– Dorothy Cosh – letter to the editor – The Banjoists' Broadsheet
Congratulations to Jason Vieaux on receiving the 2015 Grammy® Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo Performance for his album Play. Jason is scheduled to appear at the Festival Sunday afternoon, April 26, at 3:00 pm.
About the Festival
The Long Island Guitar Festival is an annual international festival presented by the Department of Music of the School of Visual and Performing Arts at LIU Post at Long Island University. The Festival represents the continuing commitment of Long Island University to reach out to the artistic community and continue an established tradition of excellence in guitar performance and pedagogy.
Festival 2014
The 22nd annual Festival was held April 2 to 6, 2014 at Long Island University's LIU Post Campus in Brookville, NY USA.
At last year's Eclectic & International Festival performers included the VIDA Guitar Quartet from England, guitarist, lutenist and composer Frederic Hand, South African guitarist Derek Gripper (featuring music of the great Kora player Toumani Diabate), French guitar innovator Thibault Cauvin, Polish-born American guitarist Paul Cesarczyk, the Artesian Guitar Quartet, Pat Bianculli, Lisa Holsberg, Karla Moe, the Bishop McGuinness High School Honors Guitar Ensemble, the Brentwood High School Guitar Club, the LIU Post Guitar Ensemble, the Susan E. Wagner High School Guitar Ensemble and Emerging Artist Koh Kazama.
Master classes were given by Paul Cesarczyk, Maureen Hynes, Thibault Cauvin, Derek Gripper and Frederic Hand. Also presented, a class on arranging for high school guitar ensembles with Alan Hirsh and workshops on Rock Guitar Techniques with James Erickson and on the Shearer Method with Thomas Kikta and Mr. Hirsh.
A highlight of the Festival was our first Tri-State High School Classical Guitar Competition. First prize was awarded to Jonathan Bodian, second prize to Kang Min Shin, third prize to Eliza Carrington. Semi-finalists included Matthew Carillo and Zaffira Medici-Murania. Bravo and Brava to all the competitors!
Festival 2014 was dedicated to the memory and music of Paco de Lucía.
The Long Island Guitar Festival presents master classes, concerts and workshops by the world's most outstanding guitarists and teachers. Workshops have included Computer Music Notation for Guitarists, Composers and Arrangers, High School Guitar Ensemble Workshops, Fingerboard Harmony and Chamber Music Workshops. Special concerts have included the "Legacy of Segovia" with Segovia protegé Michael Lorimer, the U.S. debut of renowned guitarist composer Carlo Domeniconi, LIU Post alumni concerts and new music concerts including world premieres. The festival has established partnerships with high schools including Greenwich High School and the United Nations International School, as well as local community colleges.
Special Festival Events
In 2002 the Long Island Guitar Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary. As part of the celebration, Guitar x 2 (Festival Director Harris Becker and Pasquale Bianculli) premiered Long Island Suite, a guitar duo written for them by Carlo Domeniconi to mark the anniversary.
Featured during Festival 2012 was the World Premiere of Harrisdale Concerto for Guitar & Saw/Violin and Guitar Orchestra by Dr. Alan Hirsh, celebrating the Festival's twentieth anniversary. At YouTube: First Movement, Second Movement.
Festival 2012 was dedicated to the memory and music of Howard Morgen. A special tribute to him, "Remembering Howard Morgen" was held on the last day of the Festival Sunday, April 22.
In the past the Long Island Guitar Festival has proudly presented such distinguished guitarists as (in alphabetical order): Howard Alden, Artesian Guitar Quartet, Denis Azabagic, Manuel Barrueco, Rebecca Baulch, Harris Becker, Gene Bertoncini, Pasquale Bianculli, Bishop McGuinness High School Guitar Ensemble, Gunnlaugur Björnsson, Brentwood High School Guitar Ensemble, Winslow Browning, Jorge Caballero, Thibault Cauvin, Paul Cesarczyk, Amanda Cook, Dennis Cinelli, Kevin Dolen, Carlo Domeniconi, Curtis High School Guitar Ensemble, John Dearman, Roland Dyens, Jérôme Ducharme, Cem Duruöz, Mark Elf, Eden Stell Guitar Duo, Eduardo Fernández, Eliot Fisk, Paul Galbraith, Boris Gaquere, Pia Gazarek-Offermann, Derek Gripper, Guitar Trilogy, Frederic Hand, Freedom High School Guitar Ensemble, Olav Chris Henriksen, Adam Holzman, William Kanengiser, Koh Kazama, Dennis Koster, David Leisner, Michael Lorimer, Mark Marino, Ronn McFarlane, Chieli Minucci, Ben Moran, Howard Morgen, Newman & Oltman Duo, Pat O'Brien, Matt Palmer, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, Simon Powis, Gyan Riley, Hayley Savage, Cecilia Siqueira, Raphaella Smits, David Starobin, Ernesto Tamayo, Scott Tennant, Stony Brook Guitar Quartet (Jose Maldonado, Barkely Heuser, Yannis Petridis, James Kerr), Threefifty Duo, Benjamin Verdery, Ana Vidovic, VIDA Guitar Quartet, Frank Vignola, Susan E. Wagner High School Guitar Ensemble, Weaver Academy, Jack Wilkins, Jerry Willard, Williams-Etheridge Duo (John Williams and John Etheridge), Andrew York, John Zaccari, Fabio Zanon.
To learn more about the history of the Long Island Guitar Festival, please visit these Web pages:
Past Festival Web sites: 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996
Festival Poster/Flyers: 1995, 1994 and 1993
Reprint of New York Times Review of Guitar Festival 2001
Last update: January 6, 2015
Festival Notes
Please visit these pages often for more information about the 23rd annual Long Island Guitar Festival as it becomes available.
Tickets for Festival 2015 are now available. Visit the Ticket Information page to find out more.
Guitarists and Performers: if you are interested in participating in a Festival Master Class as a performer, please see the More Information page.
Guitar Competition Update: The application deadline for the National High School Classical Guitar Competition has been extended to April 15, 2015.
Find out more about our National High School Classical Guitar Competition.
New in 2015 will be the Long Island Guitar Festival Guitar Orchestra, open to high schoool students and others.
High School Guitar Ensemble Directors: if you are interested in having your ensemble perform in a Long Island Guitar Festival Ensemble Showcase please read the Ensemble Showcases page.
Music Events of Interest
A Midsummer Music Dream Music School & Festival
School of Visual and Performing Arts
Long Island Guitar Festival
Department of Music
LIU Post
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, NY 11548