additional materials. Review of applications will begin on January 6, 2025.

As set forth in our mission and values, Smith College is committed to promoting a culture of equity and inclusion among students, staff and faculty. The College will not discriminate in employment on the basis of age, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, age, veteran status, physical or mental disability, or any other classification protected by law. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all state and federal laws that prohibit discrimination.

2024 IYC Results

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:03:36 GMT

GFA XX International Youth Competition Senior Division (Ages 15-18)

1st Place:

Elle Davisson (USA), Jim and John D'Addario First Prize

2nd Place:
Bihan Ren (China)

3rd Place:
Preston Hong (USA)

4th Place:
Zehao Li (China)

GFA XX International Youth Competition Junior Division (Ages 14 and under)

1st Place:
Xuanyi Lu (China)

2nd Place:
Nuttachai Chaivanich (Thailand)

3rd Place:
Simon Nivy (Japan)

4th Place:
Yiyi Li (China)

Congratulations to all of the incredible finalists for their hard work, perseverance, and masterful artistry. You have truly raised the bar of what can be achieved.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person next year at the 2025 GFA convention!

2024 ICAC Results

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 18:54:15 GMT

Rose Augustine Grand Prize:
Leonela Alejandro (Puerto Rico)

2nd Place:
Hao Yang (China)

3rd Place:
Dragos Ilie (Romania)

4th Place:
Francisco Luis (Portugal)

Congratulations to all of the incredible finalists for their hard work, perseverance, and masterful artistry. You have truly raised the bar of what can be achieved.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year at the 2025 GFA convention!

Enric Madriguera Obituary

Tue, 14 May 2024 20:49:01 GMT

Enric was born on April 7, 1950 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was an internationally recognized teacher and performer of the classical guitar and a fixture in the Dallas Guitar Community. He was the head of Guitar Studies at Eastfield College from 1976 to 2009, and from 2009 until his death, he was the Russell Cleveland Professor of Guitar Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Madriguera was a tireless educator who developed students of all ages and built a strong network of support that helped many of his contemporaries and young professionals create a stronger classical guitar community and promote classical guitar culture.

Enric began his study of classical guitar in New York City as a teenager. In 1969 he moved with his wife, Denise Jordan (1951) and first-born daughter Christina to Spain where he continued his studies. After a year of study at the Royal Conservatory in Madrid, Enric transferred to the Instituto Musical Oscar Espla in Alicante to study with Jose Thomas, who was Maestro Segovia’s assistant to his Master Class in Santiago de Compostela. During the summers of 1970 – 1972 Enric was a scholarship recipient from the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend the Segovia Master Classes in Santiago de Compostela in Alicante where he was able to study with the “father of the classical guitar,” Maestro Segovia. In 1973 Enric earned his Certificate from the Instituto and he placed first in the International Guitar Competition at a Master Class held by Jose Thomas. Following this achievement, he gave concerts in Madrid and Palma de Mallorca. Upon his return to the states in 1973, Enric’s second daughter Juliana, was born. Dr. Madriguera earned his master’s degree in humanities in 1984 and his Ph.D. in humanities in 1993, both from University of Texas at Dallas.

Enric performed across the globe and is a two-time Fulbright Scholar. He shared his artistry, enthusiasm, and deep well of knowledge across the U.S., Latin America, Spain, China, Vietnam and Japan. His legacy includes leading yearly trips for colleagues and students to study and perform across Spain and co-founding the Texas Guitar Festival and Competition which has been held at University of Texas at Dallas since 2001.

Enric was a celebrated performer and recording artist as a soloist, with his wife Sabine Madriguera (1970-2012), and with many ensembles. His recordings include Old World/New World (Encore), Guitars of the Americas (Documentary Arts), Duo Madriguera (Encore), New Music Ensemble Voices of Change: Voces Americanas, A Tribute to Eduardo Mata; Frida—Concert Suite by Robert Xavier Rodriguez (CRI); Voz y Guitarra with soprano Kathryn Evans, and his most recent recording Remembranzas De Mi Guitarra (Albany).

Enric was joyful in countenance and spirit. He never met a stranger and he loved music, travel, languages, good food, wine, and almost any adventure. In addition to countless friends, colleagues, and students all over the world, he is survived by his two cats, Felix and Frida; daughters, Christina and Juliana; grandchild Lee; sister Eulalia; fiancée Lori Ann Jones. He is preceded in death by his wife Sabine (1970-2012); his parents, Enrique Madriguera (1904-1973) and Patricia Gilmore (d. 1992), and his sister Maria Madriguera (1944-2008).

A Memorial Mass will be held at 1:30 p.m. with Rosary to begin at 1:00pm on Friday, May 17, 2024 at St Joseph Catholic Church, 600 S Jupiter Rd., Richardson, Texas 75081.

Recuerdos: Remembrances of Dr. Enric Madriguera will be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 18, 2024 in the Jonnson Performance Hall at the University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Rd., Richardson, TX 75080.

Duke University Guitar Instructor Opening

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:07:49 GMT

Position ID: Duke-Music Department-NRR [#27313]
Position Title: Part-time Instructor
Position Type: Non-regular rank faculty
Position Location: Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States [map] sort by distance
Subject Area: Music / Guitar
Appl Deadline: 2024/04/15 11:59PMhelp popup* (posted 2024/03/08, listed until 2024/05/15)

The Department of Music at Duke University seeks to hire a part-time instructor to teach applied guitar to music majors, minors, and non-majors. Up to 10 hours per week of instruction will be offered both individually as well as in a small class setting. Candidates should have an established career as a teacher and performer. A master's degree or higher, or equivalent professional experience, is required. This is a one-year non-regular rank position, with the possibility of renewal. Please submit a CV and cover letter by April 1, 2024.

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Apply here.

Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
Cover letter
Curriculum Vitae
And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:
music.duke.edu
email address
919-660-3310

Duke University Department of Music
PO Box 90665
Durham, NC 27708

Jason Vieaux Comes Home

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:33:29 GMT

Jason Vieaux Comes Home

Nurtured By Buffalo's Musical Community, A Prodigy Return

Buffalo native and Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux filled UB’s Slee Hall Saturday night, performing a wonderfully eclectic program to a grateful, hometown audience. The performance was the highlight of the 2024 Buffalo International Guitar Festival; I had the opportunity to interview Vieaux on Friday, March 8th prior to his master class.

A Buffalo Childhood

Jason discussed growing up in Clarence in a working class family who loved music. He recalled that his father “had a (flamenco guitarist) Carlos Montoya recording in his collection long before I was born, and my mom loved the Getz/Gilberto album (1964).”

Jason said that when he was around five years old “my mom brought home this 3/4 size guitar with nylon strings and a thick neck and I knocked around on that for a while. Later, I enrolled in The Calasanctius School (image and background above) which I loved attending.”

Jason vividly recalled one of the artistic outreach performances that inspired him to dedicate his life to classical guitar.

Sometimes all of the elementary kids would pile into the cafeteria to watch a clown, a juggler, or a movie. This one day in the second grade, I was seven, these four guys with Abbey Road beards, John Lennon glasses, and tuxedos came and played Ravel, Darius Milhaud, John Dowland, and Boccherini. It was the Buffalo Guitar Quartet.

(Authors Note: The Buffalo Guitar Quartet was a pioneering chamber music ensemble founded in 1976 which disbanded in 2000. It consisted of John Sawers, James Wolf, Leonard Biszkont and Jeremy Sparks. Click here for a 1979 New York Times article discussing their Carnegie Hall performance and here for their discography.)

At age seven, Vieaux began studying guitar in earnest under the tutelage of Jeremy Sparks. Although Jason modestly describes early praise from established musicians, it is clear that his precocious talent was quickly recognized and nurtured by Buffalo’s musical community.

Vieaux’s memories of Buffalo are “fairly happy;” he recalled “as a kid, I assumed every city featured modern art. I took three buses to Calasanctius from Clarence. We would pass through Delaware Park and there was art everywhere. That’s how I remember Buffalo: filled with murals, art, and sculptures. It’s a great place and I love coming back.”

Pat Metheny and Kismet

Renowned composer-guitarist Pat Metheny wrote the “Four Paths of Light” guitar suite for Vieaux and the parallels in their respective careers are notable. Metheny gained fame as a jazz guitar prodigy in Kansas City and became a professor at the University of Miami at age 18.

After his training in Buffalo, Vieaux began his studies at the Cleveland Institute of Music and joined the faculty immediately following graduation. He co-founded the Guitar Department at The Curtis Institute of Music (Philadelphia) in 2011 and is “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone).

I have written extensively about Pat Metheny and his music in this space here, here, and here.

The story of the creation of “Four Paths of Light” for Vieaux is fascinating; I can do no better than the conversation between Vieaux and WRTI’s Susan Lewis. I gratefully include it in its entirety (above) with express permission from WRTI.

Jason Vieaux in Concert

Bach is a staple of the classical guitar repertoire despite the fact that it did not exist during the Baroque. Vieaux performed two famous string sonatas of his own arrangement; he opened with Bach’s Violin Sonata #1 in G Minor, BWV 1001.

The transposition from violin to guitar is, in this case, a challenging one, as the violin’s two lowest strings (G and D) are part of G Minor’s core triad, allowing the violinist to add drama by attacking the bass in root position. These “open” strings reverberate through the sonata as demonstrated by Hilary Hahn’s performance of the Sonata’s Fourth Movement (Presto).

Vieaux’s technique is characterized by precision, especially in his right hand, which plucks the guitar strings and acts as the guitar’s “bow” in the Violin Sonata. Vieaux mimics the violin’s long, legato lines with an active right hand, creating a flurry of precise, plucked notes. [Seen here.]

As the guitar and cello have similar registers, Bach’s Cello Suite #1 in G Major may have posed fewer arranging challenges, but the challenge of communicating the sublimity of Bach in the suite’s famous “Prelude” remains.

Listen below to Alisa Weilerstein’s excellent interpretation of what has been called the “perfect piece of music.”

Vieaux brought out the Prelude’s gentle radiance, balancing the resonant, warm bass against Bach’s meandering river of a melody.

Vieaux gave a spirited performance of Leo Brouwer’s 1981 guitar composition “El Decameron Negro” before opening the second half of the concert with Metheny’s “Four Paths of Light.”

In Part 1 we hear one of Metheny’s compositional signatures, developing melody from complex chord progressions, in this case leading to an abrupt conclusion. “Four Paths of Light” is technically demanding, as the guitar’s low, middle, and high strings are simultaneously employed in an intense dissonant, whirl. Vieaux explained that Metheny advised him to access his “inner Pantera.”

Western New Yorkers have a special relationship with Toronto bands, as the inevitable Buffalo gig is sometimes the full extent of their US market penetration. It was therefore appropriate that Vieaux’s encore was a charming, lighthearted arrangement of Rush’s “Limelight.”

Vieaux performed for approximately two hours. There was no amplification or written score for reference.

Jason Vieaux’s return to the childhood home that nurtured his precocious musical gifts was a wonderful reunion.

May there be many more.
See Frank Housh's original post here.

32 nd Long Island Guitar Festival 2024

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 20:38:51 GMT

April 24 – 28, 2024
Setauket Presbyterian Church
5 Caroline Avenue
Setauket, NY 11733

LIGFestival@aol.com

Performers include Ana Vidovic, the Eden-Stell Guitar Duo, Pavel Ralev (US Debut) Huy Thanh
Nguyen, Nicoletta Todesco, Harris Becker, James Erickson, Laura Lessard and Owen Wang,
winner of the 2023 LIGF High School Classical Guitar Competition.

Concerts, lectures and demonstrations, Festival 2024 will include our National High School
Classical Guitar Competition, Master Classes and Workshops for Guitarists and Performers, and
Ensemble Showcases.

The winner of the 2024 National High School Classical Guitar Competition

EUROPEAN GUITAR AWARD

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 20:24:32 GMT

March 14th-17th 2024

Application requirements

The European Guitar Award is presented to young, creative guitarists and duo projects with guitar. We are looking for guitarists who are most convincing in combining an independent and intense artistic signature with high instrumental quality.

For the first time, this prize is being awarded worldwide, meaning that all musicians born after March 17, 1994 are eligible to take part.

All applicants must present themselves to the jury exclusively with their own compositions or with compositions based on traditional themes. There are no restrictions on the (construction) type of guitar, the stylistic orientation of the music or the duration of the individual works. However, the total playing time of 15 minutes may not be exceeded in the final round and the music must be performed live by a maximum of two musicians (including the composer himself). In the case of duo formations, there are no restrictions regarding the second instrument.

Application

Application Deadline: 14.01.2024
Finals: 17.03.2024

Online applications must be sent in full to the following address/uploaded to the following platform by the deadline.
Submissions after the deadline cannot be considered.

The application consists of

1. a video (uncut, played live, without technical post-processing) of 15 to 20 minutes in length, on the basis of which an initial selection of participants will be made.
2. an application form with the following information: Full name, date and place of birth, nationality, postal address, e-mail address, telephone number
3. a photo
4. a short musical CV
The musicians/projects selected for the final will be informed of the decision by 10.02.24.
Please register for the application via the online registration form. We will then send you a link to our application platform. You can upload all the required documents there.

Online-Registration https://www.hfmdd.de/en/studium/wettbewerbe-und-stipendien/european-guitar-award

Final

The final will be held on Sunday, March 17, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the concert hall of the “Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden”. Up to 12 projects will be selected from the submissions. Each finalist's performance will be limited to 15 minutes. If interested, each participant is entitled to use the PA for electro-acoustic amplification as well as the possibility of a short sound check.

Committee

The committee’s decision shall be final.
· Yamandu Costa (BRA)
· Don Ross (CAN)
· Zoran Dukic (CRO)
· Pavel Steidl (CZ)
· Mathias Duplessy (FRA)
· Stephan Bormann (GER)
· Thomas Fellow (GER)

Award

The European Guitar Award is presented to outstanding creative guitarists by jury decision. Musicians are sought who succeed most convincingly in combining an independent and intense artistic signature with high instrumental quality.

The winner(s) of the European Guitar Award will receive a total prize money of 12,000.00 euros. The prize can be shared.

The prize also includes a CD production on the German label DOCTOR HEART MUSIC and the publication of a composition by SCHOTT MUSIC, one of the world's leading publishers.

In addition, the prize offers the opportunity to give concerts in various venues in Germany through the mediation of organizers.

The audience prize is a DANIEL STARK Performer 2 (crossover nylon string with case) worth 2,800.00 euros and an AER Alpha acoustic amplifier worth 1,075.00 euros.

D'ADDARIO will also sponsor prize boxes for all winners and a D'Addario Artist Prize for one finalist selected by the jury, which includes a one-year contract as a D'Addario Artist.

The award ceremony will take place during the prizewinners' concert on Sunday, March 17, 2024, 7:30 p.m. in the concert hall of the “Hochschule für Musik Carl Maria von Weber Dresden”

Rotenburg Guitar Festival 2024

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 19:07:19 GMT

The “Rotenburg Guitar Festival 2024” (Rotenburger Gitarrenwoche 2024 – established in 1982) will take place from July 20 – July 28, 2024.

Artists and Instructors: Pavel Steidl (Czech Republic), Kristina Vårlid (Norway), Émilie Fend (France), Nicola Yasmin Stock (Germany), Julius Ebert (Germany)

Programme: individual lessons, masterclasses, chamber music and guitar orchestra, work-shops, guitar and music exhibitions – for beginners, intermediates, music students, and guitar teachers

At the International Summer Concerts of the Rotenburg Guitar Festival world-class artists will be presented:

July 31, 2022: Pavel Steidl (Czech Republic)
August 3, 2022: Émilie Fend (France)

August 5, 2022: Kristina Vårlid (Norway)

August 7, 2022: Concert of the participants and guitar orchestra

Please feel free to ask for more information. Our leaflet will be released in March 2024; it also contains information in English. Please order at:

Rotenburg Guitar Festival
c/o H. W. Kaufmann
Vagtstr. 6
D-28203 Bremen (Germany)
Phone: +49-15755989703

E-mail: nicola.y.stock@rotenburger-gitarrenwoche.de

Rotenburg Guitar Festival's homepage: https://www.rotenburger-gitarrenwoche.de/en/

IEC Results

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:22:45 GMT

1st Place:
Mela Guitar Quartet (UK)

2nd Place:
Cicchillitti-Cowan Duo (Canada)

3rd Place:
Duo StriAgo (Italy)

4th Place:
MoNo Guitar Duo (Italy/Poland)

Congratulations to all of the incredible finalists for their hard work, perseverance, and masterful artistry. You have truly raised the bar of what can be achieved.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person next year at the 2024 GFA convention!

IYC Results

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:20:45 GMT

GFA XIX International Youth Competition Senior Division (Ages 15-18)

1st Place:

Muxin Li (China), Jim and John D'Addario First Prize

2nd Place:
Hwanhee Cha (South Korea)

3rd Place:
Penelope Shvarts (USA)

4th Place:
Flavius Wagner (Germany)

GFA XIX International Youth Competition Junior Division (Ages 14 and under)

1st Place:
Hilbert Chen (USA)

2nd Place:
Preston Hong (USA)

3rd Place:
Tae Kim (USA)

4th Place:
Justin Chen (USA)

Congratulations to all of the incredible finalists for their hard work, perseverance, and masterful artistry. You have truly raised the bar of what can be achieved.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person next year at the 2024 GFA convention!

ICAC Results

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 20:19:00 GMT

Rose Augustine Grand Prize:
Marko Topchii (Ukraine)

2nd Place:
Kevin Loh (Singapore)

3rd Place:
Xukun Alan Liu (Canada)

4th Place:
Florent Aillaud (France)

Congratulations to all of the incredible finalists for their hard work, perseverance, and masterful artistry. You have truly raised the bar of what can be achieved.

We look forward to seeing everyone in person next year at the 2024 GFA convention!

UCLA Music 2023 - 24 Part-Time Lecturer in Guitar

Fri, 2 Jun 2023 18:02:40 GMT

POSITION OVERVIEW

Position title: Lecturer

Salary range: See Table #15 for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $68,247 - $91,718.

Review timeline: Applications close on June 4, 2023 with an anticipated hire date of October 1, 2023.

APPLICATION WINDOW

Open date: May 5, 2023

Next review date: Sunday, Jun 4, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Sunday, Jun 4, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The UCLA Music Department invites applications for a part-time lecturer position in classical guitar. Salary commensurate with applicant qualifications and experience; percentage of appointment commensurate with studio size.

Responsibilities include individual instruction of graduate and undergraduate classical guitar students, teaching classical guitar studio class and/or coaching guitar chamber music ensembles; participation in departmental auditions and juries, recruitment of new students, and instruction of one or more classical guitar classes for non-majors from across the university.

Applicants should have an established regional, national, and/or international reputation as a performer and teacher with expertise and experience in broad repertoires. A post-baccalaureate degree is preferred.

The application deadline is June 4, 2023, with an anticipated appointment date of October 1, 2023.

Applications should include a letter stating interest in the position and a philosophy of teaching, comprehensive resume or curriculum vitae, statement of contributions to diversity, online audio and/or video links representing the applicant’s playing, and names and contact information for at least three professional references.

QUALIFICATIONS

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

-Applicants should have an established regional, national, and/or international reputation as a performer and teacher with expertise and experience in broad repertoires.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

Document requirements

Cover Letter - State interest in position.
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Statement of Teaching - State teaching philosophy
Statement on Contributions to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - An EDI Statement describes a faculty candidate’s past, present, and future (planned) contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about how UCLA thinks about contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion, please review our Sample Guidance for Candidates and related EDI Statement FAQ document.
Misc / Additional - Audio and/or Video links representing coaching and/or playing
Statement of Research (Optional)

Reference requirements

3-5 required (contact information only)

Contact information only required for a minimum of 3 individuals.

Apply link: https://recruit.apo.ucla.edu/JPF08423

Help contact: gomesh@schoolofmusic.ucla.edu

CAMPUS INFORMATION

As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs – With Updated Interim Amendments. All Covered Individuals under the policy must provide proof of receiving the COVID-19 Vaccine Primary Series or, if applicable, submit a request for Exception (based on Medical Exemption, Disability, Religious Objection, and/or Deferral based on pregnancy or recent COVID-19 diagnosis and/or treatment) no later than the applicable deadline. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of receiving the most recent CDC-recommended COVID-19 booster or properly decline such booster no later than the applicable deadline. New University of California employees should refer to Exhibit 2, Section II.C. of the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Attachment for applicable deadlines. All Covered Individuals must also provide proof of being Up-To-Date on seasonal influenza vaccination or properly decline such vaccination no later than the applicable deadline. Please refer to the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program Attachment. (Capitalized terms in this paragraph are defined in the policy.) Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.

JOB LOCATION

Los Angeles, CA

Click here to apply.

Guitar Oasis International Music Festival

Wed, 3 May 2023 18:25:09 GMT

Dear Students Former Students Faculty and friends,

We are excited to announce this year's second edition of GuitarOasisInternationalMusicFestival .

We are humbled by the success of our first edition, and now we're offered by isola de liri municipality and its mayor massimiliano quadrini with the kind help of actress/singer Valeria Altobelli to open a second location .

The two locations :
1. Isola del Liri Théâtre and New Orleans Auditorium (an hour from Rome)
June 26-July 1 2023.

2. Torchiara Baronial Palace (an hour from Salerno or island Capri)
July 3-8 2023.

Our amazing prices - All inclusive with classes tuition, accommodation and meals:
450 euro for one week , 800 euro for two weeks.
So you can come for one week or two weeks for double the fun!

Film media and regular composition with violin will be combined with our guitar classes, masterclasses, special performance lectures ( on guitar improvisation , film and media subjects and performance) and concerts.

So you can come for one week or two weeks for double the fun!

Wonderful international award winning faculty -
Guitar- Tali Roth ( The Juilliard School ), Luciano Tortorelli ( Salerno Conservatoire), Eugenio Becherucci (Frosinone Conservatoire).
Film and media music and composition - Grammy Winner Sharon Farber (Hollywood)
Carmine Moscariello (Bari Conservatoire)
Violin - Mauro Tortorelli ( world renowned);
Paolo Piomboni ( Santa Cecilia orchestra Rome)

Special distinguished guests-
Valeria Altobelli, Carlo Silliotto, Federico Ferrandina , Roberto Cardinalli

Click this link for more detials.

Guitar Olympiad 2023 | Ensemble Competition "Chiron Centaur"

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 19:57:57 GMT

under the auspices of UNESCO

20 - 30 August 2023

Competition "Chiron Centaur"

for Guitar Ensembles

As part of the Guitar Olympiad 2023,

there will be a different Competition for High Level Guitar Ensembles only. Candidates will compete in Eric Penicaud's composition "The Gallop of Chiron Centaur".

The 1st Prize of the Competition will be awarded with

a Gold Olympic Medal (to all members),

a monetary Prize of UNESCO (minimum 2.000 euros)

and an invitation to the 2024 Guitar Olympiad.

Guitar Olympiad 2023

Ensembles Competition "Chiron Centaur"

Participation Approval Phase

For all ages

The Story

The ancient Greek idea of the Olympic Games was involved in the promotion of other games and also led to the establishment and promotion of the ancient guitar competitions, which over the years were established in various regions of ancient Greece, such as the ancient city of Iolkos, which stood on the site of the present city of Volos. In the same area lived the mythical Teacher Chiron Centaurus, the first Guitarist and Teacher as mentioned in Mythology.

The Guitar Olympiad aims to highlight the prestige of the Guitar, from prehistoric times to the present day.

The Guitar Olympiad also aims to motivate everyone to participate in a new world history of the guitar as well as to promote and reward the participants.

Participation info:

Global promotion for each participant begins immediately after the declaration of participation in the Approval Phase and lasts for many months.

All participants in the Approval Phase will receive an electronic Certificate of Participation in the Guitar Olympiad.

Each Ensemble Member should complete a separate Application for Participation to be viewed separately and receive the electronic Certificate of Participation to the Guitar Olympiad, thus ensuring their participation in the Olympiad in Volos.

All Approval Phase Participants, will receive a world alphabetical ranking and their name will be included in the World List 2023 of Olympic Guitarists, Ensembles, Orchestras, etc.

It will be an historical guitar list under the auspices of UNESCO.

The next Phase (Final Phase) will be on 20 - 30 August in Volos.

Guitar Ensembles that cannot travel to Volos, can compete in the e-Olympiad with a video on YouTube.

The promotion for everyone will be huge.

We will use all means of technology and information, so that the events to reach billions viewers.

So you can ask for the economical help of big and small sponsors also your Ministries and Embassies.

Join the Guitar Olympiad 2023, the biggest guitar event ever.

Represent your country in a unique event under the auspices of UNESCO and international institutions of high prestige.

Claim a place in the World Guitar Ranking 2023 and write your name in golden letters in Guitar History.

Give yourself the opportunity to become known to billions people on the earth.

Registration for the Approval Phase has begun.

Request the entry form to the Committee and our Partners in your country or send us a message to let you know where you can be contacted.

Promotion of your participation with your name and the flag of your country, will begin immediately after the date of receipt of the application.

Guitarists, composers, ensembles, orchestras, etc., in all types of guitar, all kinds of music, all ages can take part.

The deadline of Participations is on 30th of April 2023.

The Contest Prizes will be:

- Medals

- UNESCO Awards

- Awards of major Companies

- Many thousands euros that will be given by Ministries, Embassies, Foundations, Sponsors, etc.

- Many concerts in different countries.

Companies and sponsors can also participate in the large professional exhibition that will take place in Volos next August.

Also, all guitarists over the age of 60 who have a rich resume and will attend Volos will be awarded with Honorary Olympic Medals (gold, silver, bronze) without being required to take part to the competitions.

Participation fee

The Participation fee for each participant is 200 euros (is sent via Western Union or by bank deposit)

includes:

1. Participation in Two Phases of Ensembles Competition (Approval, Final) 2. Participation in the Opening Ceremony

3. Free entry to all Guitar Olympiad events (Guitar Expo, Concerts, Master Classes, Lectures, etc.)

4. Enrollment in the Historical List of Olympic Guitarists 2023

Participants who do not wish to compete retain all other rights to participate.

Apply now to win a great and long promo period.

The promotion starts immediately after registration of participation.

For the smooth preparation and running of the Guitar Olympiad, interested parties are requested

to send the videos and the Application Forms as soon as possible to the e-mail: info@foudoulis.gr

No later than April 30, 2023

The results will be announced on the website:

https://www.facebook.com/GuitarOlympiad

Download the file to receive the application form.

Austrailian Guitar Quartet Launch

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 18:31:29 GMT

Vladimir Gorbach joins forces with the Grigoryan brothers and Andrew Blanch to launch the Australian Guitar Quartet. Their two sold out concerts are scheduled February 28th and March 1 as part of the "Live at The Great" concert series in Sydney, Australia.

Described as the hottest launch of the season, the new group – Australian Guitar Quartet – is starring four of Australia’s most virtuosic guitar heroes appearing together for the very first time. Featuring the enigmatic Slava and Lenny Grigoryan, young-gun Andrew Blanch and internationally acclaimed GFA winner Vladimir Gorbach, the quartet will present a kaleidoscopic programme spanning 300 years taking you on a journey from baroque to bossa and beyond!

South Bay Guitar Society's Annual GuitarFest Honors Jerry Snyder

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 19:11:20 GMT

Join us for our 18th Annual GuitarFest, the Bay Area’s largest guitar extravaganza! The SBGS GuitarFest is a two-day festival filled with activities for the whole family. Most events are free to the public, so mark your calendar today. More info found here.

A highlight will be a mid-concert ceremony announcing the renaming of the festival he founded, The Jerry Snyder GuitarFest. Past President and Artistic Director, Jerry retired in 2022.

GuitarFest events are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, featuring a concert by the world-renowned Kupiński Guitar Duo on Saturday March 4 at 7:30 p.m. Reserve your tickets here.

Events with free admission include:

Luthier exhibits

Masterclasses

Performance adjudications

Guitar clinics

Open mic

Youth and community guitar ensemble performances

Sign up here to play in a performance adjudication and receive expert advice from guitar professor Lawrence Ferrara from San Francisco State University or Steve Lin from San Jose State University.

Bring your guitar and play at the open mic and attend the guitar clinics.

Guitar clinics:

Raga for the Guitar with Jack Gates

Celtic Guitar with Bill Coulter

Protest Music and the Guitar with Julio Reyes

So, you’re good at music, NOW what? with Noah Luna

A full schedule of events will be posted soon so please check back.

Sharon Isbin's 92NY Concert a Triumph

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 18:43:52 GMT

At the November 12 concert at New York’s 92nd Street Y, Sharon Isbin and the Pacifica String Quartet offered a program showcasing three of four works appearing on their new recording, Souvenirs of Spain and Italy, plus the world premiere of The Song of a Dreaming Sparrow by 1979 Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Joseph Schwantner.

Vivaldi’s Lute Concerto in D Major in an infrequently-heard arrangement by Emilio Pujol for one violin, viola, cello, and guitar, opened the concert. Isbin has performed the work often throughout her career and sounded very comfortable in Pujol’s reduction.

Isbin took the spotlight alone for Leo Brouwer’s El Decameron Negro. She reordered the movements for this performance, beginning with the second, “The Fleeing of the Lovers Through the Valley of Echoes,” then the first, “The Harp of the Warrior,” and finally, “The Maiden in Love.” Throughout, she navigated its mercurial sections shifting between rapid arpeggios in various rhythmic groupings, melodic figures, and rich chordal accompaniment. Isbin’s use of timbral variety was effective throughout, but especially so in the last movement.

All members of the Pacifica Quartet joined her for the Schwantner. In his program notes, Schwantner shared that he drew inspiration for his eight-plus-minute quintet from Henry David Thoreau’s book, A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. The title, “Song of a Dreaming Sparrow,” comes from Thoreau’s prose. Throughout, Schwantner shares his musical impressions of the bucolic scenery and sounds Thoreau chronicled during a 1839 boating trip in New Hampshire.

The works opens with quiet, atmospheric, sustained notes and wispy harmonics in the strings. The guitar enters with a single harmonic followed by a series of sumptuous chords—some culminating with a rapid tremolo on the top string. The guitar introduces a motif built of repeated notes that appears through the piece and is ultimately passed to all the players. The guitar shifts between foreground and accompaniment as the strings draw dry harmonics and swelling, upward-swooping glissandi that conjure up images of dawn breaking over a sylvan landscape, awakening birds and insects. Triads voiced high in the strings lead to a lyrical guitar cadenza that alternates with a vigorous tremolo on the low E string and a brief return of the repeated-note motif.

A jaunty tune, introduced by an upper-string, octave pedal-tone passage in the guitar, unfolds as the strings accompany with chordal, pizzicato jabs. The theme sounds for two bars, then halts for the insertion of the octave unison pedal tones played by all before the melody resumes. The tune appears, recedes, and reappears as Schwantner revisits and develops earlier themes. The quartet alternately accompanies the guitar with undulating triads reminiscent of the string quartet writing of Ravel and Debussy. The jaunty theme makes a final appearance before a lively dialog ensues between guitar and quartet. The strings provide a kinetic recap of the repeated-note theme in octave unisons before five punctuations with a pungent chord played tutti conclude the piece.

The second half began with two works from the Pacifica Quartet. Up first was Joachín Turina’s evocative “La Oracíon del Toreo.” Pacifica highlighted their superbly dynamic ensemble work in the piece that seamlessly blends Turina’s Spanish nationalist and French impressionist influences. The Pacifica brought to life the emotions of Turina’s bullfighter’s heroic aspirations, introspective reflections, and prayer before entering the arena. The work dissolves with notes arcing upward reverently to arrive on a serene major triad.

On Astor Piazzolla’s moody, dark, and sensuous “Four for Tango,” the Pacifica dug in with a vigor and intensity not heard in earlier selections. Piazzolla employed a variety of bowings, extended techniques, percussive taps, and hearty slaps on the cello body. The piece ends humorously with rising, unmeasured tremolos that end with three concerted glissando gestures that produced a swiping effect while ascending up the fingerboards.

For Luigi Boccherini’s Quintet No. 4 in D Major, Isbin joined Pacifica onstage as did Fred Child. Best known as host of NPR’s Performance Today program, Child is also a pianist and percussion aficionado who was enlisted to play castanets and tambourine for the program finale. In the stately Allegro Maestoso, the guitar primarily played accompaniment and occasionally took the melody. The guitar’s role in the Pastorale was similar, but flashes of rasgueado foreshadowed the upcoming Fandango. After the Grave-Assai introductory section, the fandango rhythm became clearly defined. Child played the castanet and tambourine rhythms crisply while Isbin transitioned between fleet-fingered runs and robust rasgueados as the movement approached the final chord. The crowd pleasing closer elicited sustained applause from the audience and curtain calls for the performers.

The evening was another triumph for Isbin as she debuted yet another album and burnished her legacy of premieres of new music by venerated contemporary composers.

—Mark Small

Bruce Holzman's 50th Anniversary at FSU

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 18:19:20 GMT

Here is a link to a "Pedagogical Family Tree" created by one of Bruce's former students and director of the Florida Guitar Festival, Dr. Ben Lougheed. Bruce Holzman continues to have a powerful impact on the classical guitar community directly and indirectly through his previous students. Please visit the Florida Guitar Festival & Competition website to download the tree for yourself and to stay up to date with their schedule.

Assistant Professor of Guitar Performance

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 20:21:21 GMT

Assistant Professor of Guitar Performance
School of Music, Dance and Theatre
Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University

Description:
The ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre seeks an innovative artist-teacher of classical guitar who will participate in our effort to reimagine what arts education means in the 21st century. This appointment will be full-time tenure-track at the rank of Assistant Professor, beginning in Fall 2023. This position is on the ASU Tempe Campus.

About ASU:
Arizona State University is a new model for American higher education, an unprecedented combination of academic excellence, entrepreneurial energy and broad access. This New American University is a single, unified institution comprising four differentiated campuses positively impacting the economic, social, cultural and environmental health of the communities it serves. Its research is inspired by real world application blurring the boundaries that traditionally separate academic disciplines. ASU serves more than 80,000 students in metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona, the nation's fifth largest city. ASU champions intellectual and cultural diversity, and welcomes students from all fifty states and more than one hundred nations across the globe.

About the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts:
Arizona State University’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Art s is the largest comprehensive design and arts school in the country, located within a dynamic research university focused on transformative change. Built on a unique combination of disciplines, the Herberger Institute comprises the Schools of Art; Arts, Media and Engineering; Music, Dance and Theatre; The Design School; The Sidney Poitier New American Film School, and the ASU Art Museum. The Herberger Institute is committed to redefining the 21st-century design and arts school through developing and scaling ideas that strengthen the role of designers and artists across all areas of society and culture, increasing the capacity of artists to make a difference in their communities.

About the ASU School of Music, Dance and Theatre:
The School of Music, Dance and Theatre in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University is widely recognized for preparing artists, scholars, visionaries and entrepreneurs to become creative leaders who transform society through their art. Our internationally recognized faculty artists, scholars and guest artists are motivating and compassionate mentors who work with students to cultivate excellence and personal growth. Our nationally recognized programs feature a comprehensive range of degrees plus minors and certificates and more than 600 concerts, events, performances, productions and recitals each year. Located in the culturally rich Southwest in one of the most vibrant, expanding urban centers, our programs afford students access to a diverse environment and engagement in Phoenix’s flourishing arts community. Above all, we value the creativity, personal experience and voice each student brings to the school. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellence in teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and will be committed to educating outstanding performing musicians, teachers, music therapists, and scholars. Additional teaching duties will include guitar-related courses such as repertoire, pedagogy and guitar ensemble. The candidate will pursue a continued performing career and contribute to the musical life of the School of Music, Dance and Theatre. Further responsibilities include recruiting a diverse cohort of guitar students regionally, nationally and internationally, mentoring and assisting students towards their professional goals, and working effectively with faculty colleagues and administration in service to satisfy and advance the school’s mission.

Required Qualifications:
• Demonstrated excellence as a classical guitar performer.
• Doctoral degree in guitar performance or commensurate experience; a graduate degree is required for international candidates.
• Demonstrated excellence in teaching applied guitar at the collegiate level.
• Record of national creative activity (performance) and/or scholarship.
• Evidence of a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in creative activity and research, teaching and service.

Desired Qualifications (the successful candidate will demonstrate one or more of the following):
• Familiarity with a variety of musical styles in performance and/or teaching (contemporary music, jazz, flamenco, popular music, Latin and South American music, etc.).
• International recognition in creative activity (performance) and/or scholarship.
• Success recruiting and attracting a diverse group of students to a guitar studio program.
• Demonstrated expertise teaching and/or developing courses in guitar pedagogy, guitar repertoire and guitar ensemble.
• The ability to work and collaborate across artistic disciplines, with people outside the arts, across campus, and in the community.
• Demonstrated efficacy in developing/delivering online courses and/or teaching in a hybrid format.
• Secondary area of expertise or knowledge.

Instructions to Apply:
Please submit the following materials as separate items:
1. A letter of interest addressing how the candidate uniquely meets the qualifications for the position, in particular: work experience, creative activity (i.e. performance) and/or research, innovative teaching, and service.
2. Curriculum vitae.
3. A one-page statement addressing the candidate’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
4. Names and contact information of at least three references.
5. A document with up to five live hyperlinks to a variety of samples of the candidate’s recent
(within the last five years) creative work, teaching, and/or scholarly research.For detailed
instructions on how to create a document with live hyperlinks, please click here.

All applications must be submitted electronically via http://apply.interfolio.com/113403.

Application Deadline:
The application deadline is December 3, 2022. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled. ASU conducts pre-employment screening for all positions which includes a criminal background check, verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses and certifications. Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. (See https://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/acd/acd401.html and https://www.asu.edu/titleIX/.)

In compliance with federal law, ASU prepares an annual report on campus security and fire safety programs and resources. ASU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available online at https://www.asu.edu/police/PDFs/ASU-Clery-Report.pdf. You may request a hard copy of the report by contacting the ASU Police Department at 480-965-3456.

COVID-19 Vaccination - Arizona State University is a federal contractor and subject to federal regulations which may require you to produce a record of a COVID-19 vaccination. For questions about medical or religious accommodations, please visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’s webpage. We acknowledge the 22 tribes who are native to Arizona, and more specifically the Akimel O’odham (Pima) and Piipaash or Pee Posh (Maricopa) tribes on whose ancestral homelands ASU’s Tempe campus

UB Guitar Professor Elevated to New Position

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 19:08:08 GMT

UB Guitar Professor Elevated to New Position

September 29, 2022

Sungmin Shin is appointed as Associate Professor of Practice in Guitar at the University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Shin writes “I am thrilled to accept this new position at UB! There is an incredible history of excellence in music at UB that continues on to this day and I am honored to be part of this amazing community of students and colleagues. There is an immense amount of resources available to students on campus along with exceptional music facilities and world class faculty that makes studying music here an amazing experience.” Korean-born American musician Sungmin Shin maintains a vigorous schedule seamlessly navigating the unpredictable musical landscape of the 21st century. Dr. Shin is an artist-teacher, arts leadership advocate, composer, consultant, engineer-producer, ensemble director, entrepreneur, improviser, multi-instrumentalist, music theorist, and scholar. Sungmin balances his serious classical training with his deep roots in diverse musical cultures to seek new modes of expression through performance, improvisation, and composition. He has been invited to compose, perform, teach, and adjudicate at major international competitions, events, and festivals including the Guitar Foundation of America International Convention & Competition, Iserlohn International Guitar Festival (Germany), Rochester International Jazz Festival, and many more. A frequent collaborator with various musicians and ensembles, he is a member of the internationally acclaimed guitar ensemble Tantalus Quartet and 8-piece rock band Lauren and the Good Souls. Performance and guest teaching engagements in 2022 have included the Eastman School of Music, Seoul National University of Education (Korea), Shenandoah Conservatory, University of Louisville, University of South Carolina, and the San Diego, Seattle, and Toronto campuses for Guitar Workshop Plus.

Nicholas Goluses, Professor of Guitar at the Eastman School of Music, writes: "Dr. Shin is at the forefront of a new breed of classical guitar virtuosi, possessing a refined, flawless, and powerful technique, a state-of-the-art knowledge of performance practices from all style periods, the ability to communicate, motivate, and inspire, the precision of intellectual curiosity, the confidence of physical strength, the capacity for fiery sensitivity, and musical leadership to build audiences and programs on behalf of the art and the profession. As a teacher, Professor Shin is first rate—his students are beautifully trained and have an intellectual curiosity that enables them to achieve excellence.”

The University at Buffalo Department of Music offers performers, composers, and scholars a stimulating interdisciplinary environment in which to develop their talents. The department is a showcase for world-renowned musicians—a diverse, energetic faculty with international reputations in composition, academic research, and musical performance. BM and MM degrees in Performance are offered as well as the Advanced Certificate in Contemporary Performance. Also, graduate degrees offered include MA and PhD programs in Composition, Musicology, and Music Theory. Department Chair, Professor Eric Huebner, writes: “We are so thrilled to be able to elevate Dr. Shin to this position. His hard work and dedication to our students has been exemplary and we look forward to his full time involvement with our department and the energy and enthusiasm he brings to our program.”

A flagship of the State University of New York system, UB is a premier, research-intensive public university dedicated to academic excellence. Our research, creative activity and people positively impact the world. Like the city we call home, UB is distinguished by a culture of resilient optimism, resourceful thinking and pragmatic dreaming that enables us to reach others every day.

# # #

LINKS:

Sungmin Shin Website - https://www.sungguitar.com

UB Music Department - https://arts-sciences.buffalo.edu/music.html

University at Buffalo - https://www.buffalo.edu

MEDIA CONTACT:

Department of Music

University at Buffalo

220 Baird Hall, North Campus

Buffalo, NY 14260-5030

(716) 645-2765

mus-info@buffalo.edu

Remembering Leon Ford Atkinson

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 18:12:10 GMT

Leon Ford Atkinson was born on September 15, 1946 of Aenid Atkinson and Albert Atkinson, at

Columbia Presbyterian hospital in New York City. Leon was the middle child, born after Lyle

(deceased), and before Marilyn. Leon, always the outspoken one, started voicing his opinion at an

early age, even if it wasn’t asked for. He took a stand defiantly against anyone for what he stood for

and believed in. He would tell his mother and father what he was and wasn’t going to do and readily

accepted his punishment for disobeying them. He was that way his entire life.

Born into a performing and musical family, Leon was destined to become the performer he turned out

to be. His mother was a talented concert pianist, his father an accomplished jazz bass player, his

older brother a world renowned bass player, and his sister a professional dancer with her own dancing

school and company. The children of Albert and Aenid were the first African American siblings to

perform together in an act named Two Virgos and a Libra at Town Hall, in the early 70’s in New York

City. Leon started playing the violin at the age of three, then the bass, and finally the guitar.

Leon went to the renowned Performing Arts high school, which was the school featured in the movie

Fame and was in the same class as Liza Minnelli, and Glen Turner. During high school, knowing full

well it was against the rules, he started gigging down in Greenwich Village at local nite clubs. After

high school he was accepted as one of the legendary Andres Segovia’s students in Spain and

traveled there to further his learning of his craft. He then went on to play for and with several well

known celebrities such as Harry Belefonte, in the orchestra of multiple Broadway shows like the

Promises Promises, and at private concerts around the world.

Leon started to feel the drain of city life and in 1973 he went on a cross country drive with a friend.

They stumbled upon a small town called Sandpoint, Idaho and he instantly fell in love. He bought

land in Upper Gold Creek and never looked back. Leon felt great peace and connection with nature

and could often be found tinkering on various home repair or vehicle projects on his properties. His

lifelong labor of love was undeniably his home that he built from the ground up with his own two

hands. Many of his closest friends and family referred to this home as “The Big House” or the “Seven

Sided Colossus”. Some of Leon’s most cherished memories were made in that space, nestled

between the pine trees and two beautiful ponds.

In his time in the Pacific Northwest Leon taught at multiple colleges including Whitworth and Gonzaga,

founded the Fall Fest music festival at Schweitzer, founded and co-hosted The Guitar Hour on KPBX.

He founded Friends of the Guitar Hour, had multiple concerts throughout Sandpoint at the Panida

Theater, the Jacklin Arts Center in Post Falls, and the various theaters and performance spaces in

Spokane. Leon conducted Master Classes from here to Montana and beyond. His talents were

undeniable. He was a firm, but nurturing instructor and loved by all of his students leaving behind a

legacy that will be hard to replace.The name Leon Atkinson is well known in the guitar world and his

musical impact with be ongoing.

Leon left this realm and crossed over at 4:58pm on September 1, 2022, 14 days shy of his 76th

birthday. Leon, a loving father, grandfather, brother, and uncle leaves behind his sister Marilyn, his

nephews David and Kalik, his daughters Kimberly, Jessica, Aimee, and Estrella, his grandchildren

Justin, Maddison, Tiana, Dominic, Adonijah, Ayra, Hezion, Neveah, and Kaleb along with a multitude

of cousins.

Full-Time Classroom Guitar Teacher

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 17:08:14 GMT

Cleveland Classical Guitar Society has an opening for a full-time classroom guitar teacher, with benefits. Screening interviews begin April 7, 2022.
Learn more at:
https://cleguitar.org/employment/

Assistant Professor of Guitar

Wed, 9 Feb 2022 18:15:25 GMT

Assistant Prof. of guitar position at Appalachian State University – tenure-track. Click here for more information.

Assistant/Associate Professor of Guitar & Director of Guitar Studies

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 17:54:08 GMT

Job Location

1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA

Tracking Code

1443-306

Shenandoah Conservatory, one of the country’s leading centers for collaborative work across the performing arts, is seeking nominations and applications for an exceptional guitarist, innovative teacher, recruiter, and savvy 21st century musician to join the Instrumental Division faculty as Asst/Assoc Professor of Guitar and Director of Guitar Studies. (Rank dependent upon qualifications.) This full-time and career-contract track position begins August 2022.

About Shenandoah Conservatory:

Shenandoah Conservatory was founded in 1875 and has an extraordinary legacy of shaping music and the performing arts in Virginia and beyond. Located at the head of the historic Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA, 70 miles west of Washington, DC, the Conservatory is now home to over 640 award-winning students from across the nation and globe enrolled in baccalaureate, masters and doctoral curricula in the areas of music, theater, and dance, and includes a distinguished faculty of over 125, half of whom are full-time.

Beyond being a comprehensive performing arts school, Shenandoah Conservatory is home to exceptional artists and scholars who are unusually oriented towards collaboration and innovative approaches to the career preparation of students. The Conservatory’s ShenCoLAB is but one example of the Conservatory’s nation-leading embrace of innovation and collaboration: a (first-in-the country) week-long stoppage of all classes and rehearsals across all programs with the school turned over to students for student-led (and faculty-mentored) collaborative projects. The Conservatory’s proximity to Washington, DC, and Dulles Airport, ensures easy access to and regular interaction with professionals from around the country and world. www.su.edu/conservatory

Shenandoah University is a diverse institution of approximately 3,800 students enrolled in baccalaureate, masters and doctoral curricula in business, arts and sciences, health professions and performing arts. Shenandoah University is an independent, coeducational institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Please visit www.su.edu for more information.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity and inclusion of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are requested to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment. (See Application instructions.) Shenandoah University does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation

Responsibilities:

Building on exceptional musicianship and a passion for both performance and teaching, the chosen candidate will further build the guitar studio and help to advance the Conservatory’s reputation as a premier and innovative place of study where artists from diverse backgrounds actively engage around innovative and collaborative work.

Specifically, the desired candidate will:

Teach applied guitar and courses in guitar pedagogy, guitar history and literature, and coach chamber music groups including guitar ensembles;
Contribute to recruiting efforts to attract highly talented students and further build the guitar studio;
Support and advance forward-oriented approaches to career preparation of music performance students;
Actively contribute to curriculum discussions and a faculty community (both within and beyond the Conservatory) that is oriented towards collaboration, innovation and inclusion;
Be centrally involved in a special online guitar institute (currently in formation);
Maintain a high-profile in guitar performance while being intensely engaged in Conservatory and University life, including contributing to school-wide conversations and committees, and participating in division meetings, auditions, and recruitment activities; and
Actively contribute to the Conservatory’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity and Equity.

Contributions to program development and recruitment, Conservatory-wide collaboration, and support for Shenandoah University business and faculty work is expected.

Required Skills

Qualifications include the following:

1.An exceptional and collaborative artist with broad teaching experience and significant professional accomplishments as a performer at national or international levels;

2.Ability and interest to effectively attract and recruit students;

3.A forward-orientation to music careers and demonstrated ability to thrive in the 21st century marketplace by, for example, employing media (e.g., social media, YouTube, streaming services) to effectively build listeners/followers;

4.Demonstrated orientation towards collaborative work;

5.Eligibility to work in the United States;

6.Ability and interest to contribute to the Conservatory’s commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity; and

7.Possession of a DMA or equivalent professional experience.

How to Apply:

Complete application submissions will include a cover letter, and a curriculum vitae complete with links to performance videos and contact information for three professional references. Please note that diversity and inclusion are important parts of Shenandoah University's mission. In your cover letter, please include one to two paragraphs describing how you envision supporting a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment in the guitar studio area.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check, fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or on a University approved medical or religious exemption, as well as a satisfactory driving record will be required as a condition of hire.

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status or on any other basis protected under applicable law.

Salary Type

Not Applicable

Position of Executive Director

Wed, 3 Nov 2021 18:13:58 GMT

St. Louis Classical Guitar is now accepting applications for the position of Executive Director.

The Role

The Executive Director will serve as the leader and public spokesperson of St Louis Classical Guitar (SLCG). The Executive Director oversees design, marketing, promotion, delivery, and quality of SLCG artistic and education programs. The Executive Director reports directly to the SLCG Board, works collaboratively to implement the fundraising strategy, and develops long and near term strategic plans for serving the community. The

Executive Director manages the financial status of the organization by working within current budgetary constraints, and works with the Board on identifying future budgetary needs. This is an exciting opportunity to lead a well established and growing organization for even greater community and social impact.

The Organization

St. Louis Classical Guitar (SLCG), previously known as the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, is a non-profit arts agency whose mission is to promote positive impact through classical guitar performance and education. Key programs include an acclaimed International Concert Season and an Educational Program serving schools throughout the region. We are the third-oldest organization in the United States centered around classical guitar. Now in 2021, SLCG seeks to serve the St. Louis community through innovative, high-quality, and relevant programming.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the ability to accept management of the day to day operations of the organization, including the key areas of (1) financial management in accordance with the Board-approved budget (2) cash flow management (3) grant writing and grant reporting (4) supervision of all other employees (5) ensuring success of program deliverables (6) handling communications with SLCG partners, program co-sponsors, the community we serve, and the general public and (7) working closely with Board leadership, board committees, and other volunteers. In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate the potential to work in partnership with the interim Executive Director in preparation for assuming artistic, educational, and financial development responsibilities.

Work Environment

This is a full time position with the ability to flex schedule. Some work on weekends will be necessary for concerts. Work will be a combination of on-site/in-person as well as remote work options. Salary The starting salary will be $50,000 - $58,000, depending on experience. Application Instructions Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and specific qualifications to jobs@stlclassicalguitar.org with the subject line “Executive Director.” Application Instructions Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and specific qualifications to jobs@stlclassicalguitar.org with the subject line “Executive Director.”

Salary

The starting salary will be $50,000 - $58,000, depending on experience. Application Instructions Please submit your resume and a cover letter explaining your interest in the position and specific qualifications to jobs@stlclassicalguitar.org with the subject line “Executive Director.”

Website: https://www.stlclassicalguitar.org/

Florida Guitar Festival and Competition Results

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 18:16:15 GMT

FSU College of Music, Tallahassee, FL, October 15th -17th, 2021

The 5th Annual Florida Guitar Festival was held at the prestigious College of Music at Florida State University. Events included phenomenal concerts by 2019 Competition Winner Phil Goldenberg and the Douglas Anderson High School Guitar Ensemble, Grisha Goryachev, Celil Refik Kaya, and the Kossler Duo. In addition to masterclasses, the Festival also included a Flamenco Workshop with Grisha Goryachev and a Guitar Showcase with luthiers Steven Walter, Tim Steis, Zebulon Turrentine, Tom Baldwin, and the Texas Guitar Gallery. This year’s Festival was produced by the Classical Guitar Society at FSU with Ben Lougheed as director.

Final Results for the Competition:

High School Division

1st Place: Paloma Chaprnka

2nd Place: Rayaan Muhammed

3rd Place: Donald Hinchman

Undergraduate Division

1st Place: Logan Wong

2nd Place: Zhengji Li

3rd Place: Daniel Sarkela

Open Division

1st Place: Carlos Arturo Bedoya

2nd Place: Leonela Alejandro

3rd Place: John Bogan

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Sat, 15 Aug 2020 03:03:07 GMT

San Francisco Conservatory of Music and San Francisco Symphony Announce The Emerging Black Composers Project

Ten-Year Commissioning Partnership Fueled by $250,000 Gift to Conservatory

Winning Composers to Receive $15,000 Commission, Workshops and Performances at SF Symphony and SFCM, and Mentorship from Trio of Bay Area Music Directors: Michael Morgan, Edwin Outwater, and Esa-Pekka Salonen

Applications Open Now through December 31, 2020

Manuel de Falla Conservatory YouTube Channel

Wed, 13 May 2020 22:49:53 GMT

In celebration of its centennial, the Manuel de Falla Conservatory of Music, directed by Professor Marcos Puente Olivera, launched the Manuel de Falla Conservatory YouTube Channel, offering students, as well as the community at large, a series of tutorials. These tutorials provide a guide to faithfully perform the works that are included in the different programs of study. The first set of tutorials in the series corresponds to first year program of Guitar Study at the Manuel de Falla Conservatory.

Click on the link to SUBSCRIBE to the Manuel de Falla Tutorials YouTube Channel: http://bit.ly/Tutoriales_CSMMF

Lead Guitar

Thu, 9 Apr 2020 19:07:08 GMT

Grab your guitar and get ready to play in the Lead Guitar World-wide Virtual Showcase Concert. Practice with the play along videos from our instructor team lead by Denis Azabagic and follow the easy instructions for submitting your performance video.

If you play guitar - even a little bit - go to this link, follow the directions and, using the scrolling sheet music, have a blast practicing music by J.S. Bach, Tito Puente, Beethoven and Bob Marley with the entire LG teaching staff until you’re ready to record your part to add to the mass ensemble. Deadline for the video submission is April 20th 2020.

Then, on Saturday, April 25th at 12pm CST US, tune in for the live FB event at: https://www.facebook.com/leadguitareducation/

We’ll be inviting guitarists around the world to play along live to the premiere of the mass ensemble video featuring Lead Guitar students and hopefully, you! Sponsored by GSI and Cordoba, hosted by LG’s own Denis Azabagic and featuring some fabulous guest artists, it’s an opportunity for us to lift each other up with community music making and give some deserving students an opportunity to shine on a big stage of a different kind.

Lead Guitar is a not-for-profit that builds free, sustainable classical guitar programs in schools with low arts access and more than 80% of students eligible for free/reduced lunch. With help from our partners atGuitar Salon International andCordoba Guitars we are making music accessible to students stuck at home by providing at-home access to learning materials and by giving up to 100 Cordoba XX guitars to students stuck at home without an instrument.

Normally in April and May, Lead Guitar students in L.A., Chicago, Arizona, Oklahoma and Colorado would be performing in Showcase Concerts hosted by our partners like The University of Arizona, The Aspen Music Festival, The University of Denver and Roosevelt University. These are opportunities for our students, many of whom might be visiting a university campus for the first time, to perform for and celebrate with their friends and families in world class concert facilities.

Due to Covid-19, Lead Guitar has, of course, cancelled those Showcase Concerts for Spring 2020, but we are excited to announce a National Virtual Lead Guitar Showcase. We’re hoping you might play along. Current Lead Guitar students, will be joined by LG graduates, instructors and guitar players from around the world in playing and videoing themselves playing as part of a mass ensemble.

Professional Development for Classical Guitar Teachers

Fri, 17 Jan 2020 01:38:01 GMT

A brand new professional development qualification for classical guitar teachers launches in Summer 2020 with the European String Teachers Association - ESTA. The PG Cert is designed for teachers who want to enhance their approach to teaching through a programme of study that is both academic and practical. Successful completion represents one third of a Master’s degree, accredited by the University of Chichester. Leading the course is Helen Sanderson, Head of Guitar Performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and a passionate educator from the grass-roots upwards. Known to many of you also as the Artistic Director of the World Youth Guitar Festival and the National Youth Guitar Ensemble (UK), Helen writes to tell us more …

“The introduction of a plucked-string PG Cert to ESTA’s portfolio is a hugely important step to support guitar teachers in the UK and internationally and represents an opportunity for us to join a vibrant community of music educators. The Bowed Strings and Piano PG Certs are well established, and having visited them this summer I saw first-hand what this course offers – a deep enrichment of our skills as educators with an instrument-specific curriculum , time to reflect on our own teaching and importantly, a unique opportunity to share knowledge and skills. To be able to draw on that wealth of knowledge and have that formally recognised in a qualification at Masters level is a hugely positive addition to our own professional development. The course offers a blend of face-to-face and online learning, making it ideal for teachers looking to combine these studies with their existing teaching career.”

GFA members are eligible for a special ‘membership discount’ rate on the course and full details can be found at:https://estaeducation.co.uk/pg-cert/plucked/

Jérémy Jouve appointed to the faculty in the Paris Conservatory.

Wed, 1 Jan 2020 18:52:54 GMT

Jérémy Jouve has been appointed to the faculty in the Paris Conservatory - CRR, succeeding to Gérard Abiton starting January 2020.

He will teach at Pole Superior of Paris Boulogne Billancourt - PSPBB“ for graduate studies, as well as Paris - CRR for pre-professional program.

Application for next next year in PSPBB are due January 10th, 2020.

Check the link below:

https://concourspspbb.wordpress.com/home/

Entrance exam will be in March 2020, total 20 minutes maximum of music including:

- Set piece: Prélude from Suite Compostelana by Frederick Mompou (Berben editions)

- 2 free pieces in different style.

Any questions, please contact Jérémy Jouve at: jouveguitar@gmail.com

Jeff LaQuatra

Thu, 19 Dec 2019 18:36:49 GMT

Colorado State University has appointed Jeff LaQuatra M.M. as the professor of their newly-developed guitar program. Located in Northern Colorado, CSU offers Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music degrees in performance or music therapy, Music Minor, Bachelor of Arts, as well as a minor in Arts Management. Scholarships and Graduate Teaching Assistantships available. For more information, visit https://music.colostate.edu or www.jefflaquatra.com

Thibaut Garcia has been appointed best young instrumentalist of the year 2019!

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 17:35:05 GMT

Thibaut Garcia has been appointed best young instrumentalist of the year at the French Victoires de la Musique Classique 2019!

The young guitarist, born in Toulouse and graduated from the Paris Conservatory, is 1st Prize winner of the Guitar Foundation of America Competition and is currently a BBC new generation artist.

In the upcoming months he will notably play with the BBC Orchestra of Wales, in the United States (New York, Nashville, Baltimore), in Moscow, in Nice, in Toulouse, Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nagoya) and in Brussels. His latest album on ERATO / Warner Classic "Bach Inspirations" has been acclaimed by the public and critics.

"Elegance of the sound, emotional strength, stunning virtuosity, guitarist Thibaut Garcia moves and carries the listener by a finesse that can be seen even in the most subtle nuances." (Classic Guitar Magazine)

La Catedral

Aranjuez - Adagio

Acceptance Speech

MANDOLIN AND GUITAR CHAMBER MUSIC WORKSHOP WITH KEITH HARRIS

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 14:27:06 GMT

An Activity of The Mandolin Academy in Venice

WHEN:

February 21 – 25, 2019

Thursday evening through Monday morning

WHERE:

Hungry Monk Music

Charleston, SC

WORKSHOP FEE:

$350 [includes personal internet coaching prior

to the workshop]

REGISTRATION/LOGISTICS:

Please register by January 11, 2019, as space is

limited. Additional information is available at

http://www.hungrymonkmusic.com/mandolin-

workshop/.

MUSIC:

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

about adapting music. Keith firmly believes it’s more enjoyable

to play fewer notes but play them nicely. On the other hand,

nobody should be afraid of being under-challenged. The

workshop is a special opportunity for anybody, and especially so

for classical guitarists seeking ensemble experience.

Please feel free to contact Keith directly at

keith.harris@mandolin.academy for any issues related to the

workshop music.

Bob Hammond

Former Vice President

Classical Mandolin Society of America (CMSA)

mandobobh@gmail.com

Travel with Classical Guitar magazine and experience the music and history of Spain as visitors rarely do!

Tue, 4 Dec 2018 18:35:36 GMT

With its lively markets, world-renowned museums, brightly colored gardens, flavorful cuisine, and architecture from centuries gone by, Spain strikes the perfect balance between old and new, traditional and modern, urban jungle and green parks. And, for the musician or music lover, the word Spain is practically synonymous with the word guitar.

Our friends at Classical Guitar magazine have arranged a special, music-focused journey through southern Spain. Accompanied by local guides and Thérèse Wassily Saba, guitarist and long-time editor at Classical Guitar magazine, you can explore the music, culture, history, and heritage of Spain on a 10-day, 11-night sojourn. With personal, behind-the-scenes access to artists, luthiers, and experts, this is your chance to experience Spain as visitors rarely do.

Some itinerary highlights include:
Enjoy a performance by Ignacio Rodes of the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo and attend a private lecture with him.
Tour the Guitar Museum dedicated to guitarist and pioneering luthier Antonio de Torres.
Explore Siguenza - from the looming 5th century fortress to the workshop of Jose Luis Romanillos.
Visit Ángel Barrios House to explore the drawings, paintings, musical scores and letters dedicated to this composer.
Meet José Enrique and Cristina Ramírez, the 5th generation of Ramírez makers, and learn how the guitars are built.
Soak up the atmosphere and tastes at an authentic Granadan olive oil farm.

For complete details and registration information, visit Stringletter.com/spain.

OC Classical Guitar Festival and Competition

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:40:06 GMT

OC Classical Guitar Festival and Competition
March 2nd-3rd, 2019, at Chapman University in Orange, California

The Orange County Guitar Circle will hold its inaugural guitar festival and competition March 2nd and 3rd, 2019. The festival will feature concerts and masterclasses by internationally acclaimed artists Tengyue Zhang and Manuel Barrueco. It will also feature lectures by Jack Sanders, Frank Koonce, and best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman.

The competition will award the following prizes:

Adult Division
1st Prize: $2,500
2nd Prize: $500
3rd Prize: $200

Youth Division
1st Prize: $500
2nd Prize: $200
3rd Prize: $100

For more information visit https://events.chapman.edu/59976

2019 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:38:45 GMT

2019 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition

February 15, 2019

The Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition is part of the Annual Philadelphia Classical Guitar Festival. There are two separate divisions:

1. The Adult Division is a national competition open to advancing classical guitarists up to 30 years of age residing in the United States.

2. The High School Division is open to students in grades 9 ‐ 12 from PA, NJ & DE.

Applications and recordings are due

February 15, 2019 (11:59pm, EST)

There are three rounds:

> The Preliminary round – The jury will review unmarked/anonymous recordings

and select up to 12 advancing competitors from each division. Entrants will be

notified if they have advanced to the semifinal round no later than March 3, 2019.

> The Semifinal round - will take place in front of a live audience in Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, April 13, 2019. Time & venue TBA, Free Admission

> The Final round will take place on the morning of Sunday, April 14, 2019 the 2019 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival at Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St. (free parking).

For more information visit https://pcgs.wildapricot.org/2019-Competition

6TH ANNUAL GUITAR FESTIVAL

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:36:39 GMT

The Sixth Annual Guitar Festival presented by the Latino Art String Program features performances by renowned artist Alfonso Moreno and Omar Kaminsky, as well as Master Classes by world's finest classical guitarist Rene Izquierdo and Ivan Resendiz. LASP invites classical guitarists under the age of 18 to the competition and workshops that we are having during the day.

For more information visit https://www.latinoartsinc.org/strings-program/annual-guitar-festival-and-competition/

Mid-Maryland Guitar Festival and Competition

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:33:15 GMT

Mid-Maryland Guitar Festival and Competition

NOVEMBER 16-18, 2018

The 3rd Mid-Maryland Guitar Festival and Competition is excited to feature a wonderful array of critically acclaimed local and international performers in three days of guitar activities. This year, through a generous grant by the Arts Institute at Montgomery College, all events at the festival, including registration for the competition, are FREE.

For more information visit https://mmguitarfestival.com/

The Volterra Project

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:30:51 GMT

The Volterra Project

Summer Guitar Institute

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 music business management seminars taught by experienced, internationally renowned professionals.

Application for the 2019 Volterra Project composer award is now open.

The award is open to composers of any age and nationality!

October 15th, 2018

Opening of the inscription

March 4th, 2019

Deadline to submit complete student score(s) and accompanying materials

Application by email only:

composers@volterraguitar.org

For more information regarding the Volterra Project visit:

http://www.volterraguitar.org/

Artists Needed for Teaching Roster

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 07:07:53 GMT

Artists are needed to join the 2019 Teaching Roster for the Maryland Centers for Creative Classrooms (MC3)! MC3 is the research-based, professional development series designed to support arts educators in developing skills, knowledge, and dispositions needed to lead quality arts-based instruction for 21st century learners.

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/mc3_job_opening

To apply, please submit the following to Fine Arts Office at info@msdefinearts.org:

- A one page cover letter that includes: Name, Mobile Number. Email Address, Street Address, Title of Position, Relevant Experience, and Statement of Interest.

- Resume.

Note: While all visual and performing artists are welcome, we strongly encourage artists outside of the Western/Classical arts traditions to apply.

Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to info@msdefinearts.org if you have any questions.

The Volterra Project

Fri, 2 Nov 2018 16:13:30 GMT

Since 2007 the Volterra Project has brought together students and professional guitarists from all over the world, creating a completely new concept of artistic creativity, inspiring dozens of young musicians, and building new bridges and interactions between theories and practices.

One of the focuses of our mission is the reinforcement and the diffusion of classical guitar music. It became clear to us that one wonderful and well-rounded way to strengthen this aspect would be to encourage the production of new works for the guitar. In occasion of the 13th edition of the Volterra Project, therefore,

we invite composers of all levels and backgrounds to submit their work for guitar duo, trio or quartet!

This year’s jury will be formed by:

Dusan Bogdanovic (Serbia), Antigoni Goni (Greece), Luca Isolani (Italy), Maarten Vandenbemden (Belgium).

For more information regarding the application process and the Volterra Project in general, please see this page.

Florida Guitar Festival and Competition

Wed, 10 Oct 2018 15:58:09 GMT

Florida Guitar Festival and Competition
Tallahassee, Florida, October 5-7, 2018

The 4th annual Florida Guitar Festival and Competition was held at the prestigious Florida State University. The event included concerts by William Kanengiser, Daniel Bolshoy, Rafael Padron, 2017 Competition Winner Samuel Hines, and the Freedom High School Guitar Orchestra; as well as the first ever Festival Guitar Orchestra that gave a performance of Sergio Assad’s new work “The Walls” with William Kanengiser as a soloist. The Festival was produced by the Classical Guitar Society at FSU with Ben Lougheed and Cody Switzer serving as co-directors.

Final Results for the Competition:

High School Division
1st Place: Patricia Hernandez
2nd Place: Angela Hernandez
3rd Place: Thatcher Harrison

Undergraduate Division
1st Place: Aytahn Benavi
2nd Place: Denis Vasenin
3rd Place: Christopher Minami

Open Division
1st Place: Dragos Ilie
2nd Place: Gonzalo Arias
3rd Place: Agustin Rosado Marquez

Above, are the finalists for the Open Division. They are in the following order left to right: Agustin Rosado Marquez (3rd Place), Dragos Ilie (1st Place), Gonzalo Arias (2nd place).

Robert Ruck Passes Away at 72

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 19:12:52 GMT

It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of one of the most significant luthiers of his generation, and GFA Hall of Fame honoree Robert Ruck. Ruck received the GFA Hall of Fame Award in 2016 in the category of Industry Leadership. He charmed all that met him with his warmth and extensive knowledge of guitar building. Ruck is best-known for being the builder of virtuoso Manuel Barruecco's exceptional-sounding main instrument, known simply as 'No. 58,' back in 1972, when Ruck had been building guitars for only about six years, which is a testament to his exceptional lutherie. His legacy lives on through the incredible instruments that he built during his lifetime. Ruck was 72.

From Classical Guitar Magazine

http://classicalguitarmagazine.com/noted-luthier-robert-ruck-builder-of-manuel-barruecos-famous-no-58-passes-away-at-72/

Remembering Douglas Smith

Fri, 17 Aug 2018 17:47:39 GMT

After a long illness, Doug Smith died at his home on August 9, 2018. Over the decades, Doug made numerous contributions to the LSA in a variety of roles, most recently as a member of the Board of Directors and both Guest Editor and Interim Editor of the Journal of the Lute Society of America. His contributions to lute scholarship cannot be overstated--the History of the Lute remains the only book of its kind and his work on the music of Silvius Leopold Weiss helped bring baroque lute music into the prominence it enjoys today. Doug was not only a lutenist, but played other instruments and recently finished composing a folk opera, while also spearheading the JLSA issues devoted to the life and work of Patrick O'Brien--two issues have been published, with more to follow.

ASU Hires Guitarist Jiyeon Kim to Faculty

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 17:57:52 GMT

Frank Koonce will retire this May after four decades of teaching at the ASU School of Music in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Mr. Koonce joined ASU faculty in 1978. His many accomplishments include his various publications of Bach transcriptions, including the complete Lute Suites, his recording of Platero y Yo, and the building of one of the nation’s long-standing classical guitar programs.

ASU will welcome Jiyeon “Jiji” Kim as assistant professor of guitar in the strings program, beginning in August 2018. “After becoming acquainted with ASU School of Music's vision and the mission of ASU’s innovative agenda, I was drawn to the research in new music and different collaborations from both the faculty and the student body,” said Kim. “I conscientiously pursue artistic endeavors in performance as well as education, so there was an immediate connection to the Herberger Institute.”

Kim, a self-described adventurous artist who is known professionally on both acoustic and electric guitar as “Jiji”, plays an extensive range of music from traditional and contemporary classical music to free improvisation. Her impeccable musicianship, compelling stage presence and fascinating repertoire earned her First Prize at the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition.

Kim holds bachelors degrees in guitar performance from the National University of Arts in Korea, the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music; and a Master of Music degree from the Yale School of Music. A passionate advocate for commissioning and performing contemporary works, she premiered Talking Guitars by renowned composer Paul Lansky, with a subsequent studio recording with Chinese guitarist Hao Yang to be released on Bridge Records. She previously premiered works by emerging composers including Gabriella Smith, Riho Maimets, Krists Auznieks, Gulli Björnsson, Andrew McIntosh, and Farnood Haghani Pour. In addition, the New York Youth Symphony and the American Composers Orchestra commissioned two concertos for her, both premiering at Carnegie Hall in the 2018-19 concert season.

NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles

Tue, 16 Jan 2018 18:55:25 GMT

Hi Everyone, It's official. Through the hard work of the NAfME Guitar Council, we are going to have the first All-National Honor Guitar Ensemble which will meet and perform in Orlando, FL November 25-28 of this year. Dr. Michael Quantz has been named the conductor of this group and I have accepted the role of ensemble manager. The audition music went online this past Friday. Here's the link: https://nafme.org/programs/all-national-honor-ensembles/ All of the details may be found at the above link. In theory, every state may send one or two students. In reality, some states may not send any and we will need more students from states with strong guitar programs. For now, the goal is to get the word out to high school guitar programs.

Milwaukee Guitar Festival

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 16:47:52 GMT

Latino Arts Mission is the core of what any community needs to build a strong foundation. Children are the future and we must provide the opportunities for them to grow and experience life in a way that was not perhaps possible with any of us. The Guitar Festival brings joy and pride to them and the city of Milwaukee!

http://www.latinoartsinc.org/Strings/GuitarFestival.htm

Alexander Frauchi International Guitar Competition Results, Moscow

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 14:09:49 GMT

Winners of the fifth annual international guitar competition:

1. Tengyue Zhang (China) (GFA Rose Augustine Grand Prize winner 2017)

2. Marco Piperno (Italy)

3. Giulia Ballare (Italy)

Diploma: Nikita Nedelko (Russia)

Diploma: Bogdan Mihailescu (Romania)

GFA Seeks New Prodigies Editor

Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:57:03 GMT

GFA is seeking an editor for Prodigies, the four-page GFA publication for elementary school age guitarists. There are four issues published annually. The content of the magazine includes games, simple music instruction, biographies of guitarists and composers, and pictures of young guitarists. Applicant should have a familiarity with relevant music education methods for young musicians. The editor will be paid a stipend of $500/year. Interested candidates should send a resume by December 1, 2018 to Connie Sheu, General Manager, at csheu@guitarfoundation.org.

Tasks include:
• Creating a theme and a clear narrative for every issue
• Generating ideas, selecting articles for issues, and planning publication content
• Communicating with contributors and Art Director
• Delivery of content to Art Director on a timely production schedule
• Rewriting, editing, and proofreading content to ensure it is ready to print
• Ensuring that all feature articles comply with ethical codes of practice and legal guidelines

Noted Guitar Historian Dies: Harvey Turnbull (1936-2017)

Tue, 7 Nov 2017 20:30:10 GMT

Article courtesy of Classical Guitar Magazine. Read the whole article here: http://classicalguitarmagazine.com/noted-guitar-historian-dies-harvey-turnbull-1936-2017/

Noted Guitar Historian Dies: Harvey Turnbull (1936-2017)
OCTOBER 31, 2017
An Appreciation by Graham Wade

Many guitarists around the world will be sad to hear that Harvey Turnbull, author of The Guitar from the Renaissance to the Present Day (published in 1974) and a co-contributor of the entry about the guitar in The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, died on October 14, 2017.

The Guitar from the Renaissance to the Present Day followed the publication of various informative books on guitar history, such as Frederic V. Grunfeld’s The Art and Times of the Guitar (1969) and Alexander Bellow’s The Illustrated History of the Guitar (1970). Unlike Grunfeld and Bellow, however, Turnbull decided to begin his history of the guitar with “the Renaissance as a starting point, as it is only at this period that one can consider the guitar in relation to its music.” His aim, he wrote, was to ensure that “the guitar will cease to be regarded with surprise or wonder and finally become accepted as playing a normal part in the world of music.”

Turnbull’s approach was innovative, presenting a book with precise scholarly intent and no frills. He concentrated his research on period instruments in museums which could be literally measured and evaluated. This was then matched with appropriate commentary on the music available for those instruments. Thus, The Guitar from the Renaissance to the Present Day opened the way to a more objective approach to guitar scholarship, a methodology which set a precedent to enable subsequent scholars to explore the entirety of guitar history in astonishing detail.

Guitar Ensemble Composition Competition

Tue, 7 Nov 2017 00:16:28 GMT

Austin Classical Guitar is pleased to announce the 12th annual Guitar Ensemble Composition Competition. The goal of this contest is to encourage high quality new music for young and preprofessional guitar ensembles. The competition is open to composers of all ages who reside in the United States. The award is $500 and the selected piece will be performed by approximately 100 guitarists at the ACG Fest in Austin, TX on April 28, 2018 1. Prize - $500 and premiere of the winning work at ACG’s annual ensemble festival in April 2. Eligibility • US-based composers only • No age restrictions • Composers may submit multiple works (Additional fee for each entry) 3. Guidelines • In 4 parts for standard 6-string classical guitar (Divisi is acceptable) • Approximately 4-6 minutes in duration - multiple movements allowed • Standard tuning and scordatura of 6th string to D acceptable • Work must be unpublished and not previously performed in public • Work must be playable by beginning/intermediate level ensembles - We are searching for pieces for young and/or pre-professional groups that balance musical integrity and technical demands. -For reference: recent winning entries were: November Blues by Mark Anthony Cruz www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7ctGkIu598 Fugata Y Danza by Carlos Rios www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPs4BzMaZvU 4. Application Fee - $25 per submission - make checks payable to: ACG or pay online at: www.austinclassicalguitar.org/online-payment-form 5. What to Submit • (1) cover letter including: Name, address, telephone, and email address • (1) CD recording of the entry (emailed MP3 and midi-generated recordings acceptable) • (1) copy of full score and each part (4) (may be emailed as PDF) -Scores and parts must be anonymous; they may not contain anything allowing identification of the composer. 6. Application Deadline – Postmarked by January 10, 2018 Email materials to Info@AustinClassicalGuitar.org or mail physical applications to: Austin Classical Guitar 5900 Balcones Dr., Ste 240 Austin, TX 78731 Entries will be judged anonymously by Austin Classical Guitar with consideration not only of compositional integrity but playability and practicality of performance. The winner will be announced by email to all contestants by January 31st, 2018. The winning entry will be premiered at the finale of the ACG Fest in Austin, TX on April 28th, 2018. The work will be performed by all of the participants in the festival (approximately 100 guitarists). The composer of the winning composition is encouraged to be present at ACG Fest to receive a $500 prize following the premiere of the work at the finale. The prize will not be divided. The decision of Austin Classical Guitar will be final. Austin Classical Guitar makes no claims on any of the entered compositions beyond the right to premiere the winning composition, and to make non-commercial audio/visual recordings for archival and publicity purposes. Scores and recordings will not be returned. Submission of an application to participate in the competition confirms that the contestants unconditionally accept all the rules as established in this announcement.

Indiana Guitar Competition Results

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 19:40:00 GMT

Open Division:

1st Prize: Steve Lerman

2nd Prize: Henry Johnston

3rd Prize: Austin Wahl

4th Prize: Augustin Rosado

Senior Youth Division:

1st Prize: Nolan Harvel

2nd Prize: Brandon Walker

3rd Prize: Liam Hedrick

4th Prize: Nikola Dimitrijevic

Junior Youth Division:

1st Prize: Jack Davisson

2nd Prize: Penelope Shvartz

3rd Prize: Ian Tubbs

4th Prize: Elle Davisson

Home - Andrew York Kickstarter

Mon, 30 Oct 2017 17:52:04 GMT

The feeling of "Home." Years on the road, now back Home for a vinyl + digital recording of my newest music for guitar, by Andrew York. Help support this new recording project by visiting the kickstart campaign below. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/andrewyork/home-andrew-york

The 30 th Italian Guitar Convention

Sun, 29 Oct 2017 19:28:11 GMT

The first Convention of this type took place in 1933 in the Italian city of Modena as this was the seat of its originator, Romolo Ferrari. Usually it takes place every year in an Italian city but there have been exceptions such as 1957 and 1958 when it took place in Germany and in 1962, Tokyo. The war years of course form a hiatus and also between 1962 and 2009 there were no conventions simply because of lack of an organizing board.

Fortunately as of 2009, the scientific committee consisting of luminaries Giuliano Balestra, Simona Boni, Giovanni Indulti, Vincenzo Pocci and Enrico Tagliavini the yearly convention became uninterrupted. On October 14 th , 2017 it took place in Modena, as it did already eight times before. This convention contained lectures and recitals. With a good balance between the speeches and the music, this was a most interesting and enjoyable day. First Paolo Cherici played music from the times of the vihuela on the real instrument. Then a wonderful duo of the Spanish soprano Pilar Moral and accompanying guitarist Nicola Jappelli sang a series of seguidillas by Fernando Sor as well as the Italian arietta from Sor’s method. For me the high note of the program. Alberto Mesirca told us about the discovery of an original guitar manuscript in a San Francisco library. He illustrated it with musical examples. I had earlier heard his English version in a convention of the Guitar Foundation of America. Then it was my turn to talk about the Italian correspondence I located at IGRA – letters written in the twentieth century to Vahdah Olcott-Bickford. Some great names are represented in that collection: Miguel Ablóniz, Teresa de Rogatis, Maria Rita Brondi, Romolo Ferrari, Nilo Peraldo Bert, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, the painter/guitar collector Piero Sansalvadore and some others presented with interesting visual support. Followed a recital by tenor Leonardo De Lisi accompanied by guitarist Luca Trabucchi. They performed four German songs from the cycle Vogelweide by Castelnuovo-Tedesco and music by Ettore Desderi. Massimo Felice then spoke about the Segovia repertoire. Music was announced but probably cut short for timing restrictions. After lunch, a homage to Ida Presti was played and recounted by Cinzia Milani (photo). She played several pieces from her recent CD ‘A tribute to Ida Presti’. A lecture-recital with music of Toru Takemitsu was presented by Andrea Dieci. The richest variety of sounds that you have ever heard coming from a guitar were played by Ganesh Del Vescovo in a number of his original compositions. Journalist-guitarist Filippo Michelangeli spoke about the task of the media including internet to document guitaristic phenomena. This was an excellent one-day convention in the medieval center of beautiful Modena. I am looking forward to next year’s activity… Jan de Kloe

Birthday of François de Fossa

Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:08:03 GMT

On August 31 in 1775, the composer François de Fossa was born in the French-Catalonian city of Perpignan. In 2017 this was feted on his birthday with concerts, lectures, and visits to the places where he was active, among them the house where he was born and lived. The day was organized by the president of the François de Fossa society, Pierre Coureux, and was attended by lovers of the guitar as well as by the guest of honor, discoverer and publisher of most of his music, Matanya Ophee. Divertimenti from François de Fossa’s Opus 6 were played by Francisco Ortiz as illustrations to a lecture by author Nicole Yrle. She wrote a romanticized biography of the composer. Then the musicologist Bruno Marlat gave a well illustrated history of the guitar and how it went from 5 course double string to 6 string as we know it today. Musical illustration during the day was by the duo Timothée Vinour-Motta and Rémy Patel. They played on period instruments, solo works and duets, primarily the arrangements that de Fossa made of Haydn music. These young players finished their evening performance with Sor’s l’Encouragement, brilliantly performed. The more recent publications of Editions Orphée of de Fossa’s music are five duos based on opera overtures which I presented. The original composers are Nicolas Dalayrac, Henri Berton, Gaspare Spontini, Niccolò Piccinni, and Antonio Sacchini – all composers that were active in Paris before or during the period that de Fossa lived there. Jan de Kloe

Announcing the 2019 GFA Convention at University of Miami

Tue, 24 Oct 2017 17:59:06 GMT

2019 Guitar Foundation of America International Convention & Competition

June 17-22, 2019

Hosted by University of Miami, Miami FL

The Guitar Foundation of America will hold the 2019 GFA International Convention and Competition from June 17-22, 2019 at the University of Miami, Miami, FL. This annual event brings together approximately 600 classical guitar masters and enthusiasts from all over the world, including some of the most elite performers of classical guitar. The 2019 GFA International Convention and Competition will be co-hosted by Dr. Federico Musgrove Stetson and Rafael Padron.

The six-day convention includes three concerts per day, a wide array of lectures, hands-on workshops, masterclasses and private lessons, a comprehensive vendor exposition and luthier showcase, Hall of Fame awards ceremony, and two guitar orchestras, open to all attendees. The GFA Convention is also home to three divisions of prestigious classical guitar competitions. The winner of the GFA International Concert Artist Competition is awarded an extensive international tour, along with a cash prize, recording contract, and publishing contract. The International Youth Competition (IYC) has both senior and junior divisions that offer young players the opportunity to perform for an elite panel of judges as well as the large GFA audience. Winners of the IYC receive cash awards and generous prizes from our sponsors.

The 2019 Convention will also feature the third annual International Ensemble Competition (IEC), with divisions for youth and adults in small and large ensembles.

The 2019 GFA Convention will also incorporate GFA’s new Guitar Summit youth camp, a six-day sleepaway camp for students ages 11-18. Guitar Summit students will have the opportunity to attend convention events while also participating in special workshops, performances and fun activities with convention artists and special guests.

The Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) is the world’s leading classical guitar organization, promoting excellence in performance, literature, research, and education of the classical guitar. For complete details on the event visit the GFA website at www.guitarfoundation.org Contact us at: info@guitarfoundation.org

Mandolin and Guitar Chamber Music Workshop with Keith Harris.

Thu, 19 Oct 2017 01:02:52 GMT

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)

2017 PUBLIC CITIZEN OF THE YEAR Awarded to Matthew Hinsley

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 18:37:14 GMT

MATTHEW HINSLEY, DMA The Public Citizen of the Year Award honors an outstanding member of the community whose accomplishments exemplify the values and mission of the profession of social work and who has acted with courage to make significant contribution to an area or population of concern to the social work profession such as: at-risk or vulnerable populations, quality of life in communities, or social issues. Matthew Hinsley is this year’s Public Citizen of the Year award winner. The author of Creativity to Community: Arts Nonprofit Success One Coffee at a Time, Dr. Hinsley has served as the Executive Director of Austin Classical Guitar (ACG) in Austin, Texas since 2002. Under his leadership, ACG has worked in partnership with Austin Independent School District (AISD) to provide classroom-based, for-credit classical guitar programs now serving 4,000 students in over 50 schools throughout Austin. ACG has helped build hundreds more educational programs throughout Texas, the United States and beyond from Nicaragua to Nepal. In 2010, ACG developed a braille-adapted version of its nationally-recognized classroom guitar curriculum for use at the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. ACG also partners with Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center, People’s Community Clinic, Annunciation Maternity Home, Travis County Jail, and Any Baby Can to provide engagement and education opportunities for the people they serve. Dr. Hinsley’s work demonstrates the value of building human relationships through the power of music. Using ACG as an agent for social change, Dr. Hinsley’s community engagement approach provides opportunities for many musicians to use their talents to enhance the lives of others. An example is the Lullaby Project, a program that brings together musicians with new moms facing challenging circumstances to create original lullabies for their babies, encouraging reflection and strengthening the connection between the mother and her child. Under Dr. Hinsley’s leadership, ACG’s educational programs achieve more than teaching basic guitar skills. They build confidence, self-respect, and a sense of purpose among the students who participate. Anyone who attends a public performance by the students in ACG’s guitar classes for incarcerated youth at the Gardner Betts Juvenile Justice Center witnesses the poise and professionalism of the young people involved in the program, and the look of pride on their faces when they receive a standing ovation at the end of their concert. Dr. Hinsley and Austin Classical Guitar have been featured on PBS NewsHour, and were the subject of a documentary produced by KLRU as part of their Arts in Context series. Dr. Hinsley was the recipient of the 2015 Austin Under 40 award for Arts and Entertainment, was recognized by the Texas Legislature in 2013, and was the recipient of the Nonprofit Alliance Award in 2011. Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell declared Matthew Hinsley & Austin Classical Guitar Day in 2010. It is an honor to present Dr. Matthew Hinsley with the Public Citizen of the Year award, for his work STANDING UP! for effective community engagement, transforming doubt into hope, and creating sustainable change for at-risk youth through music!

Florida Guitar Festival and Competition RESULTS

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 18:59:06 GMT

Florida Guitar Festival and Competition Tallahassee, Florida, October 6-8, 2017 The 3 rd annual guitar festival and competition was held at the prestigious Florida State University, home of the legendary Bruce Holzman. In celebration of Bruce’s 45 th year at FSU the Festival featured concerts by FSU alumni Andrew Zohn, Stephen Robinson, Mary Akerman, Robert Teixeira, and Adam Holzman as well as 2016 Competition winner Jesus Serrano and was produced by the Classical Guitar Society at FSU with Ben Lougheed and Cody Switzer co- directing the festival. There was a youth competition for players 18 years old and younger, an open division round for those of all ages, and a recreational competition for those who wanted constructive feedback on their musicianship and playing. The final results: Youth Division: 1 st : Fangfang Liu 2 nd : Christopher Minami 3 rd : Liam Bombka 4 th : Arelys Camargo Open Division: 1 st : Samuel Hines 2 nd : Noe Garcia 3 rd : Morgan Stuart 4 th : Nicolas Emilfork

Oxford University Press: Teaching Beginning Guitar Class: A Practical Guide by Bill Swick and The Guitar Workbook: A Fresh Approach to Exploration and Mastery by Scott Seifried.

Mon, 9 Oct 2017 21:24:36 GMT

Formatted to follow the school year from summer planning to opening weeks of the fall semester to a week-to-week timeline for the full school year, Teaching Beginning Guitar Class encompasses all possible needs for a non-guitar playing music instructor navigating the world of guitar instruction in a classroom setting. In twelve expertly organized chapters, author and veteran guitar teacher Bill Swick gives hard and fast guides for instruction, providing reassurance alongside invaluable tips for novice guitar educators. This book addresses questions such as 'I Do Not Play Guitar, Why Do I have to Teach Guitar?'; 'What is the Classroom Lifespan of a Guitar?'; and 'New Students in January?' while also providing practical solutions including basic setup, how to select the correct method book, and equipment maintenance. Increasingly, guitar study is offered alongside band, orchestra, and chorus in school music programs. This development has drawn a new population of students into those programs but has left music educators scrambling to developing meaningful, sequential courses of study that both meet the needs of these new students and align with state, county, and national curricula. Few available guitar methods are designed with the classroom in mind, and fewer still take a holistic approach to teaching and learning the instrument. In short, teachers are left to navigate a vast array of method books that cover a variety of styles and approaches, often without the confidence and experience necessary to know 'what to teach when.' The Guitar Workbook: A Fresh Approach to Exploration and Mastery addresses the needs of these educators. A 30% discount is available to GFA members Sarah Lee

III Guitar Composition Competition Fidelio via The Internet

Tue, 3 Oct 2017 21:52:06 GMT

The Third Guitar Composition Competition Fidelio via The Internet is open for registration. In case you want to participate you are very welcome. As usual, It is very simple, you only need to play your own guitar composition (1 to 4 minutes), and send the audio file, that’s all. Inscription: 10 euros or equivalent in dollars In this competition you choose the winner of the cash prize through a voting system published in the web. When you enter the voting rounds you only vote for the music you listen without knowing the author's name or pseudonym. It's only known when the final results are given. Deadline to submit your audio file: October the 15th. Voting rounds will start on October the 17th. Many countries involved. The style of the music is free as long as it is played with classical or Spanish guitar. Acoustic or electric guitar is not allowed. Enter here to read complete guidelines and see the prizes: http://concursodecomposicionparaguitarrafidelio.com/

Chamber Music Workshop With Keith Harris October 20 – 23, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Wed, 2 Aug 2017 19:47:13 GMT

Experience the pleasure of preparing a program of music under optimal conditions, under the guidance of one of the world’s foremost authorities on plucked string instruments, who is also a masterful educator and internationally respected conductor – Keith Harris. If you play classical guitar, mandocello, mandola, mandolin or a bass instrument, this is a wonderful opportunity to experience Keith’s unique and incredibly effective approach to technique, musicality, and ensemble playing -- and to have a fabulous time in the process. Repertoire: The repertoire for the Milwaukee workshop will consist principally of compositions and arrangements by Keith himself. The music has been chosen not only because it has proven immensely popular, both with players and audiences, but especially because it naturally exemplifies many compositional and technical aspects which Keith believes are worth examining. The Music Program (subject to change): “Diamantina Suite” (Allegro, Andante, Allegro) – Keith David Harris “Three Miniatures” (Domra, Habanera, Pipelined) – KDH “The Last Spring” – Edvard Grieg – arr. KDH Participants will be expected to prepare their parts conscientiously prior to the workshop, and also work with Keith on the Internet before we meet in Milwaukee, so that we can get straight down to serious work in the short time available. Logistics: Dates - October 20 – 23, 2017 Workshop fee: $300 (does not include transport, board and lodging). Location: Quality Suites Milwaukee Airport, 4488 S. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53221 (414) 282-8800 $89.00/night + taxes Booked under: “Mandolin Workshop.” We will meet on Friday evening, October 20, start playing at 9:00 am on Saturday, October 21, and finish with dinner on Monday, October 23. Tuesday is free to get ready for the CMSA Convention. Please contact Robert Hammond at mandobobh@gmail.com to discuss how you could take part in this exciting event.

2017 Competition Results

Fri, 30 Jun 2017 16:56:41 GMT

GFA is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017 International Concert Artist Competition, International Youth Competition and International Ensemble Competition: International Concert Artist Competition: Rose Augustine Grand Prize Winner: Tengyue Zhang (China) 2nd Place: Andrea De Vitis (Italy) 3rd Place: Alec Holcomb (USA) 4th Place: Andrey Lebedev (Australia) International Youth Competition: Junior Division 1st Leonora Spangenberger (Germany) 2nd Gwenyth Aggeler (USA) 3rd Eric Wang (USA) 4th Marc Saura (USA) Senior Division 1st Shilong Fan (China) 2nd Alberto Daniel Quintanilla (Mexico) 3rd Xu Kun Liu (Canada) 4th Yun Duan (China) International Ensemble Competition: Large Ensemble Youth Division 1st - Austin Bella Corda 2nd - California Conservatory of Guitar 3rd - The Green Room Arts Youth Small Ensemble Youth Division 1st - Felice Guitar Quartet 2nd - Davisson Duo 3rd - Pasadena Conservatory of Music Quartet Large Ensemble Artist Division 1st - Octeto Sicarú 2nd - The Green Room Arts Senior Small Ensemble Artist Division 1st - Erlendis Quartet 2nd - Vickers Bovey Duo 3rd - Ziggy and Miles Johnston

Rose Augustine Grand Prize Winner Xavier Jara to Perform at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall

Tue, 6 Jun 2017 18:43:31 GMT

Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA (June 6, 2017) - The Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) is pleased to announce that a concert at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall will be included as part of the 2017-2018 GFA International Concert Artist Competition Winner’s Tour. The 2016 Rose Augustine Grand Prize Winner, Xavier Jara, will begin his 50-city tour in the Fall of 2017, performing concerts throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Brazil. Jara’s concert at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall will take place on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 8pm. This concert will be presented by the Guitar Foundation of America in conjunction with the New York City Classical Guitar Society. The GFA expects that the Carnegie Hall concert will remain a part of the prize package for the Rose Augustine Grand Prize winner for years to come. Martha Masters, Artistic Director of the GFA International Concert Artist Competition, says, “The GFA is thrilled that our winners will be featured in concert in one of the world’s most prestigious venues. The instrument has earned its place on the major international classical music scene with a consistent and impeccably high standard of excellence. Xavier is a fantastic ambassador for the instrument, and for the GFA.” John Olson, President of the New York City Classical Guitar Society, states, "The GFA International Concert Artist Competition is the world's preeminent classical guitar competition. We are excited to be working with the GFA to bring this year's winner, the remarkable Xavier Jara, to perform in New York." A native of Minnesota, Jara was a student of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis until 2011 when he moved to Paris, France to study with Judicael Perroy. Jara studied in Paris for six years with Perroy. During this time he completed his Bachelor’s Degree at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris. He received 1st Prize in a number of international competitions including the Boston Guitarfest (2014), the Gargnano, Italy Competition (2015) and the Tokyo International Competition (2016). In 2016, Jara returned home to the United States to win the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the GFA International Concert Artist Competition. The GFA International Concert Artist Competition is the preeminent classical guitar competition in the United States. Along with a 50-city tour, the competition’s Rose Augustine Grand Prize Winner receives $10,000 cash, a Naxos CD recording, a Mel Bay book publication, CD design by Contrastes Records, and string prizes from Augustine Strings, D’Addario, and Savarez. Contact: Connie Sheu, General Manager Guitar Foundation of America PO Box 2900 Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA 90275 info@guitarfoundation.org 877-570-1651 ###

2017 Charlottesville Classical Guitar Festival and Competition

Tue, 23 May 2017 21:49:14 GMT

Residents of Charlottesville, a picturesque city along the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and near Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia, will have the opportunity to celebrate classical guitar music in the 1st classical guitar festival of its kind. The festival will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at The Haven (112 Market Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902), from 9am to 10pm. There will be guitar recitals, workshops, a guitar competition open to juniors and adults, and a guitar orchestra. The guest artists and presenters include Matt Palmer, Rafael Scarfullery, Candice Mowbray, Zeb Turrentine, Jeremy Bass and Erica Cha. The full festival fee is just $60. This festival is organized by Rafael Scarfullery, a composer and classical guitarist who lives in Charlottesville. The guitar competition is open to any US or foreign guitarist and will have only one round with a 5-min. repertoire of your choice. You can register at the website: http://guitarcharlottesville.com.

Guitare Montréal's 15th Anniversary

Mon, 1 May 2017 21:04:48 GMT

It's Our 15th Anniversary! Reserve the following dates: May 26, 27, and 28. New This Year: Buy your concert tickets online via www.eventbrite.ca! It's very easy reasonably priced. Please take note of Guitare Montréal's exciting 2017 line-up: Bokyung Byun Jérôme Ducharme Matthew McAllister Jorge Andrés Orjuela Thierry Bégin-Lamontagne Michel Beauchamp Marko Féri Dr.Éric Legault Dr.Jeffrey McFadden Let's not forget the over $5000 dollars in prizes, given away in the: MGS Youth Competition and The Montréal International Classical Guitar Competition. New This Year: Register at www.guitaremontreal.com and pay immediately via PayPal. Follow us : Web: www.guitaremontreal.com FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/guitaremontreal2002 FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/GuitarMontreal/ Hope to see you all in May! Patrick Kearney Founder and Artistic-Director

Lanciano International Guitar Seminar

Wed, 26 Apr 2017 18:20:13 GMT

Lanciano International Guitar Seminar: July 28 - August 2, 2017 Lanciano (CH), Abruzzo, Italy The mission of the Lanciano International Guitar Seminar is to promote high-level solo and chamber music training for young guitarists, emphasizing the performance of new music for the guitar. Internationally renowned professionals from Europe and the United States will teach masterclasses for soloists and provide ensemble coaching each day during the week of the Seminar. Faculty includes Michael Newman, Laura Oltman, and Isabella Abbonizio, with guest faculty and guest lecturers to be announced. Concerts featuring all participants in solo and ensemble performances will take place at the historic Torri Montanare and other locations throughout the city. There will also be a concert in the nearby town of Salle, home of the new museum, devoted to the three-hundred- year history of manufacturing musical instrument strings in Salle. Close to Rome, the historic city of Lanciano rests amongst the beaches of the Adriatic coast near the mountain peaks of Gran Sasso, with its National Nature Reserve. Against a backdrop of nature and history, visitors enjoy unique and amazing food and wines, including the well known Montepulciano. Registration is open to both participants and auditors, and fellowships are available. Website: www.lancianoguitar.com email: lancianoguitar@gmail.com tel: +1 (646) 243- 4266

Announcing: Volterra Project

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 15:20:28 GMT

For more information please visit: http://www.volterraguitar.org This year we also have a full scholarship for American students (deadline APRIL 28, 2017). http://www.volterraguitar.org/stuart-weber-scholarship.html

Semi Finalists Announced for Salzburg GuitarFest

Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:08:49 GMT

GuitarFest received 52 applications and the performance level was very high. Due to the high level and a few instances of tied point totals, the jury has chosen 18 semifinalists as opposed to the originally scheduled 15. The semifinalists of the Salzburg GuitarFest International Competition are as follows (listed in alphabetical order): Pedro Rogério Aguiar Luis Benitez Alba Utkan Aslan Martina Barlotta Ziemek Bućko Dóra Cserenyec Daniel Egielman Jesse Flowers Cristian Gramesc Stephanie Jones Kun (Alan) Liu Stefan Koim Andrés Madariaga Antero Pellikka Hoang Khang Pham Katarzyna Smolarek Pedro Villegas Zuzanna Wężyk

Classical Guitar in Orange County - 10% Discount for GFA Members

Wed, 12 Apr 2017 22:18:45 GMT

Featured Artist Recital Schedule 2016-2017. Third Saturday of the month, 8PM at Chapman University, in Salmon Recital Hall or Irvine Lecture Hall, near Palm Drive & Center St. in Orange for details go to: www.ocgc.org. 10% Discount for GFA Members (Please present GFA membership card for discount). April 16 Mark del Priora. An American classical guitarist and composer. He Has performed extensively throughout the United States, Canada, South America, and Italy. Notable performances include Festivals: Stetson University Guitar, Rutgers University Summerfest, and Eastman Guitarfest. He is currently Chair of the Guitar Department at the Manhattan School of Music, on the faculty since 1989. ALSO: Members’ Showcase Recitals: May 20. The last Showcase of the season by OCGC members; contact James Chiang at www.ocgc.org to reserve a slot. Director’s Showcase Recital: June 17. The last Showcase of the season features performances by members of the OCGC’s Board of Directors. The Orange County Guitar Circle is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1967 to celebrate, perform, and promote the music of the classical guitar in Southern California.

The Unorthodox Guitar: A Guide to Alternative Performance Practice

Fri, 7 Apr 2017 19:54:41 GMT

Oxford University Press is thrilled to announce the publication of The Unorthodox Guitar: A Guide to Alternative Performance Practice, by internationally recognized composer, performer, and music scholar Mike Frengel. The Unorthodox Guitar: A Guide to Alternative Performance Practice is a comprehensive resource for experimentally minded guitarists and composers wishing to write for or perform on the instrument in new ways. The book focuses primarily on unconventional approaches to guitar performance, which include alternative tunings, extended techniques, instrumental preparations, electronic augmentations, and issues related to performing and recording with a computer. This information is intended to serve as a guide, reference, and source of inspiration for those wishing to compose and/or perform on the instrument in innovative ways. Order now and save 30%! Enter promo code AAFLYG6 at checkout on OUP.com.

Alion Baltic International Music Festival

Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:18:25 GMT

I am happy to announce that I will be a featured Concert Performer and Artist Faculty this Summer at the Alion Baltic International Music Festival in beautiful and historic Tallinn, Estonia! This festival is quickly becoming the Premiere Music Festival of Northern Europe, and features a unique blend of concerts (by some of the leading classical artists in the world), and moreover offers unparalleled opportunities for students to study with these International Virtuosi. Tuition is comprised of an admixture of Private Lessons, Masterclasses, Chamber Music Coachings, along with numerous opportunities for students to perform in recitals—including that of “sharing the stage” with one’s Artist-Teacher on occasion! In addition to classical guitar, piano, strings, all orchestral instruments, composition, voice and opera are offered as fields of study. For a detailed overview and consultation about the specifics of the classical guitar program❆ and to register to study with me, please contact via either e-mail (stanleyalexandrowicz@gmail.com), or FB Messenger, and I will be happy to respond to your inquiries. My ABIMF webpage and Artist Profile can be seen at: http://alionbalticfestival.com/alexandrowicz.html General Festival Website: http://alionbalticfestival.com Programs of Study range from 1-week, 10 Day, 2-week, and 3-week sessions. Early Registration discounts are available for a limited period of time. Set in the beautiful Baltic Region, students will additionally have performance opportunities in Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, St. Petersburg, and tourist activities ranging from historical sight-seeing to seaside, forrest, and mountain day trips and explorations! A GREAT way to spend a “Musical Summer” in Historic Northern Europe! ❆ My Guitar Study Program of private lessons, master classes, and coaching will include: ⭐︎Mechanical and Technical Aspects of Guitar Performance ⭐︎Interpretation based on Stylistic, Theoretical, and Historical Analysis ⭐︎Guitar Ergonomics ⭐︎Performance Practice (from the Renaissance through Romanticism) ⭐︎Recital Preparation and Concert Programming ⭐︎19th Century Multi-bass & Harp-Guitars ⭐︎Contemporary Music ⭐︎Voice and Guitar Repertoire PERFORMER BIOGRAPHY Classical Guitarist Stanley Alexandrowicz is internationally renowned for his thrilling virtuosity, poetic interpretations, and refined musicality. In addition to his command of the instrument’s standard repertoire, he has premiered and commissioned over 100 works by composers from Europe, Asia, the United States, Cuba, and Latin America. A scholar and specialist in the field of 19th Century music, he often features unknown compositions by the Romantic guitar composer-virtuosi, playing on period instruments and revitalizing works which have lain dormant (often in manuscript form) for over a century. He has given lecture-recitals internationally on both Romantic and Contemporary music, including the Institute for Advanced Study (Princeton – USA), the International Guitar Research Centre (University of Surrey – UK), the Baltimore Museum of Art (USA), and, the Harp-Guitar Foundation of America. In addition to his work as an international soloist, he collaborates regularly in chamber music performances with some of the world’s leading musicians ― including internationally renowned soprano Dominika Zamara ― bringing together the worlds of opera, lieder, song, and contemporary music in realizations of unmatched sonic beauty and deep musical intelligence. Their duo debut CD “Ivan Padovec: Music for Guitar and Soprano” was issued on SHEVA Collection Recordings Italy (http://www.shevacollection.it), summer, 2015. Performance highlights during recent concert seasons include London, New York, Venice, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, and Princeton, and include the U.S. premiere of Vácav Kučera’s Concierto Imaginativo-Homenaje a Salvador Dali for guitar and string orchestra (Baltimore) in honor of the composer’s 80th birthday year. Dr. Alexandrowicz is currently Artistic Director of the New York Classical Music Society (NYCMS), and Artist-Professor at the Alion Baltic International Music Festival & Academy. He has served as Professor of Guitar at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ), Director of the Bronx House Music School (New York), and has been on the faculty of Mercy College, New York (where he additionally taught music history, theory, form and analysis, and ear-training skills). A world- renowned pedagogue and “master teacher” he is an expert on guitar ergonomics. Dr. Stanley Alexandrowicz (D.M.A. Manhattan School of Music)

The Guitar Down Under

Tue, 7 Mar 2017 16:31:02 GMT

The Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, University of Melbourne, organized a three-day conference, December 9–11, 2016, under the title “Instrument of Change: The International Rise of the Guitar (c.1870–1945).” With speakers and attendants from all over the world, this was a magnificent get-together for sharing guitar research results. The event was organized by Michael Christoforidis and Liz Kertesz. Michael opened the sessions with his “Estudiantinas and the Plucked String Explosion in the 1870s” about groups of serenading musicians around a core of plucked instruments who traveled Spain and the world. There were two gender related presentations, one by Hannah Lindmaier from Vienna: “‘Female’ or ‘Male’?—Guitar and Gender at the Turn of the 20th Century”; the other by Kate Lewis from Guildford, United Kingdom: “She Made That Guitar Talk: Pioneering Female Lead Guitar Players and Their Influence on the Development of American Popular Music,” which gave historic details with pictures, sound, and scores from guitar heroines Maybelle Carter, Memphis Minnie, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. Ken Murray from the University of Melbourne gave a fine presentation on “Percy Grainger: The Accidental Guitarist,” the Australian composer who had highly original ideas about the guitar and its tunings. The building next door housed an exposition of instruments and other paraphernalia from Grainger’s life and work. Photo caption: Gibson harp guitar at the Grainger exposition. After a most interesting “Segovia and the Russians” by Matanya Ophee, there followed two presentations titled “The changing Zeitgeist in Classical Guitar Repertoire: Andrés Segovia’s Reception in New York, 1928–1940” and “Andrés Segovia and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco: 1939.” Unfortunately, neither of these latter two lectures presented anything we did not already know. Roxy DePue (University of California, Riverside) lectured on the challenges that freelance guitarists encountered in Hollywood, and John Whiteoak from Melbourne’s Monash University surveyed how the guitar was introduced to Australia. There were three lectures under the heading “The Classical Guitar in the English-Speaking World.” Brazilian guitarist-composer Diogo Carvalho summarized how and why the banjo and mandolin jeopardized the future of the guitar. Jonathan Paget lectured on Ernest Shand, who spent more than half a year in Australia, where he both acted and performed on the guitar. Jan de Kloe finished this chapter with the life and works of Boris Perott, the first teacher of Julian Bream. Under the rubric “New Repertories” we heard Ari van Vliet of the Netherlands speak on the “Shifting Style from Romanticism through Nationalism towards Expressionism.” Then Maurice Carrasco (University of Melbourne) gave many examples from Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Platero y yo that are unplayable as published and suggested performance solutions. Leilani Dade from the University of California Riverside expounded on Spanish nationalism in the works of Joaquín Turina, who was urged by Albéniz to pursue this element in his music, the latter feeling that Turina was too much under the influence of French big-name composers. The next chapter, chaired by Melanie Plesch, contained two lectures on Argentine visions of the guitar. The first discussed Atahualpa Yupanqui, accompanied with very nice music examples supported by good photographs. This was presented by Julius Carlson of Mount St. Mary’s University at Los Angeles. It was followed by “The Fall of the Tango Guitar and the Rise of the Middle-Class Tangueros,” given by Eric Johns (University of California Riverside). By analyzing the visual and audible representation of the tango in 1930s Argentine movies, Johns demonstrated that the guitar had become a signifier of lower-class society. Two important keynote addresses were then presented by major speakers in our field. Melanie Plesch (Melbourne University) offered “Nationalism, Internationalism and Other Dichotomies in the History of the Guitar in Argentina” while Walter Aaron Clark (University of California Riverside) gave us “Going Cucú for Aranjuez: Sources of Musical Inspiration and Influence in Joaquín Rodrigo’s Most Famous Work.” The cuckoo here refers to the sound Rodrigo imitated of the bird he so often heard when walking through the forests near Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany, where he spent quite some time during the Spanish Civil War. Three presentations constituted the chapter “The Guitar in Interwar Spanish Nationalism.” The title of the first presentation was intriguing: “Domenico Scarlatti and the Spanish guitar, c.1920–40.” Luisa Morales (University of Melbourne) showed the impact of the Scarlatti sonatas and neo-Scarlatti compositions on the generation of Spanish guitarists such as Ángel Barrios. From the same university was Alexandra Velasco-Svoboda with “The Influence of Neoclassicism in Selected Guitar Works by Joaquín Rodrigo,” where she showed how a generation of composers was inspired to use the guitar in their neoclassical compositions removed of Andalusian cliché. In “Historical Performance Practice of Spanish Modernism: An Approach to the Performer Regino Sáinz de la Maza,” Yiannis Efstatopoulos from the Vrije Universiteit, Brussels, focused on the difference in playing technique between gut and silk-coated bass strings as compared to the strings we use today, but went beyond that as he analyzed the response and artistic insights of performing on original guitars by Santos Hernández, the approach to Tárrega’s technique, and sources addressing Regino as a performer. Sunday rounded off the conference with three lectures hard to categorize under one heading. Erie Setiawan from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, showed that the instrumentation in the kroncong ensembles is derived from 16th-century Portuguese plucked instruments. Gerard Mapstone and Stathis Gauntlett, both from the University of Melbourne, focused on flamenco and the rebetiki kithara. Because there was no audio example, I did not have the faintest what the latter was about. Arriving home, I went on YouTube for an example, and I suggest interested readers do the same. In addition to the “Instrument of Change” lectures, Friday and Saturday evenings featured live classical and popular Brazilian music by Doug de Vries, Adam May, Ken Murray, Alexandra Velasco-Svoboda, Matthew Hood, and Jimmy O’Hare. –Jan de Kloe

Wilson Center Guitar Festival

Tue, 7 Mar 2017 14:44:53 GMT

Now in its fifth year, the Wilson Center Guitar Festival is the only guitar competition and festival in the world to feature four different genres—Rock/Blues, Jazz, Classical, and Fingerstyle—with simultaneous live semi-final and final competition rounds, world-class headliners, master classes, and guitar industry exhibits. First-prize winners in all four genres will receive $5,000, plus a chance to open for Kevin Eubanks on Saturday evening August 19, 2017; second-prize winners in all four genres will receive $2,000; and third-prize winners in all four genres will receive $1,000. August 17-19, 2017 in Brookfield, WI (near Milwaukee). Applications are open until May 31, 2017. Please share this information with your students and colleagues. The website is here: www.wilson-center.com/guitar-competition-festival Headliners: Beijing Guitar Duo Thursday, August 17, 2017 • 7:30 PM Antoine Dufour • Gareth Pearson • Mike Dawes Candyrat Records Fingerstyle Friday Friday, August 18, 2017 • 7:30 PM Kevin Eubanks Saturday, August 19, 2017 • 7:30 PM

Guitarist Judicaël Perroy Joins Faculty of San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Wed, 1 Mar 2017 21:08:52 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - The San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) today announces the appointment of guitarist Judicaël Perroy to its faculty. Perroy comes to SFCM from France, where he has taught at the National Academy of Aulnay-sous-Bois and at the Pôle d'Enseignement Supérieur de la Musique en Seine-Saint-Denis-Île-de-France, among other institutions. "Following the retirement of the great Sérgio Assad from our guitar faculty, we are thrilled to welcome the world-renowned guitarist Judicaël Perroy as the new SFCM guitar professor," says SFCM Guitar Department Chair David Tanenbaum. "Besides being a master player at the top of his generation, Judicaël has had unprecedented success as a teacher, having taught five recent first prize winners of the guitar world's most important competition, the GFA, after having won the competition himself. Judicaël's dedication to both playing and teaching at the highest level makes him a perfect fit here." "I've known SFCM since coming to the US for the first time 20 years ago, and this makes me even more honored to be part of the team of teachers and of this school with such a rich history," says Judicaël Perroy. "This is why I am so excited to be part of it." Judicaël Perroy is known around the world as both a performer and pedagogue. Frequently in demand as a teacher, he has given master classes at many of the top universities and conservatories in the US and abroad. Perroy's students have won several top prizes in regional, national, and international competitions, including the Guitar Foundation of America Competition. Perroy is the recipient of numerous awards, including the First Prize at the 15th Guitar Foundation of America International Competition and Convention (an accolade that also allowed him to tour the United States and Canada, giving more than 60 concerts and master classes), Second Prize at the International Guitar Competition of Ile de France, and both Grand Prize and Audience Prize at the 15th Concours René Bartoli. He also was awarded the First Prize at the 7th International Bourg-Madame Competition and, upon graduation, received the highest placement in his class at the Paris Conservatory. Perroy's performances in France have been broadcast live on France Musique and he has released a number of albums on Naxos, Mel Bay, Bayard Musique, and additional labels, performing the works of Bach, Ponce, Rodrigo, and many others. In addition to Perroy joining the guitar faculty and beginning his own studio in Fall 2017, jazz guitarist Julian Lage will also begin teaching at SFCM in the fall as a member of the Conservatory's new Roots, Jazz, and American Music (RJAM) program.

X International Guitar Competition Culiacan 2017

Tue, 10 Jan 2017 17:59:35 GMT

Fundación Cultural de la Guitarra A. C., in coordination with H. Ayuntamiento de Culiacán and Instituto Sinaloense de Cultura.

Present the X International Guitar Competition Culiacan 2017. To be held March 7 th thru 10 th 2017 in Culiacán Sinaloa México, during the XVII International Guitar Festival Sinaloa 2017, which will take place march 6th thru the 11th, 2017.

Rules:

Participation to the X Culiacan International Guitar Competition 2017 is open to all guitarists, regardless of age or nationality who:

- Have not won any edition of the Culiacan International Guitar Competition

- Have paid the registration fee of $100.00 USD to de following account:

Bank: Banamex
Account Name: Fundación Cultural de la Guitarra A.C.
Branch: 441
Account Number: 7718139
For international deposits use: 002730044177181393

Send deposit slip and official ID to: figculiacancompetition@gmail.com

The last day to send the documents is Febrary 27 th .

First Round:

Will be held March 7th and 8th 2017, at 10 a.m. in theater Socorro Astol located in Instituto Sinaloense de Cultura (ISIC), address: Boulevard Niños Héroes (malecón) corner with Ruperto L Paliza, in the city of Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Participants must be present at least 40 minutes before his turn. Turn will be assigned by email on March 2 nd .

Participants will play:

- Free choice program between 8 and 10 minutes long.

Semi-finalist will be announced verbally after the second day 2 [X INTERNATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITION CULIACAN 2017] of the first round.

Semifinal round will be en march 9th 2017, at 10 a.m. in theater Socorro Astol, with the same order as the previous day. Participants must be present one hour before to be assigned a warming up space.

Semifinalist will play:

- Set piece “Brisas de Mocorito”, traditional song from Sinaloa, arranged for guitar by Heriberto Soberanes, available at www.internationalguitarculiacan.com

- Additional high quality program adding a total playing time of 10 to 12 minutes, including the set piece.

Finalist will be announced verbally after de semifinal round.

Final Round will be en march 10th 2017, at 8:00 p.m. in Pablo de Villavicencio Theater in a Public Concert, with the same order as the previous day. Participants must be present one hour before to be assigned a warming up space.

Finalist will play:

Free choice program 17 to 20 minutes long. No pieces from the semifinal round can be repeated.

Winners will be announced verbally after de final round and must be present for the Winners Ceremony following the concert.

The competition

- Participants must state name and pieces to be played for the jury.

- Participants will have one minute to choose a chair and to tune the guitar.

- All pieces must be played from memory.

- Should the jury find it appropriate, any participant could be stopped during his/hers performance.

- Should the jury find the absence of sufficient quality, any price could be declared “not awarded”.

- There will only by a tied circumstance if the amount of the price is not increased.

- The jury will determine the number of semifinalists and finalists.

- Jury´s decisions are final.

Additional information

[X INTERNATIONAL GUITAR COMPETITION CULIACAN 2017] 3

- All rounds will be public and could be recorded and broadcasted in any media, without it causing retribution of any kind to participants.

- Participation implies the contestant understands the rules and agrees to them.

- All participants will receive a diploma

- All participants could request to one ore more members of the jury an observation on strengths and weaknesses.

- Winners must personally claim the prize.

The Jury

The Jury of X International Guitar Competition Culiacan 2017 will be formed by at least three professional musicians of whom at least two will be international.

Prices

Since its first edition, H. Ayuntamiento de Culiacán sponsors the prices for the competition, which are:

First place:

- USD $ 4,000 (Four thousand U.S. Dollars)

- Paid concert (1500, USD) Solist with Sinaloa de las Artes Orchestra during festival 2018

- CD Recording

- Photography Session with Canadian photographer Collin Jewall (www.colinjewall.com)

Second place:

- USD $ 1,500 (Fifth teen hundred U.S. Dollars)

Third place:

- USD $ 500 (Five hundred U.S. Dollars)

Fundación Cultural de la Guitarra A.C.

Marco Vinicio Camacho García, President
Rodolfo Pérez Berrelleza, Artistic Director
Andres Quiróz, Competition Coordinador
Heriberto Soberanes
More info: www.internationalguitarculiacan.com www.facebook.com/funculguit

Deadline Extended for Schadt Guitar Competition!

Fri, 30 Dec 2016 14:03:26 GMT

Applications for the 2017 Schadt String Competition for Classical Guitar will now be accepted until December 30, 2016. Submissions include a recording of an unaccompanied solo guitar work of your choice up to 10 minutes in length and any major guitar concerto of your choice (include all movements) recorded with piano accompaniment, excluding Giuliani's Concerto in A, Op. 30.

First Prize is $8,000 and a solo concerto engagement with the Allentown Symphony Orchestra. Second place receives $3,000 and third place, $1,500.

For more information and to apply visit http://www.millersymphonyhall.org/education-community/national-schadt-string-competition/application/

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Stephanie Kocher, Schadt Coordinator atskocher@allentownsymphony.org.

Latino Arts Strings Program Presents Fourth Annual Guitar Festival & Competition

Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:30:36 GMT

Latino Arts Strings Program Presents Fourth Annual

Guitar Festival & Competition

Festival to Conclude with Performances by International World-Class Guitarists

MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin (December 15, 2016) – The Latino Arts Strings Program, a nationally recognized pre-college music training program, is proud to present their fourth annual international Guitar Festival. This daylong event will feature a youth guitar competition, a master class moderated by internationally acclaimed musicians, and an evening performance by classical guitarists, Rene Izquierdo & Isaac Bustos.

The Guitar Festival will kick off with a youth competition that is open to classical guitarists of all ages. A panel of local and international judges will select one winner from each competition level (intermediate and advanced). At the end of the night, the winners of the competition will perform with world-class artists, Rene Izquierdo and Dr. Isaac Bustos.

Guest performers, Rene Izquierdo and Dr. Isaac Bustos, boast unique and impressive resumes. Cuban native, Izquierdo, is a professor of classical guitar at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an active solo performer and chamber musician. He has participated in countless guitar competitions and won several including the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Competition and the Extremadura International Guitar Competition.

Dr. Isaac Bustos is a classical guitarist, pedagogue and educator with an extensive performing career who has earned several top international prizes. Bustos is currently the Artistic Director of the Texas A&M International Guitar Symposium and Competition at the Texas A&M University Department of Performance Studies.

The festival will take place on February 11, 2017 at the Latino Arts Auditorium, 1028 S 9th St, Milwaukee, WI 53204.

Timeline of Events:

8:00 a.m. – Youth competition

1:00 p.m. – Master class

3:30 p.m. – Guitar workshop

7:00 p.m. – Guest performance, accompanied by youth competition winners

Admission to the concert plus enrollment in the competition and master class costs $25 per person. Registration is open online through February 1, 2017. Concert tickets to the evening performance are $10 for general admission and $8 for students. To register or buy tickets for the concert, visit http://2017youthguitarcompetition.mivoz.com/.

For additional information including performance dates, times, venue information, competition rules and performer biographies, visit http://www.latinoartsinc.org/Strings/GuitarFestival.htm.

Connect with Latino Arts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/latinoartsinc and follow @latinoartsinc on Twitter.

Grammy-Winning Guitarist Jason Vieaux Performs East Coast Premiere of Dan Visconti’s Living Language

Fri, 4 Nov 2016 17:54:52 GMT

Grammy-Winning Guitarist Jason Vieaux

Performs East Coast Premiere of Dan Visconti’s
Living Language

with the Reading Symphony Orchestra
led by Music Director Andrew Constantine

“perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation” – NPR

Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 7:30pm
Santander Performing Arts Center
136 N 6th St | Reading, PA
Tickets: $20-80 at www.readingsymphony.org

Jason Vieaux Online: www.jasonvieaux.com

Reading, PA — Grammy-winning guitar virtuoso Jason Vieaux will give the East Coast premiere performances of composer Dan Visconti’s guitar concerto Living Language with the Reading Symphony Orchestra led by Music Director Andrew Constantine on Saturday, December 3 at 7:30pmat the Santander Performing Arts Center (136 N 6^th St). The concerts also include Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and Dvorák’s Slavonic Rhapsody No. 3.

Commissioned and premiered in May 2016 by the California Symphony, Living Language follows Devil’s Strum, a blues-infused work for solo guitar that Visconti wrote for Vieaux in 2010, which Vieaux has performed widely. In addition to these new works by Visconti, Vieaux’s passion for new music has led him to premiere and champion music by living composers including Vivian Fung, Keith Fitch, Kinan Abou-Afach, David Ludwig, Jerod Tate, Eric Sessler, José Luis Merlin, and Gary Schocker.

Dan Visconti, who is in the midst of three years as the California Symphony’s Young American Composer-in-Residence, won the prestigious Koussevitzky Award for Living Language, presented by the Library of Congress in November. He says of the piece, “Living Language will explore an inversion of the typical concerto format, where the orchestra normally exposes material with the soloist elaborating and commenting; to the contrary, my piece will explore the orchestra as a kind of echo chamber that passes around gestures that all originate from the guitar soloist's melodic material.” In addition to the Reading Symphony Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony and Fort Wayne Philharmonic have also scheduled future performances of Living Language.

Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, “among the elite of today's classical guitarists” (Gramophone), is the guitarist that goes beyond the classical. NPR describes Vieaux as, “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” His most recent solo album, Play, won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. In June 2014, NPR named “Zapateado” from the album as one of its “50 Favorite Songs of 2014 (So Far).”

Vieaux has earned a reputation for putting his expressiveness and virtuosity at the service of a remarkably wide range of music, and his schedule of performing, teaching, and recording commitments is distinguished throughout the U.S. and abroad. His solo recitals have been a feature at every major guitar series in North America and at many of the important guitar festivals in Asia, Australia, Europe, and Mexico. Recent and future highlights include returns to the Caramoor Festival, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and New York's 92Y, as well as his Ravinia Festival debut and performances at Argentina’s Teatro Colon and Oslo, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and Norway’s Classical Music Fest. Vieaux’s appearances for Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bard Music Festival, Music@Menlo, Strings Music Festival, Grand Teton, and many others have forged his reputation as a first-rate chamber musician and programmer. He collaborates in recitals this season with Escher Quartet, acclaimed harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, and accordion/bandoneón virtuoso Julien Labro. Vieaux’s passion for new music has fostered premieres of works by Avner Dorman, Dan Visconti, Vivian Fung, Keith Fitch, Kinan Abou-Afach, David Ludwig, Jerod Tate, Eric Sessler, José Luis Merlin and Gary Schocker.

Jason Vieaux has performed as concerto soloist with over 100 orchestras, including Cleveland, Houston, Toronto, San Diego, Ft. Worth, Charlotte, Buffalo, Grand Rapids, Kitchener-Waterloo, Richmond, IRIS Chamber, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Chautauqua Festival, and New Hampshire Music Festival. Some of the conductors he has worked with include David Robertson, Donato Cabrera, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Jahja Ling, Stefan Sanderling, Michael Stern, David Lockington, Steven Smith, and Edwin Outwater. During the 2016-2017 season, Jason Vieaux will make appearances with 11 symphony orchestras throughout the US and Canada, including return engagements with the Santa Fe and Edmonton Symphonies, Piazzolla’s Double Concerto with Julien Labro and the Arkansas Symphony, and engagements with the symphonies of Niagra, Stockton, Illinois, and West Virginia. Vieaux will also be performing Dan Visconti’s new guitar concerto, Living Language, which he premiered with California Symphony in May 2016, with the symphonies of Reading Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne, and Richmond.

Vieaux continues to bring important repertoire alive in the recording studio as well. His latest album, Infusion with bandoneonist Julien Labro, was released in October 2016 on Azica Records and features Vieaux and Labro in Labro’s arrangements of Leo Brouwer’s Tres Danzas Concertantes and Piazzolla’s Escualo, his arrangement of Radamés Gnattali’s Suite Retratos with bassist Peter Dominguez and percussionist Jamey Haddad, Pat Metheny’s Antonia, and Vieaux’s arrangement of iconic 1980s British rock band Tears for Fears’ Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Vieaux recently recorded Alberto Ginastera’s Sonata for Guitar Op. 47 for a Ginastera Centennial album produced by Yolanda Kondonassis, which was released in October 2016 on Oberlin Music and features additional performances by Kondonassis, violinist Gil Shaham, and pianist Orli Shaham. His duo album Together, with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, was released in January 2015. Of his Grammy-winning 2014 solo album Play, Soundboard Magazinewrites, “If you ever want to give a friend a disc that will cement his or her love for the guitar, this is a perfect candidate,” while Premier Guitar claims, “You’d be hard pressed to find versions performed with more confidence, better tone, and a more complete understanding of the material.”

Vieaux’s previous eleven albums include a recording of Astor Piazzolla’s music with Julien Labro and A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra; Bach: Works for Lute, Vol. 1, which hit No. 13 on Billboard’s Classical Chart after its first week and received rave reviews by Gramophone, The Absolute Sound, and Soundboard; Images of Metheny, featuring music by American jazz legend Pat Metheny (who after hearing this landmark recording declared: “I am flattered to be included in Jason's musical world”); and Sevilla: The Music of Isaac Albeniz, which made several Top Ten lists the year of its release. Vieaux’s albums and live performances are regularly heard on radio and internet around the world, and his work is the subject of feature articles in print and online around the world, including such magazines as Acoustic Guitar, MUSO, Gramophone, and on NPR’s “Deceptive Cadence.” Vieaux was the first classical musician to be featured on NPR’s popular “Tiny Desk” series, on which he made a rare repeat performance in 2015 with Yolanda Kondonassis.

Vieaux is affiliated with Philadelphia’s Astral Artists. His primary teachers were Jeremy Sparks and John Holmquist. In 1992 he was awarded the prestigious GFA International Guitar Competition First Prize, the event’s youngest winner ever. He is also honored with a Naumburg Foundation top prize, a Cleveland Institute of Music Alumni Achievement Award, and a Salon di Virtuosi Career Grant. In 1995, Vieaux was an Artistic Ambassador of the U.S. to Southeast Asia.

Jason Vieaux is represented by Jonathan Wentworth Associates, Ltd and plays a 2013 Gernot Wagner guitar.

For more information, visit www.jasonvieaux.com.

NAXOS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF 21st CENTURY SPANISH GUITAR, VOLUME 2, FEATURING ACCLAIMED AMERICAN GUITARIST ADAM LEVIN

Thu, 8 Sep 2016 19:34:27 GMT

NAXOS ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF 21^st CENTURY SPANISH GUITAR, VOLUME 2,

FEATURING ACCLAIMED AMERICAN GUITARIST ADAM LEVIN

Second recording in a planned four-disc Naxos series featuring world premiere recordings

of solo works by Spanish composers commissioned by Adam Levin

NEW YORK, NY – On October 14, 2016, Naxos releases 21^st Century Spanish Guitar, Volume 2 [Naxos 8.573409], the second of four scheduled volumes on the label featuring award-winning American guitarist Adam Levin. To create this series, Mr. Levin commissioned 30 new scores from four generations of living Spanish composers. Volume 2 includes world premiere recordings of eight new solo works by Leonardo Balada, Jesús Torres, Marc López Godoy, Luis de Pablo, Eduardo Soutullo, Jacobo Durán-Loriga, Benet Casablancas, and Juan Manuel Ruiz, plus a work by Antón García Abril that was dedicated to Mr. Levin’s friend and teacher, Gabriel Estarellas. The new recording was produced by GRAMMY-nominated recording engineer Norbert Kraft, edited by Bonnie Silver.

As the sixth album in Mr. Levin’s critically-acclaimed discography, 21st Century Spanish Guitar, Volume 2 grew out of Mr. Levin’s three years studying, performing, and teaching in Spain through a generous grant from the Fulbright Program from 2008 to 2011, where he became aware of the tremendous transformations the country had undergone since the demise of the Franco regime. Though Levin was classically trained in the Spanish masterworks from the standard guitar literature, became increasingly passionate about developing and creating new literature for guitar by living Spanish composers. By the time Mr. Levin returned to the US in 2011, he had commissioned 30 new solo works from some of Spain’s most recognized and celebrated composers, alongside gifted emerging Spanish composers.

The new album opens with Leonardo Balada’s (b. 1933) Caprichos No. 11: Abstractions of Granados (2014), the second of four works that the composer has written for Levin, the result of a growing friendship between the composer and the artist. As an homage to Granados’ twelve Danzas españolas, the work is an imaginative reinvention of the original piano scores drawn through Balada’s own modern lens. Interiores (2010) by Jesús Torres (b. 1965) is an intimate one-movement soliloquy in which Torres balances the extroverted and introverted voices of the guitar. One of Balada’s most esteemed students, Marc López Godoy (b. 1967) contributesAutumn Elegy (2012), opening with a radiant portrait of a starling’s seemingly effortless flight on a tranquil summer day, followed by music of deep melancholy evocative of the waning days of late August, concluding with a brilliant fast movement that harkens the turbulent onset of Autumn.

Celebrated Spanish master Anton García Abril’s (b. 1933) Dos Cantares(2010) was originally written for Levin’s friend and teacher, Gabriel Estarellas. Levin writes, “The first movement is reserved and elegantly composed with extended melodies, blooming one into the next… there follows a second movement at once taciturn and energetic, ahead of a return to the robust opening arpeggios.” Luis de Pablo (b. 1930), a winner of Spain’s National Music Prize in Composition, presents Ivory Tower (2013), a cerebral one-movement work that seeks to explore “the nobility of human purpose, purity of intention, and intellectual pursuit” in musical form, according to the composer.

Adam Levin met Eduardo Soutullo (b. 1968) just hours before playing the world premiere of the work, I’ve Got You Under My String (2013), which was commissioned for Levin to play at the 2013 Festival Internacional de Música Tres Cantos. Levin immediately admired the composer’s style, reminiscent of Cuban and Japanese masters, Leo Brouwer and Toru Takemitsu. The three-movement suite Upon 21 (2012) by Jacobo Durán-Loriga salutes Baroque dances, with an opening fast-paced Courante, a visceral and minimalistic Chaconne, and an agile Gigue. Benet Casablancas(b. 1933), another of Spain’s National Music Prize honorees, dedicated hisThree Pieces for Guitar (2011) to Mr. Levin. Evolving from the second Viennese school, Levin notes, “Casablancas is bold, imaginative, virtuosic and highly personal… abrupt musical turns, grinding halts, electrifying jolts forward, then delicately balanced calm, impressionist brush strokes, and abrasive sforzandos… the piece winds down through a series of rhapsodic statements and agitated cascading music, leaving us gasping for harmonious resolution.”

The album closes with Orión, a virtuosic twelve-minute tour-de-force byJuan Manuel Ruiz. Levin was introduced to the composer through his orchestral music: scores of immense scale and intensity of sound. Levin challenged Ruiz to bring that sense of orchestral grandeur and potency to the modest voice of the guitar. Levin says, “Unflinchingly, he composed this work, which draws upon most every sonic and technical possibility the guitar has to offer.”

DOWNLOAD SAMPLE TRACK - MARC LOPEZ GODOY’S ELEGÍA OTOÑAL (AUTUMN ELEGY): III. HOJAS AL VIENTO

Adam Levin: 21^st Century Spanish Guitar, Volume 2 [Naxos 8.573409]

1. Leonardo Balada (b. 1933): Caprichos No. 11: Abstractions of Granados(2014)*

2. Jesús Torres (b. 1965): Interiores (2010)*

3. Marc Lopez Godoy (b. 1967): Elegía Otoñal (Autumn Elegy) (2012)*

4. Anton García Abril (b. 1933): Dos Cantares (2010)

5. Luis de Pablo (b. 1930): Turris Eburnea (Ivory Tower) (2013)*

6. Eduardo Soutullo (b. 1968): I’ve Got You Under My String (2013)*

7. Jacobo Durán-Loriga (b. 1958): Upon 21 (2012)*

8. Benet Casablancas (b. 1933): Tres piezas para guitarra (Three Pieces for Guitar) (2011)*

9. Juan Manuel Ruiz (b. 1968): Orión (2010)*

* World Premiere Recordings

In celebration of the album’s release, Mr. Levin will be performing works from his Spanish collection alongside works by past Spanish masters in three important concerts in Washington, DC, Chicago and New York City. OnOctober 22, 2016, 2 pm, Levin performs at the Former Ambassadors Residence, Embassy of Spain in Washington, DC, co-presented by the National Fulbright Alumni Association (already sold out). On November 20, 2016, 7:30 pm, Levin performs at the Art Institute of Chicago as part of the2016 Chicago Latino Music Festival. In early December, Levin will return to New York’s Le Poisson Rouge (date to be announced).

ABOUT ADAM LEVIN

Adam Levin has been praised by renowned American guitarist, Eliot Fisk, as a “virtuoso guitarist and a true 21^st century renaissance man with the élan, intelligence, charm, tenacity and conviction to change the world.” Levin has performed across the United States at renowned venues such as Chicago’s Pick Staiger, Nichols, James Lumber Performing Arts and Mayne Stage concert halls, Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and Jordan Hall, Spivey Hall in Atlanta, Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. In Europe, Levin has performed in some of the finest venues across Spain, and in Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. Adam Levin’s live performances have been featured nationally numerous times on NPR’s Performance Today and on top radio stations WFMT Chicago and WCRB Boston.

In the 2015-2016 season, Levin made solo appearances at Boston GuitarFest in a program highlighting composers of Spain, as well as concerts in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Kansas City, Knoxville, Des Moines, South Bend, Chapel Hill, Richmond, and San Jose, plus international tour appearances in Canada, Spain, and Puerto Rico. Levin also made his Kennedy Center debut in November, 2015, in a diverse solo and chamber program presented by Pro Musica Hebraica, featuring the Amernet String Quartet and mezzo-soprano Rachel Calloway, praised by the Washington Post as “a visceral and imaginative performance.” Levin appeared as a special guest artist in new music programs with the Quantum Ensemble of Spain, and a concert featuring the music of Leonardo Balada (with the composer present) with Ensemble Concept/21 at Indiana University South Bend.

The recipient of numerous top prizes, Adam Levin has been recognized by the Society of American Musicians, the Lake Forest Concerto Competition, Minnesota’s Schubert Competition, Boston GuitarFest, Concurso Internacional de les Corts para Jóvenes Intérpretes in Barcelona, Concurso Internazionale Di Gargnano, and Certamen Internacional Luys Milan de Guitarra in Valencia. For his promotion, interpretation and performance of Spanish music, he was nominated for the 2011 Trujamán Prize, in which only three guitarists worldwide are selected annually.

From 2008-2011, Levin was honored as a Fulbright Scholar as well as grant awards from the Program for Cultural Cooperation Fellowship (promoting cultural understanding between Spain and the United States) and the Kate Neal Kinley Fellowship, to research contemporary Spanish guitar repertoire in Madrid, Spain. His three-year residency resulted in a major collaboration with 30 Spanish composers spanning four generations, who each wrote works commissioned by and dedicated to Levin. In 2012, production began on a four volume encyclopedic recording project with Naxos. The first recording in the series, 21st Century Spanish Guitar, Volume 1, was released by Naxos in 2013 to rave reviews from Classical Guitar Magazine, Soundboard, American Record Guide, Scene Magazine and bothRecording of the Month and Recording of the Year awards from MusicWeb International. 21^st Century Spanish Guitar, Volume 2 will be released by Naxos in October, 2016, with special solo concerts scheduled in Washington, DC (presented by the Spanish Embassy and National Fulbright Alumni Association), the Chicago Latino Music Festival at the Art Institute of Chicago, and New York’s Le Poisson Rouge.

Levin’s critically acclaimed discography also includes his debut album, In the Beginning[ALR, 2009], Music from Out of Time [La Communidad de Madrid, 2010] featuring world-premiere solo and chamber works by contemporary Spanish composers; and Fuego de la Luna [Verso, 2011] showcasing the complete guitar works of Spanish-Cuban composer Eduardo Morales-Caso.

An avid chamber musician, Levin has performed with orchestra, string quartet, and various instrumental and vocal duo combinations. His primary chamber ensemble, Duo Sonidos, has been celebrated for bringing a fresh interpretation of chamber music to wide-ranging audiences across the globe while expanding the repertoire for violin and guitar through new commissions. In 2010, Duo Sonidos was awarded first prize at the Luys Milán International Chamber Music Competition in Valencia, Spain. Their 2010 self-titled debut recording received rave reviews from Classical Guitar Magazine, Soundboard, American Record Guide, Fanfare, and included a US Choice award from BBC Music Magazine. The duo also will record their second disc featuring folk‐inspired works by Béla Bartók, Xavier Montsalvatge, Karol Szymanowski, Lukas Foss, Jorge Muñiz, and other newly arranged works by Gregg Nestor. With their commitment to perform also in non‐traditional venues, Duo Sonidos will also present a special program of works by Jewish composers and non‐Jewish composers inspired by Judaism across the United States.

As an ambassador of the guitar, Mr Levin is dedicated to sharing a comprehensive repertoire in underserved and unconventional spaces. He was director of the Concert for Golf Coast Aid for Hurricane Katrina victims, which raised $10,000. In 2007, he was awarded the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship to conduct 200 hours of innovative community work in Boston public schools, prisons, and rehabilitation centers. Demonstrating his long-term commitment to music advocacy, Levin and acclaimed guitarists, Matthew Rohde and Scott Borg, launched Kithara Project (www.kitharaproject.org) in 2015, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting the widespread and equitable access to the guitar worldwide.

A native of Chicago’s North Shore, Adam holds bachelor’s degrees from Northwestern University in Music Performance, Psychology, and Pre-Med. Under the tutelage of Eliot Fisk, Levin completed his master’s degree in guitar performance at New England Conservatory in Boston. His esteemed teachers have included Oscar Ghiglia, Gabriel Estarellas, Anne Waller, Mark Maxwell, and Paul Henry. Adam is the director of the annual Boston Young Guitarists’ Workshop (www.ygwboston.org), which will expand to weekends throughout the academic year culminating in the Boston Guitarfest. Levin is on the faculties of the University of Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts at Boston. Adam Levin is a D’Addario Artist and performs on a guitar by luthier Stephan Connor.

Guitarist Jason Vieaux and Bandoneónist Julien Labro Release New Album - Infusion

Thu, 8 Sep 2016 19:26:35 GMT

Guitarist Jason Vieaux and
Bandoneónist Julien Labro

Release New Album Infusion
Available October 28, 2016 (Azica Records)

Music by Leo Brouwer, Radamés Gnattali, Astor
Piazzolla, Pat Metheny, and Tears for Fears

Watch Jason Vieaux and Julien Labro Perform
Pat Metheny’s Antonia Live at WQXR: http://bit.ly/VieauxLabroWQXR

“The dynamic duo performed from one musical mind…perfectly in sync…a lot of fun” – Cleveland Classical

“Crossing genres and audiences is what these two do and do superbly” –Boston Musical Intelligencer

www.jasonvieaux.com | www.julienlabro.com

New York, NY — Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux and internationally acclaimed composer, bandoneónist, and accordionist Julien Labro will release their second duo album, Infusion, on October 28, 2016 on Azica Records. Infusionincludes Julien Labro’s arrangements of Leo Brouwer’s Tres Danzas Concertantesand Piazzolla’s Escualo, his arrangement of Radamés Gnattali’s Suite Retratos with bassist Peter Dominguez and percussionist Jamey Haddad, Pat Metheny’s Antonia, and Vieaux’s arrangement of iconic 1980s British rock band Tears for Fears’Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Vieaux and Labro will perform Piazzolla’s Double Concerto with the Arkansas Symphony in September 2016.

The combination of arranged pieces with original through-composed material epitomizes Vieaux and Labro’s versatility and ability to wear multiple hats, blurring the boundaries between composer, performer, improviser, and arranger, and creating an uncommonly fluid musical product. Guitarist Dan Lippel’s liner notes expand on this subject, noting that “Hermeto Pascoal, Astor Piazzolla, and Egberto Gismonti all come to mind as musicians who have worn many hats, and have enjoyed broad appeal while defying easy categorization on a popular-serious continuum. When I listen to Vieaux and Labro play Gnattali or Piazzolla, Metheny or Tears for Fears, I hear several threads all at once – captivating music from various traditions that doesn’t fit neatly in a box, and two artists who push beyond the conventional roles of classical performance and get their hands dirty as arrangers and improvisers. But more than anything else, I hear the joyful sound of music infused with new ideas and vibrant energy. What better musicians than Vieaux and Labro, both of whom have backgrounds as arrangers and improvisers, in addition to being virtuoso instrumentalists, to tackle music that asks for a broad set of tools across the spectrum? And what better repertoire to absorb their infusion of influences?”

Vieaux and Labro released their debut album, The Music of Astor Piazzolla, with A Far Cry Chamber Orchestra on Azica Records in 2011. Of the album, The Cleveland Plain Dealer wrote, “Jason Vieaux adds to his list of stellar recordings with this alluring program of works by Argentina’s master of the tango. The music seduces the listener as Vieaux and bandoneon player Julien Labro weave sinuous lines…The irresistible performances and crystal-clear sound…make this a don’t-miss disc.” Listen to their recording of Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango here:http://bit.ly/VieauxLabroPiazzolla

Jason Vieaux and Julien Labro: Infusion | Azica Records | Release Date:October 28, 2016

Jason Vieaux, guitar; Julien Labro, accordina, accordion, bandoneón; Peter Dominguez, bass (tracks 5-8); Jamey Haddad, drums, percussion (tracks 5-8)

1-3. Tres Danzas Concertantes - Leo Brouwer (arr. Julien Labro)

Allegro
Andantino (Quasi Allegretto)
Toccata

4. Antonia - Pat Metheny

5-8. Suite Retratos - Radamés Gnattali (arr. Julien Labro based on Rabello’s version)

Pixinguinha
Ernesto Nazareth
Anacleto de Medeiros
Chiquinha Gonzaga

9. Escualo - Astor Piazzolla (arr. Julien Labro)

10. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Words and Music by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes (arr. Jason Vieaux)

About Jason Vieaux
Grammy-winner Jason Vieaux, “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation” (NPR), is the guitarist that goes beyond the classical. His solo album, Play, won the 2015 Grammy for Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

Vieaux has earned a reputation for putting his expressiveness and virtuosity at the service of a remarkably wide range of music. Recent and future highlights include performances at the Caramoor Festival, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, Ravinia Festival, New York's 92Y, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Bard Music Festival, Music@Menlo, Strings Music Festival, and many others. He has performed as soloist with over 100 orchestras and his passion for new music has fostered premieres by Avner Dorman, Dan Visconti, Vivian Fung, José Luis Merlin, and more. Vieaux continues to bring important repertoire alive in the recording studio as well, and has previously released thirteen albums, most recently Together with harpist Yolanda Kondonassis. Vieaux recently recorded Ginastera’s Sonata for Guitar for a Ginastera Centennial album which will also be released in October 2016 on Oberlin Music.

In 2012, the Jason Vieaux School of Classical Guitar was launched with ArtistWorks Inc., an unprecedented technological interface that provides one-on-one online study with Vieaux for guitar students around the world. In 2011, he co-founded the guitar department at The Curtis Institute of Music, and in 2015 was invited to inaugurate the guitar program at the Eastern Music Festival. Vieaux has taught at the Cleveland Institute of Music since 1997, heading the guitar department since 2001. In 1992 he was the youngest ever winner of the GFA International Guitar Competition. Vieaux was the first classical musician to be featured on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” series. For more information, visit www.jasonvieaux.com.

About Julien Labro
Heralded as “the next accordion star” and “a triple threat: brilliant technician, poetic melodist and cunning arranger,” (Chicago Tribune) Julien Labro has established himself as one of the foremost accordion and bandoneón players in both the classical and jazz genres. His artistry, virtuosity, and creativity as a musician, composer and arranger have earned him international acclaim.

French-born Labro was inﬂuenced early on by traditional folk music and the melodic, lyrical quality of the French chanson. After graduating from the Marseille Conservatory of Music, Labro began winning international competitions, including the Coupe Mondiale, the Castelﬁdardo Competitions, and many others. In 1998, Labro moved to the United States, where he earned two graduate degrees in Composition and Jazz Studies; and was exposed to and embraced music ranging from jazz, pop and hip-hop to electronic/techno, avant-garde and rap, as well as Latin, Indian, Asian, Middle Eastern, and other types of world music.

He has shared the stage and/or recorded with a myriad of eclectic artists including João Donato, Cassandra Wilson, Marcel Khalife, Miguel Zenón, Jon Irabagon, James Carter, Chris Cheek, Tommy Emmanuel, Bucky Pizarelli, Frank Vignola, and Fernando Otero to name a few. Labro has played for audiences throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, where he recently premiered his own accordion concerto, Apricity. He has been enlisted as an arranger and/or soloist by numerous ensembles, including A Far Cry, Spektral Quartet, Curtis On Tour, Ensemble Vivant, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony and many more. When not on tour, he can be found frequenting the NYC jazz scene. For more information, visit www.julienlabro.com.

Eurasian Editions - New Publishing Company Announced

Sat, 6 Aug 2016 17:18:57 GMT

Eurasian Editions

Eurasian Editions has offices in Japan and the UK and aims to publish fine music from the West and the East, with a particular focus on the guitar. All our publications are downloadable and some are available in book form. The item would include an appeal to composers of guitar music to submit their work.

Tomoko Katagiri

Eurasian Editions

http://www.eurasianeditions.com/

Journal of the Lute Society of America requests stories from students helped by Patrick O'Brien

Fri, 29 Jul 2016 22:11:07 GMT

Journal of the Lute Society of America requests stories from students helped by Patrick O'Brien

Patrick O'Brien, a guitar and lute teacher in New York City who passed away in 2014, was noted for his ability to diagnose and restore normal performance ability in musicians who had lost it due to focal dystonia or related problems. As a young man, he contracted a severe case of tendinitis, but could find no teacher or medical practitioner who could help him. This prompted him to study anatomy and physiology on his own and eventually discover the principles of healthy performance technique for both right and left hands that would resolve and/or avoid injury.

In the book The Hand (1998) by neurologist Frank Wilson, M.D., Patrick is quoted as

saying that a considerable part of his work was helping musicians who had suffered injury to their hands.

The editors of the Journal of the Lute Society of America are preparing a memorial issue devoted to Patrick, which will present a summary of many of his teachings and technical exercises. We would like to hear from former students of his who had come to him with significant or career-ending disabilities and whose playing ability was restored by the New York maestro.

Please contact the Journal's Consulting Editor, Dr. Douglas Alton Smith, at: renlute@yahoo.com

2nd Korea International Guitar Festival Announced

Tue, 5 Jul 2016 19:50:50 GMT

The 2nd Korea International Guitar Festival organized by the Korea Guitar Association has been announced.

August 11th – 15th, 2016 (Thursday-Sunday)

Yangpyeong Hyundai Bloomvista

www.kigf.org

- International Guitar Competition

- Concerts

- Seminar

- Amateur classes

- Guitar exhibition

Info about the International Competition

Participation fee: 80 US $ (free for full paying participants of masterclasses)

Date: August 12th – 14th

Application deadline: July 17th

Please send a completed application form and audio file for preliminary round.

Preliminary round: Per audio, July 17th, 2016

Main round: August 12th, 2PM

Final round: August 14th, 3 PM

Requirements: participants must be born after January 1st, 1983 and before December 31th, 2002 (age 13 to 14)

I. Rewards and Prizes

-First: 6,000,000 KRW (and one handmade classical guitar by Seo Minseog)

-Second: 3,000,000 KRW

-Third: 1,000,000 KRW

*Prize money will be paid after tax deduction

Guest Professors:

Benjamin Verdery (USA, Professor at Yale University), hear juror

Leon Koudelak (Czech Republic, Art Director of Thailand Guitar Festival)

Danny Yeh (Taiwan, Professor of Shanghai Conservatory)

Ian O'Sullivan (USA, Hawaiian Ukuleleist)

Seong Woo Lee, Jangsoo Jun, Manjae Sou (Korea, classical guitarists)

Videos:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3-i3oyZn7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrG8cA-n2Xs

The Ben Verdery Guitar Project on Vineyard Sounds

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 16:36:50 GMT

June 24, 2016 acclaimed guitarist and teacher Ben Verdery releases his newest album, The Ben Verdery Guitar Project: On Vineyard Sound, via Elm City Records, at

The Guitar Foundation of America Conference.

Free gifts of the album will be given (limited quantity), first come first serve, at the Booths of

D’Addario & Company, Inc. & Productions d’Oz/Éditions Doberman-Yppan (between 10am and 4pm) AND at Ben’s concert tonight (at intermission)!

Have a business card ready, and in exchange you will receive the CD.

The album features Verdery performing music by his composer colleagues at Yale University's School of Music, where he is Associate Professor of Guitar and Artistic Director of the biennial Yale Guitar Extravaganza. These featured composers include Martin Bresnick, Aaron Jay Kernis, Ezra Laderman, David Lang, Hannah Lash, Christopher Theofanidis, Jack Vees, and Verdery himself. In addition, the album features guest performers Rie Schmidt on flute and Vees on pedal steel guitar. As with his widely praised past discography, On Vineyard Sound showcases Verdery performing on a variety of guitars, ranging from Fender Stratocaster and steel string to baritone and classical.

To accompany the album’s release, Verdery has shared two videos featuring works from the record. The first features the first movement of the title work

Ezra Laderman's On Vineyard Sound, and the second features the final movement of Martin Bresnick’s Joaquin is Dreaming.

For more information visit Elm City Records

Guitarist Piotr Pakhomkin Wins The Respighi Prize 2016

Fri, 17 Jun 2016 22:56:43 GMT

The Chamber Orchestra of New York, in affiliation with Bologna, Italy, has announced the Winner of 5th edition of the The Respighi Prize: Guitarist Piotr Pakhomkin (Russia). Mr. Pakhomkin, the first Russian-born artist to win The Respighi Prize, will be featured during the orchestra's 2017/18 Season "Masterwork Series" at Carnegie Hall.

Click the link below to see Piotr Pakhomkin playing Francisco Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra" at The Kennedy Center:
https://youtu.be/JevDnXjqCQk

Finalists: Emanuela Battigelli (harp, Italy), Elisabeth Plank (harp, Austria), Christopher Goodpasture (piano, USA).

For more information on Piotr Pakhomkin visit his website here: piotrguitar.com
For more information regarding the Respighi Prize click here: chamberorchestraofnewyork.org/the-respighi-prize

International Conference at the University of Melbourne Announced

Mon, 13 Jun 2016 16:17:43 GMT

Instrument of Change, the International Rise of the Guitar (c.1870-1945).

Keynote speakers are Prof. Walter Aaron Clark (University of California, Riverside), Prof. Kevin Dawe (University of Kent), Dr Melanie Plesch (University of Melbourne) and Prof. John Whiteoak (Monash University). The schedule will include concerts and an exhibition of instruments at the Grainger Museum. See the website for more details, including the deadline for abstracts:

http://blogs.unimelb.edu.au/instrument-of-change/

Application for a Master's programme in Greece with Oscar Ghiglia and Elena Papandreou

Tue, 7 Jun 2016 17:37:36 GMT

This years Master’s programme in the University of Macedonia in Thessaloniki, Greece, with Oscar Ghiglia and Elena Papandreou, will start in October 2016.

APPLICATIONS DEADLINE: 9 SEPTEMBER 2016

AUDITIONS: 24 and 25 SEPTEMBER 2016

Here is a preview of the application requirements. The requirements will be updated on this link soon.

- Candidates must prepare a program of 40 minutes’ minimum duration, which will include at least one work (or movements of a work) from each one of the following four groups of composers:

1. Luys de Narvaez, Luis Milan, Alonso de Mudarra, John Dowland, Girolamo Frescobaldi, Gaspar Sanz, Robert de Visée, Johann Sebastian Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Silvius Leopold Weiss.

2. Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Nicolo Paganini, Dionisio Aguado, Luigi Legnani, Napoléon Coste, Johann Kaspar Mertz, Giulio Regondi, Francisco Tárrega.

3. Isaac Albéniz, Enrique Granados, Manuel de Falla, Manuel Maria Ponce, Joaquín Turina, Agustin Barrios, Heitor Villa – Lobos, Federico Moreno Torroba, Federico Mompou, Mario Castelnuovo – Tedesco, Alexandre Tansman, Joaquín Rodrigο, Antonio José, Astor Piazzolla.

4. Frank Martin, William Walton, Lennox Berkeley, Goffredo Petrassi, Elliot Cook Carter, Benjamin Britten, Maurice Ohana, Alberto Ginastera, Malcolm Arnold, Stephen Dodgson, Luciano Berio, Hans Werner Henze, Toru Takemitsu, Richard Rodney Bennett, Leo Brouwer, Carlo Domeniconi, Francis Kleynjans, Sergio Assad, Dusan Bogdanovic, Nuccio d’ Angelo, Roland Dyens, Nikita Koshkin.

- The program must include a substantial work, for example a complete Lute Suite by Johann Sebastian Bach, or a complete Sonata (Nicolo Paganini, Manuel Maria Ponce, Joaquín Turina, Mario Castelnuovo – Tedesco, Joaquín Rodrigo, Antonio José, Alberto Ginastera, Hans Werner Henze, Leo Brouwer, Nikita Koshkin).

- The program must be played from memory.

You may also visit the Facebook event and click GOING or INTERESTED in order to get updates:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1098213043535472/

Incontri Chitarristici di Gargnano at Lake Garda in Italy

Sat, 21 May 2016 18:12:06 GMT

Though not officially announced yet, the dates and rules for the Incontri Chitarristici di Gargnano at Lake Garda in Italy with Oscar Ghiglia, Massimo Lonardi and Elena Papandreou have been released in advance.

The dates will be as follows:

July 15th, 2016 is the deadline for sending the youtube video for the eliminatory round of the competition by e-mail, as well as all the required documents (see the attached rules for details).

August 26th and 27th, 2016 semi-final and final of the competition.

August 27th auditions for the course will take place.

The course will take place from the 28th of August to the 5th of September.

The rules for the International Gargnano Competition can now be found in these links:

English: Here.

Italian: Here.

Master in Classical Guitar Performance 2017 in Alicante, Spain

Mon, 16 May 2016 20:51:44 GMT

Applications are already being accepted for the V Edition of Master in Classical Guitar Performance 2017 organized by the University of Alicante from January to June.

A unique opportunity to improve knowledge and practice of the instrument with professors selected from the most renowned virtuosi in the world, The ASSAD BROTHERS, Manuel BARRUECO, David RUSSELL, Pepe ROMERO, Ignacio RODES, etc.

Visit our website at http://www.master-guitarra-alicante.com/ and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Alicante-Guitarra-Cl%C3%A1sica/221856694626309

Boston GuitarFest 11 "Viva España!" Announced

Mon, 16 May 2016 20:47:16 GMT

Boston GuitarFest 11: Viva España!

June 15-19

Boston, MA

New England Conservatory and Northeastern University

Eliot Fisk, New England Conservatory, and Northeastern University host a week of concerts, classes, competitions, and expos, this year on a Spanish theme. Full participants, auditors, and competitors can receive earlybird rates by registering before May 30, 2016.

Classes. Each full participant receives 2 lessons with faculty, with the possibility of one being a masterclass with Eliot Fisk, Oscar Ghiglia, or Joaquin Clerch.

Competitions. Performance competition winners receive a cash award, a prize guitar by Noe Zalapa, and a concert at the next year's festival.

Concerts. Nightly concerts celebrating the Spanish theme, including appearances by Anabel Montesinos, Grisha Goryachev, Zaira Meneses, Joaquin Clerch, Oscar Ghiglia, Eliot Fisk, and more.

Activities. From a luthier's expo to round-table discussions to a museum visit, there are plenty of options to experience Boston and enjoy the GuitarFest community.

A full schedule and registration options are available at www.bostonguitarfest.org.

Register now for the Video Round of Guitar Masters 2016 competition

Mon, 16 May 2016 20:39:17 GMT

When: May 01 - July 31

Where: Wrocław, Poland (or ONLINE)

Are you a guitarist, looking for international exposure? Register now for the Video Round of Guitar Masters 2016 competition, based in Wroclaw (Poland). It offers the highest awards in the world in 2016 (I Prize: 20 000 EUR) and features great artists on the Jury, led by Oscar Ghiglia. GM2016 is the XIX edition of Wroclaw Guitar Festival, organized in autumn of 2016 as part of the program of the European Capital of Culture Wroclaw 2016. Visit www.guitarmasters.pl to register today!

XIII Alhambra International Guitar Competition Announced

Fri, 6 May 2016 23:27:54 GMT

XIII Alhambra International Competition, 2016

We are pleased to inform that the rules of the XIII Alhambra International Competition, which will take place in 2016, are already available on this website http://www.concursoalhambra.com/.

Do not miss this opportunity,there are over 30.000 euros in prizes, concerts, recordings...We want to be your dream!The conquest of this dream is possible and it is worth a try.Sign up and participate."Success can be achieved and maintained by those who keep trying it”

Registration for the Video Round of Guitar Masters 2016 competition announced

Fri, 6 May 2016 23:18:59 GMT

Are you a classical guitarist, looking for international exposure? Register now for the Video Round of Guitar Masters 2016 competition, based in Wroclaw (Poland). It offers the highest awards in the world in 2016 (I Prize: 20 000 EUR) and features great artists on the Jury, led by Oscar Ghiglia. GM2016 is the XIX edition of Wroclaw Guitar Festival, organized as part of the program of the European Capital of Culture Wroclaw 2016.

When: May 01 - June 30

Where: Wrocław, Poland (or ONLINE)

Visit www.guitarmasters.pl to register today!

Summer festival with Florian Larousse, Natalia Lipnitskaya, and Judicaël Perroy

Sun, 1 May 2016 00:56:19 GMT

From August 3^rd to August 13^th Florian Larousse, Natalia Lipnitskaya, and Judicaël Perroy will host the guitar classes for the Académie Internationale de Musique et de Danse de la Lozère.

For more information visit: http://www.musique-lozere.com/en/session-3-mende/

MusicAlp International Academy of Music in Tignes with Judicaël Perroy

Sun, 1 May 2016 00:44:01 GMT

MusicAlp International Academy of Music in Tignes with Judicaël Perroy

From July 20th to July 31st join acclaimed guitarist Judicaël Perroy in the French Alps for the MusicAlp International Academy of Music in Tignes. There will be six classes over a period of nine days in an intimate setting with around 10 guitar students. In total with all of the other instrumentalists represented there will be around one hundred and fifty students.

For more information visit: http://www.festivalmusicalp.com/indexE.html

Summer Guitar Program in Ellenville, NY with Tali Roth

Mon, 18 Apr 2016 17:49:46 GMT

4Strings Music Festival

Summer Guitar Program in Ellenville

The 4Strings Music Festival is a chamber music program devoted to string players of all levels emphasizing performance skills, musicianship, technique, and tone production. Master classes with internationally acclaimed artists will educate students on important issues such as technique, musicianship and tone production.

We provide a unique summer music program offering string players the opportunity to spend two weeks studying classical music alongside distinctive faculty from New York City’s premier music programs. Our student’s creative expression will be inspired by the natural surroundings, stylish accommodations, and the harmony created by a balanced educational approach. This environment helps build friendships and relationships within the cultural community of dedicated faculty and talented students. Our summer music festival program includes full chamber repertoire, solo performance opportunities, and large group ensembles.

Tali Roth will be leading the guitar portion of the course.

For more information visit: http://4smf.com/faculty/