Guitar Festival opens April 2; concerts throughout the month
Contact: Constance Woods
3/29/07
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(1) GUITAR FESTIVAL FEATURES QUARTET – The Southeastern Louisiana University Guitar Quartet, from left, front, Matthew Aguilar, Matthew Spears; back, David Bryan, Gabriel Alack, are one of the ensembles featured in Southeastern’s annual Guitar Festival.
(2) GUITAR FESTIVAL FEATURES MARTHA MASTERS – International recording guitarist Martha Masters will be featured in a guest recital and teach a masterclass for Southeastern Louisiana University students and during the university’s annual Guitar Festival.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s annual Guitar Festival will feature concerts by students, faculty members, and, guest artists and local guitarists performing a variety of jazz, classical, country/ragtime, and bottleneck blues.
Free concerts are scheduled throughout April in the Pottle Music Building Auditorium and open to the public.
This year’s festival, sponsored by the Student Government Association, the Southeastern Guitar Club, and Dr. Ted’s Music Center, will kick off on April 2 at 7:30 p.m. with a debut concert by the Southeastern Guitar Quartet, said festival coordinator Patrick Kerber, a member of the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts faculty.
Quartet members are Matthew Aguilar of Denham Springs, Matthew Spears of Frierson, David Bryan of Ponchatoula, and Gabriel Alack of Albany. They will play concert music from the Renaissance to the flamenco-inspired Spanish ballet music of Manuel de Falla.
Kerber said the group has been studying and performing together for three years. “They possess the unique combination of shared musicianship, technique, and compatible personality that is crucial for the success of such a group,” he said.
The All Styles Guitar Night on the Circle is set for April 4, 7:30 p.m., at the Pottle Performance Circle adjacent to the Pottle Music Building Auditorium. “We did this event for the first time last year, and it was very entertaining and relaxing to sit outside and listen to guitar music played in so many unique styles,” said Kerber. “I anticipate that this will become a staple of the festival.”
On April 18 at 7:30 p.m., Martha Masters, international recording guitarist, will be featured in a recital. She is on the guitar faculty at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed her doctoral degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant. As one of the preeminent guitarists on the touring circuit, Masters has a number of recordings, videos, competition awards, and publications to her credit.
“She will showcase her flawless technique and sensitive musicianship in a recital which will feature music ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary,” said Kerber.
Masters will teach a masterclass for Southeastern students on April 19 at 10 a.m. in the Pottle Music Building, room 124. The class is open to the public.
On April 25 at 7:30 p.m., the 19-member Southeastern Guitar Ensemble will close the festival with music from Baroque to contemporary for three, four, and 18 guitars. The concert also will feature soprano Jessica Davis Bryan of Ponchatoula, a Southeastern graduate student majoring in vocal performance. Bryan recently sang the role of “Miss Titmouse” in the Southeastern Opera/Music Theater Workshop production of “Too Many Sopranos.” Bryan will join her husband David, a member of the Guitar Quartet, in Falla’s “Popular Spanish” songs.
Kerber said the concert’s finale is “something that will definitely surprise the ears.”
“It’s French, Oriental, played on Spanish classical guitars, and is influenced by 20th century household technology,” he said.
For additional information about the Guitar Festival, contact Kerber at 985-549-2886 or email pkerber@selu.edu.
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