Ana Vidovic & Guitars Galore
What a time we had two Saturdays ago (April 20th, 2013) when Ana Vidovic returned to our International Concert stage for our series finale performance. The sold out crowd had guests from Canada, Mexico and all over the US, and Ana delivered a simply stunning performance – like she always does!
Just FlamencoAustin on May 16th is left before we begin our 2013 Summer Series with York, Assad, and Garibay!
About 100 guitarists from Texas and Oklahoma joined us all day for our eighth annual Guitars Galore ensemble festival. They rehearsed together in the morning, played for each other all day, and then opened our evening concert with a phenomenal pre-show performance including ACGS Education Director Travis Marcum's GuitarCurriculum.com arrangement of Sor's "Variations on La Folia" and the world premiere of “Koi, Out to Sea” by Brownsville’s Kristina Avila, who won this year’s annual ACGS Composition Competition.
I’d like to say a huge thank you to Arlen Nydam for the expert photography you'll see in this post!
Here I’m about to introduce Kristina to our audience - and present her with her award - right before the large ensemble performance. Look at all those guitarists! They sounded fabulous.
The Guitars Galore Festival Ensemble was conducted, as it has been each year, by Dr. Michael Quantz. Dr. Quantz is professor of guitar at the University of Texas at Brownsville, and is one of the nation’s leading advocates for high-quality secondary guitar education. I am proud to call him a dear friend and close colleague.
Ana’s concert began with Sor’s famous “Introduction, Theme & Variations on a Theme of Mozart”. She was brilliant.
The program also included works of Barrios, Albeniz, and Bach – I was particularly excited to hear her play the Bagatelles of William Walton – having only heard her play those in the past on her NAXOS recording from 2000.
Here we are after the concert!
Ana’s autograph line was as long as any I remember. It lasted for 45 minutes. Most people had her autograph their programs, but several had her sign guitars and cases! Arlen put together this fabulous montage!
Meet Carlos Piñana
Carlos Piñana came onto my radar early when we were first envisioning FlamencoAustin. In fact, it was this video that grabbed me!
For our show on May 16th, he’s bringing with him a second guitarist, a dancer, and percussionist. Get tickets online here or call 512-474-LONG.
Remember the pre-show flamenco party with free tapas and amazing music and dance by Austin’s Pilar Andújar starts at 6:30. Carlos begins in Dell Hall at 8. Also at 6:30 is an amazing authentic Spanish dinner served by Chef Maria Candil (menu and more here).
Carlos belongs to a family of great flamenco tradition, he is the grandson of Antonio Piñana, patriarch of the “cantes mineros” and his father is the well-known guitarist Antonio Piñana. Carlos lived and breathed flamenco since childhood – and it shows!
Carlos studied both classical and flamenco guitar at the Conservatory of Music in Cartagena – and won a number of competitions during his students years. One of the things that has captivated me about his style – and his Body and Soul concept he’ll bring us on the 16th – is that it seems he has joined together his deep traditional flamenco upbringing with his gift for composition and classical form. The result is fabulous!
With five CDs, and worldwide performances in amazing places like Paris, London, Frankfurt, Munich, Hannover, Stockholm, Dublin, Lausanne, Naples, Milan, Tehran, Cairo, Tokyo, Moscow, Casablanca, Lisbon, and Tunis – to name just a few – we are in for an amazing journey on May 16th and I hope to share it with you!
FlamencoAustin Dinner
FlamencoAustin is coming soon!
On May 16th we proudly present the US debut of Carlos Piñana and his troupe from Alicante with his captivating “Body & Soul” all-original project.
Our signature vision with FlamencoAustin is “Austin to Andalucía at the Speed of Sight and Sound” and that means food and wine!
The Dell Hall show begins at 8, but at 6:30 Austin’s magnificent Pilar Andújar will lead a flamenco performance on the Long Center’s breathtaking city terrace, and we’ll have free authentic Spanish Tapas and Spanish wines carefully selected by Twin Liquors.
At the same time – we will serve a Full Authentic Spanish Dinner in the Kodosky Lounge, prepared by Master Chef Maria Candil!
Get tickets for the special dinner & concert here.
The Spectacular Menu
Paella Vegetariana (V, GF) - An all vegetable paella with rice, onions, tomatoes, garlic, red bell peppers, mushrooms, artichokes, green beans, green peas and chick peas. Yum!
Paella Valenciana (GF) - From Spain with Love! Perfectly cooked rice and vegetables (green and red bell peppers, onions, garlic, green beans, & sweet peas), combination of boneless chicken or beef and fresh seafood (shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams).
Pollo al Ajillo - Andalusian boneless Garlic Chicken with Spanish beer sauce.
Green Salad & delicious homemade Artisan Bread
Tapas
Tortilla de Patatas (V, GF) Spain’s most popular Tapa! Typical Spanish potato omelet. This home recipe will make you call for more! Our tortilla is made with potato, egg and onion.
Champiñones al Ajillo (V, GF) For veggie lovers. This combination of mushrooms, garlic, parsley, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and salt cooked with white wine is perfectly balanced.
Pimientos Asados (V, GF) Spaniards love sweet red pepper, especially when they are roasted. Enjoy our pimientos asados at room temperature. Chef Candil makes them with roasted red peppers, onion, salt, sherry vinaigrette and Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Pisto Manchego (V, GF) - Vegetable casserole slowly roasted to preserve all the juices in the mix.
Spanish Cheese (V, GF) - Of course! Assorted cheese from different regions of Spain: cured, Demi-cured, and tender. The assorted cheese will be identify the type of milk used (cow, goat or sheep)
Croquetas - Small bites of béchamel croquettes with chicken or serrano ham.
Asparagus Mousse (V, GF) – This is unreal. Delicate asparagus flavor from a tender mousse with creamy piquillo peppers sauce.
Desserts
Caramel Natillas (V) - Vanilla cream with caramel bottom and a Maria biscuit on top, flavored with a sprinkle of cinnamon.
Three Chocolate Cake (V, GF) - Dark, milk and white chocolate layered with a strawberry on top.
Ferl’s (V) - Homemade puff pastry stuffed with vanilla infused cream, sprinkled with powered sugar.
Here's a shot of some of last September's scrumptious dinner selections:
Photography by Arlen Nydam
St. Louis Guitar Society turns 50!
In the world of classical guitar presentation I have a few heroes who have inspired me with their selfless dedication to community service through the years. Even before we knew each other, and before I was running my own nonprofit organization in the mid-90s, Bill Ash was one of those people for me.
Bill, and his wife Kathy, were leading the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, and as my interests in the field grew I had many mentors point me toward St. Louis as a model for success and a beacon for hope.
Bill has served for a staggering 33 years as a leader in guitar presentation in the US. This year he is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society, with a gala dinner, concert, and a Christopher Parkening Master Class and address on June 9th (view invitation). It is overwhelming to me to think of the degree to which lives have been changed, and the classical guitar has been advanced, through this fine organization.
I asked Bill to tell me a little bit about himself and the organization but before we get to the questions I asked him, I have a question for you:
Would you consider making a donation to the St. Louis Classical Guitar Society in honor of Bill’s 33 years of service, and on the occasion of their 50th year? I will, and I hope you’ll join me – just click here.
Matthew Hinsley: Bill, what's your history with the SLCGS?
Bill Ash: My wife Kathy and I were part of the team that re-organized and re-incorporated the organization under our current name on April 9, 1980. Formerly we were called the George C. Krick Classic Guitar Guild, and its charter had just run out. So I've been involved for 33 years, all as President.
I lost Kathy in January 2009 to a heart attack. So besides my personal loss, it's been quite an undertaking to handle all the work she used to do for the Society.
MH: What are you most proud of in your work with SLCGS?
BA: Well, I would have to say finding ways to remain financially solvent season after season, given that every season represents a leap of faith that the weather will cooperate and that people will continue to attend. We're large enough now that no one event can destroy us, but for a small arts group, this is a real concern!
But I do think the consistency of providing personalized service to our concert-goers; a standardized format of presenting our artists in a series of four in a small hall, with two additional of wider appeal at different venues; and artists chosen not just for virtuosity, but for overall balance among repertoire, personality, and instrumentation has helped create a loyal and growing following over many seasons.
MH: What would you advice be to someone starting a similar organization?
BA: I think every situation is different in terms of what human and financial resources are available. Is there interest and promised support from others, not just you, the founder? I would work on finding such before moving forward.
At least 3 people who will commit to both doing work and providing funds to both put into the budget and to underwrite that budget in the event of shortfall. Otherwise burnout and financial shortfall are both real risks, and more likely than not to actually occur.
MH: Why is the work we do in Guitar Societies important?
BA: Matt, I think you've said it so well in your book Creativity to Community. We exist to educate our community to their need for our art, and then to provide opportunity for our artists to come in and provide it. The classical guitar can have a great and meaningful role nationwide. We all need to become ambassadors for it, and cooperate in helping to make it so. A guitar society can be a forum where all the local teachers find common ground. Where that can happen, everyone benefits.
MH: What does this 50th anniversary mean to you?
BA: I think it's our best chance to both widen and deepen awareness of who we are, and what we do, both within our own area and nationally. The acceptance of Chris Parkening of our invitation to join us in a day of celebration of our founding – June 9 – is an affirmation of the important cultural role we play in St. Louis.
It allows us the chance to proudly display our history and that of the important national guitar figures based in St. Louis since the mid-nineteenth century. But it also speaks to the importance of organized support for our art within every community nationwide. We'd like to reflect that message well and hope that we can
demonstrate how meaningful a guitar society can become to its community.
MH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
BA: I see our most significant future growth being in support of creating opportunities for people of all ages to experience personal growth – and to connect socially – through a cultivated love for the music of our instrument.
To this end I feel both time and money will be most effectively spent on creating opportunities for young people to study the instrument in structured environments with competent teachers. The challenge here is multi-faceted, but so important, as the effects will last for a lifetime!
We're following and beginning to incorporate the educational programs you've developed and continue to expand through the Austin Classical Guitar Society at GuitarCurriculum.com. Your work will soon make it easier for potential funders of similar programs in other cities to understand the great benefits communities will enjoy by supporting these programs.
Cine Las Americas: Starts April 16th!
I feel so incredibly fortunate to live in Austin.
Next week the 16th Cine Las Americas Film Festival will present more than 100 feature and short films in theaters throughout Austin. Their director, Eugenio del Bosque, reached out to us because they heard about our upcoming FlamencoAustin show at the Long Center on May 16th that features 4 amazing flamenco players from Spain. And it turns out the opening film of their festival, on Tuesday night at the Stateside Theater, is a marvelous silent film, called Blancanieves, also from Spain!
So they asked us to come out and provide some music Tuesday night for their opening reception following the screening!
Over the past 15 years, Cine Las Americas has presented more than 1,400 films at its festival and at various screenings across the state of Texas, becoming one of the most prestigious of Latino film events in the country. It continues to expand its programming, bringing free screenings to cultural centers and universities, special advance premieres, and other screenings in partnership with other local film festivals and organizations. I so encourage you to get to know Cine Las Americas!
I asked Eugenio to tell me a bit more about his organization and vision, and thought I’d share some of his insights with you.
Matthew Hinsley: Tell me about this year's festival - about which films are you most excited?
Eugenio del Bosque: The 16th Cine Las Americas International Film Festival runs April 16-21, 2013. This year's lineup presents 56 features and 66 short films from 29 different countries. These films are by or about Latinos and indigenous groups of the Americas, including Spain and Portugal, and range from independent and big budget features, to documentaries and short films.
Of course we are excited about Blancanieves because it is our Opening Night film and we have been tracking it down for a long time. So it’s great to be able to show it and to partner with the Austin Classical Guitar Society for the reception after the screening.
I’m most excited about all of the films. It is unfair to highlight some films on top of others, especially because there are films in competition. All of the films in competition are exciting because they are brand new independent movies that people would otherwise not get to see in Austin, or the US for that matter. On top of that there are the New Releases. These are films that may see some kind of commercial release in the US, but they are mostly from well-established directors, or films that have been awarded at film festivals around the world. Generally the quality of this section of the program is very high.
Another section of the program is Panorama, and this includes both narrative and feature films. For one reason or another those films have not been able to be included in competition section, but they still have a high degree of merit and we really work to raise the profile of films in the Panorama section.
MH: How can people get involved?
EdB: Screenings take place in Austin at the Stateside Theatre in downtown, Alamo Drafthouse Village, Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), and St. Edward's University. All shows at both the MACC and St. Edwards are completely free and open to the public. We offer free shows at these locations as community screenings, which is something that we not only do during the festival, but it’s actually an extension of our community screenings that we offer seasonally throughout the entire year. Cine Las Americas is the only film festival in Austin that does this - a full 30% of our program is free.
For the rest of festival, audience members can attend by either purchasing individual tickets to shows at the Alamo Village and Stateside Theatre OR get an all-access Festival Pass for only $80. If you plan on attending multiple shows, the Festival Pass is really the best deal, and it gives full access to the film festival events, including screenings and special events.
The best way to begin getting involved is by visiting our website, and browsing the schedule, our list of films, and watching trailers to films. Film Festival Passes can be purchased online at our website. Last but not least, all films are also subtitled in English, so everyone who attends can enjoy them!
MH: What do you love about film?
EdB: I guess the collaborative aspect of it, which also has to do with the film festival. You can talk about auteur film and you can talk about the directors that have unique voices but film by nature is a collaborative effort. There is no making film by yourself, and I like that.
MH: Why is it important to share the work of filmmakers from around the world?
EdB: Because if we don’t, most of these films will not be seen, especially on the big screen. Also I think film, especially with a lineup like ours, offers cultural diversity and artistic excellence. These films can bring vitality to the cultural life of a place, including to a city like Austin, and just by exposing people to other cultures, they can offer things like open-mindedness and tolerance.
MH: Is there anything else you'd like to add, anything else you wish everyone knew about Cine Las Americas?
EdB: Every film that we show is subtitled in English, so it is for everybody. People should know that they can buy all-access passes but you can also buy individual tickets at the box office. Even better, we offer a new membership program that is designed to provide sustainability and foundation to Cine Las Americas. We are a non-profit organization. By becoming a member the Austin community has an opportunity to get directly involved in our programs, by supporting our programs and our mission. Also, 1/3 of our program is offered for free. So yes you can buy passes or buy tickets, but by becoming a member you are also supporting the programming that we offer to the community for free, and there is no other film festival in Austin that does that. And now is the perfect time to do it!
Joseph V. Williams II is ACGS' 2013-2014 Composer In Residence!
I simply can’t describe how excited I am about this:
Joseph V. Wiliams II is the Austin Classical Guitar Society’s first-ever Composer In Residence - for our 2013-2014 season!
Working at ACGS, some of the things I’m most thankful for are the circumstances that have brought me in contact with inspiringly creative minds. Joe’s artistry is transcendent to the extent that I am exhilarated by our interactions, and transported when I hear his work.
When he focused his creativity on our Austin Pictures project in 2011 it was one of my personal and professional highlights – and I’m downright giddy that we’ll have a whole year to work together on both composition and education projects, beginning late this summer!
Here’s an interview I did with Joe in the weeks leading up to Austin Pictures:
What Joe wrote for us was a five-movement work called "Austin Pictures" for over 100 young guitarists and the Miró Quartet, that was conducted by Peter Bay at ACL Live. Want a taste? Here’s the movement “Capital City Construction” from that magical debut evening – as captured by KLRU.
One of the things about original creative works, is that it’s impossible to predict exactly what will happen. But one thing I’m sure of is that, after Joseph V. Williams II is our composer in residence, ACGS will never be the same again – and in the best way!
Soloduo: What a Night!
Soloduo was extraordinary last Friday evening. We've received a flood of wonderful comments since the concert. The Austin American Statesman's Luke Quinton joined us for the concert, here is his glowing review.
The evening began at Gusto Italian Kitchen where we enjoyed a simply delicious pre-concert Italian dinner prepared specially for the concert. If you haven't been to a pre-concert dinner before, I hope you'll consider it sometime! They are a wonderful chance to meet old friends, new friends, and fans of great music. I'll typically say a few words about the upcoming concert (sometimes I'll even play a bit on the guitar!). Friday's dinner was sponsored by Carl Caricari and Margaret Murray Miller - who are in this great picture (special thanks to Arlen Nydam, photographer, for this and all of the photos in this post):
We had a great group at dinner. Here is our guest, Roberto Vasquez, pictured with Chuck Lutke, our Director of Development and Communications here at ACGS.
...and here I am, with my wife Glenda Lee:
The concert began, as nearly all of ours do, with a pre-concert performance by one of our school programs. On Friday the performers were from the multi-award-winning McCallum High School Chamber Ensemble. They had a trio, a quartet (which I can't help mentioning, performed "Austin Tango" by Roland Dyens - a piece we commissioned in 2009!), and a large ensemble, pictured here. They were fabulous, and our patrons were talking about their fantastic performance all night long.
Soloduo took the stage and were simply dazzling. Some of the larger pieces on the program were Piazzolla's "Tango Suite", Debussy's "Claire de Lune", and their amazing new arrangement of Beethoven's complete "Moonlight Sonata". I love this picture Arlen took of some of our audience members - Catherine and David Wildermuth are in the front row here, with Flo Ann Randle and William Bednar in row 2. The music-making was magnificent.
At intermission, the McCallum students sold concessions - looks like they had some business! Smiling in the center of this picture is the director of the McCallum program, Mr. Andrew Clark. He has much to be proud of.
...and the crowd goes wild! Lorenzo Micheli (left) and Matteo Mela (right) gave a marvelous concert. For an encore they treated us to a guitar duo arrangement of the Overture to Barber of Seville. Wow.
We did something new at this concert! Afterwards we invited everyone to a casual get together at Pinthouse Pizza on Burnet Road. About 50 patrons joined us and we had long, spirited conversation - at least until the restaurant closed down!
$5 off Blues at the Paramount!
The Paramount Theater regularly has tremendous guitar talent on their historic stages – albeit, not usually classical guitar.
Even so, many of our fans love great guitar playing of all kinds, so I was thrilled when the Paramount offered discounts on some of their exciting upcoming guitar programs!
Next Wednesday night, in the intimate Stateside Theater, blues guitarist Eric Bibb will combine his talents with versatile West African musician Habib Koité for a new sound ”both passionate and ebullient!”
And members, fans, and friends of ACGS have been offered $5 off tickets! Just use the discount code BAMAKO.
Stay tuned - more to come!
Soloduo!
I am so excited about Soloduo on Friday March 1st I can hardly stand it!
If you see only one classical guitar concert in 2013, this should be the one. I truly believe that this concert will hold some of the most sublime music-making of any kind, on any stage in Austin, this entire year!
Soloduo’s recording of Astor Piazzolla’s “Tango Suite” is one of my favorite recordings of all time. And it’s going to be on their Austin program! It closes the first half.
And you won’t believe what closes the second half… a new arrangement of Beethoven’s entire “Moonlight Sonata” for two guitars.
The concert is Friday, March 1st at 8PM at Northwest Hills United Methodist Church (7050 Village Center Drive) – tickets online here, or call 512-300-ACGS.
In their honor, we’re also hosting a $50 Italian feast (wine, dinner and desserts included) at Gusto Italian Kitchen at 5:30 before the show – sponsored by Carl Carcari and Margaret Murray Miller. Gusto is fabulous, and just a few miles from the concert. Tickets online here, or call 512-300-ACGS.
Here they are playing Piazzolla’s Tango Suite. Enjoy!
A Night to Remember: Guitars Under the Stars in Pictures
We’ve received a flood of wonderful comments since Saturday’s Guitars Under the Stars at One World Theatre. A guest wrote: “[We] would like to personally thank you and ALL the Staff of ACGS for one of the best (if not the best) evenings we have had last night. The organization of the event, the venue, the food, and service was superb and top notch!”
Wow! We at ACGS are so deeply grateful to every guest who made Saturday’s gala the special night that it was – and to every one of our supporters who makes our work in education possible.
If you did not get a chance to pledge support for our education program Saturday, and you’d like to, you can still give online – or call us at 512-300-ACGS – to get involved!
Thanks to our great staff: Julie Stoakley, April Long, Chuck Lutke and our ed team, who worked so hard to put it all together!
Here are a few pictures from Saturday. I’d like to say a big special thank you to photographer Philip Rogers for these terrific shots. When he sent these over he added: “Wow, What a night. Fantastic on all levels. Such a wonderfully nice group of people. Open and gracious. And very photogenic. The music was sublime.”
What it's all about! Here our Assistant Director of Education, Jeremy Osborne,
conducts a 9-member select student ensemble from Akins, Crockett and
McCallum high schools, playing a Bach Fugue, to open our show in the theatre.
After the kids played, the amazing Bandini-Chiacchiaretta
Tango Duo took the stage and energized our sold-out audience!
Guests arrived through the beautiful One World Theatre Plaza Gate.
Pictured here are Mark Flaherty and Daria Sandburg,
who joined us all the way from Pennsylvania!
We had a great time meeting the artists in the theatre during our
Sponsor Reception before the main event!
Our table décor was planned beautifully by our event manager Julie Stoakley -
with the help of our amazing supporter and volunteer Liz Pyeatt
(from our presenting sponsor, Austin Asset). They were put together
with an amazing team of volunteers led by Paulina Soenen. Pictured here
is Ben Finklea, founder and CEO of Volacci – a generous sponsor of our education program!
Our Valentines Mystery Gift Boxes were a huge hit. We sold out completely
of the 60 or so our wonderful volunteers had wrapped up!
Here are Jim and Jennifer Judkins holding a few.
AWMedia, publishers of Austin Woman and ATX Man, were media sponsors
of Guitars Under the Stars. Here is editor Deborah Hamilton Lynn with several guests from AWMedia!
So many amazing guests! Here I am with Diane Ingram, our patron Oscar Gomez
(who, with his wife Elsa, hosted a private concert with Jorge Caballero in their
home last summer) and Diane’s husband Hudson Ingram (right).
..and speaking of Elsa Gomez, here she is on the right, with Mexnet Alliance
President Monica Peraza (center) and Travis County District Clerk Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza (left)
A highlight of our brief education presentation was Sergeant Will Flores, guitarist in the US Army Band,
and graduate of our guitar program at McCallum High School, saying a few words about how our program
has changed his life. Sergeant Flores flew in from Georgia to be with us Saturday.
Cesare Chiacchiaretta and Giampaolo Bandini played a glorious concert for us –
and our guests leapt out of their seats for a standing ovation at the end.
Our dessert buffet after the concert was super popular, and guests stayed
to talk long after the last notes were played upstairs.
If you didn’t get to join us Saturday night – here’s a fabulous video shot by KUT’s Jorge Sanhueza-Lyon of our live appearance on John Aielli’s Eklektikos from Thursday, February 7th! They’re playing Piazzolla’s Libertango!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gw7YrhbDECA
One of our patrons wrote simply: “The Gala was a triumph!” We could not have done it without the generosity of our presenting sponsor: Austin Asset, our Platinum Sponsors: Jeff & Gail Kodosky, Louise Epstein & John Henry McDonald Trust, H-E-B, Kendal & Ken Gladish, and AW Media, and our co-chairs for the evening David & Catherine Wildermuth, Ken & Kendal Gladish, and Jeff and Gail Kodosky.
Thank you!