This weekend was the very first Mountain View College Guitar Festival and Competition. The festival had a youth guitar orchestra and four competitive categories; Youth under 15, Youth under 18, Early College (freshman and sophomores), and Professional. I competed Friday in the Professional category, and I was one of 4 guitarists advanced to the Saturday final round in that category. I was able to borrow a 2007 Steve Connor guitar for the festival and competition. (Keep your ears open for some recordings of this guitar over the next few days)
After my prelim performance, I was not convinced I would be going on; I had not had an opportunity to hear the other competitors' programs, and I felt that I could have given a better performance. Friday evening I had a very good masterclass with the fantastic guitarist and good friend of mine, Stephen Lochbaum, on a set of variations by J. K. Mertz. We made a lot of progress on it together. At the masterclass, our field of finalists was announced, and I was very pleasantly surprised to be selected.
Saturday for the finals I played the renaissance lute piece 'A Scots Tune', a Prelude and Sarabande for baroque lute by S. L. Weiss, and the first and last movements of John Duarte's Musikones. The hall was very large but lively, and it was a pleasure to play. The instrument sounded really good in the larger hall. Between the extremely high quality of the instrument it and the atmosphere of the hall, I felt an intense inspiration that helped to make my interpretations more impassioned.
Following the final round, we were treated to an incredible concert by this year's guest artist Stephen Lochbaum. It was one of the best recitals I've heard.
At the awards ceremony, I was awarded 2nd prize.
Several other friends of mine were also competitors, and I'd like to say a great big congratulations to all of them:
Professional Division
First Prize: Julian Chalon
Third Prize: Sebastian Ruzycki
Fourth Prize: Marcos Salazar
Young College Division
Second Prize: Jonno Garver
Third Prize: April Montez Seals
After my prelim performance, I was not convinced I would be going on; I had not had an opportunity to hear the other competitors' programs, and I felt that I could have given a better performance. Friday evening I had a very good masterclass with the fantastic guitarist and good friend of mine, Stephen Lochbaum, on a set of variations by J. K. Mertz. We made a lot of progress on it together. At the masterclass, our field of finalists was announced, and I was very pleasantly surprised to be selected.
Saturday for the finals I played the renaissance lute piece 'A Scots Tune', a Prelude and Sarabande for baroque lute by S. L. Weiss, and the first and last movements of John Duarte's Musikones. The hall was very large but lively, and it was a pleasure to play. The instrument sounded really good in the larger hall. Between the extremely high quality of the instrument it and the atmosphere of the hall, I felt an intense inspiration that helped to make my interpretations more impassioned.
Following the final round, we were treated to an incredible concert by this year's guest artist Stephen Lochbaum. It was one of the best recitals I've heard.
At the awards ceremony, I was awarded 2nd prize.
Several other friends of mine were also competitors, and I'd like to say a great big congratulations to all of them:
Professional Division
First Prize: Julian Chalon
Third Prize: Sebastian Ruzycki
Fourth Prize: Marcos Salazar
Young College Division
Second Prize: Jonno Garver
Third Prize: April Montez Seals