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2011 Guitar Foundation of America Competition Final Results

GFA International Concert Artist Competition

• 1st Place: Vladimir Gorbach (Russia)
• 2nd Place: Andras Csaki (Hungary)
• 3rd Place: Damien Lancelle (France)
• 4th Place: Jeremy Collins (USA)

GFA International Youth Competitions

Junior Division

• 1st Place: Thomas Pfefer (USA)
• 2nd Place: Ashwin Krishna (USA)
• 3rd Place: Sergiu Hudrea (Romania)
• 4th Place: Jisu Lee (Korea)

Senior Division

• 1st Place: Xavier Jara (USA)
• 2nd Place: John Marcel Williams (USA)
• 3rd Place: Chaconne Klaverenga (USA)
• 4th Place: Kyle Comer (USA)

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

A student recently asked my recommendations on classical guitar DVD’s for both instructional and performance reasons. Although I tend to lean toward GFA winners for performance, I’ve included some of my favorite others as well.

I will update this so check back.

Instructional

Scott Tennant: Pumping Nylon (DVD & book)

William Kanengiser: Classical Guitar & Beyond

Elliot Fisk -The Segovia Style-Classical Guitar Of The Maestro

Frederic Hand-Classical Guitar Technique and Musicianship
*Note: I haven’t actually seen this one but Frederic Hand is good.

Performance

John Williams – The Seville Concert / John Williams, Paco Pena, Andres Segovia

Guitar Foundation of America: International Guitar Competition Winners, Vol. 1

Denis Azabagic: Classic Guitar Artistry

Ana Vidovic: Guitar Virtuoso

Mel Bay Classic Guitar DVD Anthology

Information/Documentary

Guitarra! A Musical Journey Through Spain

Manuel Barrueco: A Gift and a Life

Aaron Shearer A Life with the Guitar – Featuring Manuel Barrueco

Andres Segovia: In Portrait

Mel Bay presents Martha Masters GFA Winner 2000

–

That’s all I have at the moment but if you have any more that you know are great please leave a comment.

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

The Victoria Conservatory of Music presents Florian Larousse, guitar
March 18, 8pm Wood Hall $15/10
Winner of the 2009 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition

The young French classical guitar virtuoso Florian Larousse, at the age of 22, has already wowed audiences on multiple continents. From numerous prizes in the some of the most significant international competitions of the guitar world to audience choice awards and recording contracts, Larousse has shot to the forefront of his field.

Florian Larousse has earned prizes in a number of international competitions in various countries including France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. His performance at the Jose Tomás Competition (Spain) earned him first prize and the Audience Choice Award in addition to resulting in a tour of Spain to 10 different cities as well as a recording contract. In 2009 he won the Koblenz International guitar Competition “Hubert Kappel” (Germany) and later that year won the coveted first prize of The Guitar Foundation of America International Artist Competition. His win at the 2009 GFA International Concert Artist Competition will result in a 9-month concert tour in the United States, including a performance at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall in New York, as well as a number of concerts in Brazil, Canada, China, and Mexico.

Born in 1988, French guitarist Florian Larousse began studying guitar at the age of 8 with Philippe Vanderstichele, later continuing his studies at the prestigious National Conservatory of Paris with Pedro Ibanez. After four years, he graduated with highest honors in classical guitar. That same year, he began his studies with French virtuoso and Guitar Foundation of America laureate Judicael Perroy and entered the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris where he also worked with critically acclaimed artist, teacher, and composer Roland Dyens.

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

Alberta Post #2 regarding the LAGQ quartet. They are also playing in Edmonton. I posted a different video so you’d at least get that out of the repetition.

Those Alberta guitar societies are great because they work together (or at least piggyback campaigns in some way) to bring in great artists. It would be great to get Vancouver and Victoria cooperating with them…and each other.

Also note the cooperation with Calgary Pro Musica Society.

via Classical Guitar Society of Calgary.

Classical Guitar Society of Calgary presents: The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Sunday, March 13 7:00pm
Monday, March 14, 2011 8:00 pm
Rosza Centre, University of Calgary 206 University Court, NW
Adults $40, Students/Seniors $25

The CGSC has always encouraged cooperation with the many other fine music presenting groups in Calgary. Such ventures serve to enrich our city’s flourishing musical community. This year the CGSC and the Calgary Pro Musica Society have teamed up to present the grammy award winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

The Golden Century
by Alan Rinehart

Artist Website: www.alanrinehart.com

Programme notes: Click Here (PDF)

Buy the album:
Download an mp3 version of The Golden Century
Buy the CD of The Golden Century

Sample Clips (file located at www.alanrinehart.com/cds.htm):

• Recercar by Francesco Spinacino (1507)
• Piva by Joanambosio Dalza (1508)
• Fantasia by Simone Molinaro (1599)

To listen to samples of all the tracks visit the mp3 Amazon page: Click Here

About Classical Guitar Canada Reviews: The focus is not on the reviewing process so much as promoting Canadian artists. Classical Guitar Canada is about showing the world that Canada has a thriving and active guitar and music scene. Support Canadian artists by sharing this link and getting other people connected to the site. -Bradford

I had the joy of meeting Alan Rinehart two years back at the Northwest Guitar Festival in my hometown, Nelson, B.C. Alan put on a great little festival that was very successful and well organized. Those who have met Alan will agree he is great contact and a wonderful contribution to the Canadian guitar scene.

Mr. Rinehart’s new recording “The Golden Century” is comprised of selections from Italian lute music of the 16th century. Composers include: Francesco Spinacino, Joanambrosio Dalza, Vincenzo Capirola, Francesco Canova da Milano, Pietro Paulo Borrono, Alberto da Ripa, Vincenzo Galilei, Giulio Cesare Barbetta, Giovanni Antonio Terzi, Simone Molinaro.

The recording has some spectacular repertoire including one of my favorite composers Francesco da Milano. Some of my highlights of this recording are the Piva by Joanambrosio Dalza which displays a very spirited but natural feeling dance nicely handled by Rinehart. Also a personal favorite is the Fantasia 33 (Ness) by da Milano.

Some unexpected repertoire that I haven’t heard before were the works by Pietro Paulo Borrono which I’ll have to track down as they are excellent. The wealth of repertoire from this time period, really the golden age for plucked instruments, never ceases to amaze me in it variety and sheer quantity. Congrats to Mr. Rinehart for recording it. Much of the material has been recorded on obscure lute recordings but has been very neglected by guitarists.

Another gem was the Alberto da Ripa (c. 1500–1551) fantasia. I didn’t know much about him but there was a wiki on him stating ”the court of Francis I. held him in great esteem , as his annual salary was double that of any other lutenist, and he also frequently received gifts of land, money, wine, etc., and various other benefits.”  Those were the days folks!

Conclusion:

Alan Rinehart has produced an album filled with well-known masterpieces and a few unknown gems as well. His musicality is mature and he always sounds comfortable and natural making the album a joy to listen to. The performance of lute music is always filled with choices, particularly in regards to tone and attack. Mr. Rinehart’s sound is round and sweet but also plucky enough at times to give the music a clarity that is important to maintaining the counterpoint.

• Original Release Date: September 9, 2010
• Label: NovaScribe Editions
• Copyright: 2010 Alan Rinehart
• Total Length: 1:08:31

Buy the album:
Download an mp3 version of The Golden Century
Buy the CD of The Golden Century

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

Adam Ruzzo

Kingston, Ontario
Sunday, February 6 at 2pm.
Wilson Room of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (130 Johnson Street, Kingston)
Tickets are $10 ($5 for students and seniors) and are available at the door.

The following is from Jeff Hanlon‘s blog.

[Jeff Hanlon M.Mus., Adjunct Lecturer in Guitar Queen’s School of Music, Queen’s Conservatory of Music www.jeffhanlon.ca]

Adam’s programme includes Bach, Lauro and Benjamin Britten’s masterpiece for guitar, ‘Nocturnal’.

I met Adam in August 2010 at the Canadian Music Festival in Montreal. As adjudicator, I awarded him first place in the guitar category after his absolutely polished performance of Bach, Paginini and Lauro.

Shortly after the competition I invited him to Kingston to perform the inaugural recital of the Queen’s Conservatory of Music Young Artist Concert Series. The event is co-sponsored by me and the Queen’s Conservatory of Music.

Download the poster for Adam Ruzzo’s February 6, 2011 concert.

I hope to see all of my Kingston friends at the Wilson Room for the show!

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

via Video: Classical guitar orchestra playing Jurrasic Park theme – Invisible Children.

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

8-string guitar by the popular American Luthier Darren Hippner.

The middle six string are tuned the same as a normal six string guitar.
The outer strings are tuned to a high and low A (same tuning as Paul Galbraith’s guitar)
Originally, this guitar was strung with two lower strings.

This guitar is perfect for arranging Bach, Mozart or whatever you wish. The sound is excellent and is quite easy to play. Check out the video!
If you ever wanted to try your hand at an 8 string, this is the perfect opportunity.

Top: Englemann Spruce
Back+sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Fretboard: Ebony
There are sound ports on either side of the neck. I believe the body is modeled after a Hauser

The guitar has been used heavily and has little nicks and wear in the usual spots.
Comes with guardian case.

Here is a link to a video also.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpPIDWfSi20

$3000 + shipping CDN firm.

Contact: drewjhenderson@gmail.com

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

2007 Ramirez SP guitar with case in excellent condition.  This instrument has a 650mm scale length and has a French polished spruce top with lacquered Indian Rosewood sides and back.  For more detail please visit the Ramirez sitehttp://www.guitarrasramirez.com/english/modeloSPEn.html.

The asking price is $2850.00.

Please contact Don Evans at 250-592-2777 or dkevans@shaw.ca

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule

We are currently seeking young musicians to compete in the national level, which will be judged online via YouTube in February. A repertoire list, rules and other information is available online here: http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/member-center/online-community/official-contests/global-youth-music-competition/usa-and-canada-guidelines.php

All performance pieces must be uploaded to YouTube by Jan. 31, 2011 and a form must be submitted to Lions Clubs International by that date as well.

The winner of the Canada stage of judging will receive an expenses-paid trip to Seattle, Washington, to compete at the international level in July of 2011. The overall international winner will receive US$10,000.

While musicians must be sponsored by a Lions club, anyone who is interested in participating can contact me and I’ll find a sponsor for them.

Kelly Janowski
Lions Clubs International
630-468-6827

kelly.janowski@lionsclubs.org

• Canadian Recordings: Canadian Classical Guitar Recordings
• Student tips and professional development: The Practicing Musician
• Sheet music, Recordings, Gear: www.classicalguitarmusic.org
• Concerts and Events in Canada: Canadian Classical Guitar Events and Concerts Schedule