David Russell headlines 8th Annual Guitar Festival at UT Dallas

by PegNews wire

18 rising stars from the world of classical guitar will join virtuoso David Russell for the 8th Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival March 12-14, at the University of Texas at Dallas Conference Center Auditorium.

The festival schedule offers audiences multiple chances to experience today’s standard in classical guitar, as well as what’s next for the genre. Events include:

·         Master Class I with David Russell, Thurs., Mar. 12, 7:30 p.m., Auditors – $10

·         Competition Finals, Fri., Mar. 13, 8 p.m., Free

·         Concert by Gonzalo Molano, Sat., Mar. 14, 4 p.m., Free

·         Master Class II with David Russell, Sat., Mar. 14, 3 p.m., Auditors – $10

·         Concert by David Russell, Sat., Mar. 14, 8 p.m., $25

Legendary and internationally known guitarist David Russell has earned a variety of awards and honors throughout his career. In 1997, he was made a Fellow of London’s Royal Academy of Music. In 2003, the Conservatory of the Balearics awarded him its Medal of Honor. Russell, whose CD Aire Latino won a Grammy Award in 2004 for the best instrumental soloist in classical music category, enjoys frequent airplay on the local classical station and the high esteem of Dallasites in the classical guitar world.

“David Russell is one of the best solo classical guitar players in the world today,” said Russell Cleveland, acoustic guitar aficionado and chair of the UT Dallas Guitar Board.

Gonzalo Molano’s laureate concert also anchors the festival; he took top honors at the First Texas Guitar Competition in 2001. Winner of numerous other awards, Molano has performed as a soloist with the Orquesta Nacional de Colombia, the Arizona Choir, the Arizona Symphony and several chamber music ensembles including the Arizona Contemporary Ensemble.

Competition begins Thursday with closed semi-final performances; the field will narrow to four contestants at the Friday night finals. Winners will split a $6,000 prize when the results are announced during intermission at the Russell concert Saturday evening.

Festival Origins

The idea for the festival began when Associate Dean for the Arts Kathryn Evans and Dr. Enric Madriguera judged a guitar competition in Rust, Austria, in 2000.

“It was truly one of those grand plans conceived on a cocktail napkin,” said Evans. “Dr. Madriguera and I took a look at the International Guitar Festival Rust and said ‘we can do that.’”

“The first year, we sent out the call for entries and hoped to get a few contestants from outside Texas. Much to our surprise, we got several contestants from outside the U.S.”

The festival has steadily grown since then, and parallels the growth of the University’s Guitar Studies program, which began in the 2004-05 academic year.

“Every year our guitar competition gets better and better, thanks in part to participation from more international players,” said Cleveland.

Madriguera, who both plays and judges classical guitar on the international circuit, agrees.

“We are now at a truly international level of competition,” said Madriguera. “I judged for the Rust festival again in 2008, as well as the Guitar Foundation of America, and we have some of the same international level contestants."

The 8th Annual Guitar Competition and Festival is supported by the Renaissance Capital Group, Savarez Strings of France and the Carl J. Thomsen Fund for Student Enrichment.

Tickets for David Russell events are available online at ah.utdallas.edu, via phone at 972-883-2252 or in person at the UT Dallas Box Office. Master class tickets are available at the door. The Conference Center Auditorium is located near the corner of Drive A and Rutford on campus; due to ongoing campus construction, patrons should access the Conference Center via Waterview Parkway and Drive A. For more information, visit the Arts & Humanities Web site.

Source: UTD