ECU to host 24th annual summer guitar festival
Classical guitar performers – including a record number of duos – from around the world will converge in the A.J. Fletcher Music Center at East Carolina University for the 24th Summer Guitar Festival July 13-16.
The event features instruction, competition and public performances over the four days.
“The festival is an important cultural event with national and international visibility,” said Elliot Frank, guitar festival director and ECU professor of guitar. “It has brought support to the guitar program through donors and recognition for the School of Music.”
The festival kicks off at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13, with Dragos Ilie in the A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall.
Headlining artists SoloDuo — Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli — will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday, July 15, along with Francois Fowler.
Mela and Micheli hail from Switzerland and Italy, have been acclaimed as one of classical guitar’s finest ensembles. The Washington Post wrote of their performance, “… the duo’s playing was nothing less than rapturous — profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order.” They have performed throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.
The festival’s workshop and camp are open to students ages 8 and up who wish to acquire or improve skills on the classical guitar. Students under 12 must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult.
SoloDuo – Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli – will perform at 7:30 p.m. July 15. The duo, who hail from Switzerland and Italy, are considered one of classical guitar’s finest ensembles. (Contributed photo)
The only requirement for students is a desire to learn or learn more about classical guitar, Frank said.
“The festival is four days of teaching, performance and interaction among guitarists from all over, and of all ages and skill levels,” he said. “We have students who have attended the festival for more than a decade, and who come from as far away as Taiwan.
“Beginner to advanced, young or old, if they want to learn classical guitar, we will find them instruction.”
Frank said it’s not too late to sign up. For information, email franke@ecu.edu.
Additional concerts will feature the Kossler Duo, the Andrew Zohn and Akerman Teixeira Duo, and Stephen Robinson and Frank. The solo competition semifinals will be at 4 p.m. July 15 while finals will be at 4 p.m. July 16.
All concerts will be in the ECUSchool of Music A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall.
Tickets for 4 p.m. performances are $10 for the public and $5 for students. Evening performance tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Ticket packages for all afternoon and evening concerts are available for $50 for adults and $30 for students and seniors.
For ticket information contact www.ecuarts.com, or 252-328-4788.
Schedule
July 13, 4 p.m. – Dragos Ilie
July 13, 7:30 p.m. – Elliot Frank/Stephen Robinson
July 14, 4 p.m. – Kossler Duo
July 14, 7:30 p.m. – Andrew Zohn/Akerman Teixeira Duo
July 15, 4 p.m. – Solo competition semifinals
July 15, 7:30 p.m. – Francois Fowler/SoloDuo
July 16, 2 p.m. – Student performance, free and open to the public.
July 16, 4 p.m. – Solo competition finals and awards
-by Crystal Baity, ECU News Services, baityc@ecu.edu, 252-328-1159