ASU Hosts 14th Annual GuitarFest and Competition April 3 to 5

Concerts Will Take Place at the Broyhill Music Center

Story by David Brewer

From Friday to Sunday, April 3 to 5, ASU will host the 14th annual GuitarFest and Competition. The event will feature performances by several world-renowned classical guitarists including Michael Partington, Carlos Perez, Matt Palmer, as well as dozens of competing classical players from all over the country.

The Broyhill Music Center at ASU will be teeming with six-string action from Friday to Sunday, April 3 to 5, as the Hayes School of Music hosts the 14th annual Appalachian GuitarFest and Competition.

Organized annually by ASU guitar instructor and internationally renowned classical guitarist Douglas James, the unique event will feature performances, workshops and competition is arguably the best gathering of classical guitarists in the region.

As in past years, GuitarFest’s lineup is ripe with internationally acclaimed talent. Featured performers include Carlos Perez, Michael Partington, the Rucco-James Duo featuring James, ASU graduate and rising star Matt Palmer, Alan Hirsch and ASU music professor Andy Page.

James calls Perez “one of the 10 best classical guitarists in the world.” Classical Guitar Magazine of England praises Carlos Pérez with these acclaims: “he gets to the point of everything he plays” and “a master guitarist with true star quality.” He was awarded top prizes in numerous major international competitions throughout Europe and America.

Michael Partington is one of the most engaging of the new generation of concert players. Praised by Classical Guitar Magazine for his “lyricism, intensity and clear technical command,” the award-winning British guitarist has performed internationally as a soloist and with ensemble to unanimous critical praise. According to his bio on the GuitarFest web page, audiences are put at ease by his charming stage manner and captivated by his musical interpretations. His innate rhythmic understanding and sense for tonal color combine to form some of the most memorable phrasing to be heard on the guitar.

James noted with pride that Matt Palmer is the first ASU graduate to perform at GuitarFest.

“He’s really, really talented. He’s turning heads everywhere he goes and he will not disappoint,” said James. “He’s like a rock star of classical guitar.”

In addition to the performers, the competition portion of the festival will feature dozens of skilled classical guitarists from all over the world. Prizes to be awarded include the $1,200 Ralph and Debra Grosswald Prize for first place, plus an additional $1000 in total awards for the other three finalists. Last year, James added a pre-college component to the competition for younger guitarists, which he said offered some of the most exciting performances of the weekend. He also hopes the competition will perhaps inspire some of the top young talent to enroll at ASU in the coming years.

“It brings quite a few kids in,” said James. “These are highly accomplished students that are very talented.”

On Sunday, the guitar orchestra will perform a piece written by Hirsch at 11:00 a.m. All participating guitarists are encouraged to participate alongside Perez, who will be the featured soloist. Guitarists wishing to practice in advance for the orchestra performance can download parts from the GuitarFest website by clicking to www.music.appstate.edu/guitarfest/.

While James admits that pulling GuitarFest together each year is no small task, the music and the fans make it all worthwhile.

“It’s an unbelievable amount of work for me, but so many people would be disappointed if I stopped doing it,” said James.

Weekend tickets for festival participants, including all concerts, master classes and workshops are $60. Competitors are required to pay an additional $40 competition fee.

Individual tickets for evening concerts and the competition finals are $20 for the general public and $10 for students and will be available at the door at all events.

For more information, click to www.music.appstate.edu or call the ASU School of Music at 828-262-3020.

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