Hello guitar-enthusiasts!

This a brief group email inviting you (and your students) to the Victoria Conservatory of Music Guitar Orchestra.

The VCM Guitar Orchestra is an established ensemble of 10-15 guitarists led by myself, Michael Dias. Through and weekly rehearsals (Saturdays at 10:30-11:30) and individual practice, we are able to present a wide variety of music (from Bach to bossa nova) to the community twice a year. Potential members should have basic music reading skills (parts are tailored to individual abilities) and, most importantly, an enthusiasm for making music of many styles.

Information about this course (cost etc.) can be found on the VCM website @ http://vcm.bc.ca/userimages/File/Community%20School%20Calendar%202010/VCM_Orchestras&Choirs.pdf

The first rehearsal is open to all interested individuals: Saturday, Sept. 18th @ 10:30 – 11:30 in rm 302 at the VCM (Quadra and Pandora).

Our theme for this fall is “Orchestra and Guests!” in which we will be accompanying guest instrumentalists (oboe, sax, etc.) in addition to guitar orchestra repertoire. Please email me at michaelgdias@gmail.com if you have questions or would like more details.

Sincerely,

Michael Dias, MMus
VCM Guitar Orchestra Director

The Daryâ Persian Music Ensemble returns to Alix Goolden Hall in a performance of classical and traditional Persian music by contemporary and ancient masters. This year’s programme will feature tasnifs and instrumental music in the modes of Afshari, Shur and Dashti, with poetry by Rumi and others.

Performed by Saeed Aghdasi, voice; Faraidoun Akhavân, kamânche and violin; Babak Mehr, setâr, tombak and daff; Iman Bulghani, santur; Douglas Hensley, târ; and Niel Golden, tabla.

DATE: Saturday, August 7, 2010
TIME: 7:00PM
LOCATION: St. David’s-by-the-Sea, 5182 Cordova Bay Rd.
ADMISSION: by donation

Featuring works by French composer Darius Milhaud, Spanish composer Torroba, Paraguayan composer Barrios, Mexican composer Ponce and the traditional German composer J.S. Bach!

Programme:

Prelude – Tres Vite from Lute Suite BWV 995 by J.S. Bach (1675-1750)

Sonatina Meridional by Manuel Ponce (1882-1948)

Choro de Saudade & Un Sueño en la Floresta by Agustín Barrios (1885-1944)

INTERMISSION

Segoviana by Darius Milhaud (1892-1974)

Sonatina para Guitarra by Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982)

The Continuum Consort’s flute, viola, guitar trio will present a free open-air performance at the Cameron Bandshell in Beacon Hill Park, courtesy of the City of Victoria and the Music Performance Fund of the AFM.

Emily Nagelbach, Kay Cochran and Douglas Hensley will present works from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries by Haydn, Telemann, Jacques Morel, Francesco Molino, Carl Maria von Weber, Leonhard de Call, Henk Badings, and Peter Schickele.

• Double top cedar
• 650mm scale length
• Sound portals
• Raised fingerboard
• Gotoh tuners
• Mint condition

2. Concert Classical Guitar handmade by Ken Hill of California (http://hillguitar.com/), 2001, Barcelona model, serial number 1891, Indian Rosewood back and sides, cedar top, 650 mm, wonderful sound and tone. Superb condition. Fitted with a discreet internal acoustic pickup, connection at end of sound box. $3500 with case

3. Student model concert guitar, Yamaha CG171C, made in 2002, 650 mm, solid cedar top, one owner, as new condition, very good sound and tone, $400 with case.

Contact Roy Sage at 250 740 0058 (Nanaimo, BC), email sage1066@shaw.ca, will deliver or arrange to see guitars on Vancouver Island (and can deliver to Vancouver).

VCM Summer Guitar Academy and Competition 2010
July 5 – 9, 2010

I had a wonderful time directing the 2010 Summer Guitar Academy at the Victoria Conservatory of Music! Not only were there some great students to work with but I also had the chance to see the fantastic faculty at work (see list below). Here’s a few blurbs about the week in beautiful Victoria, B.C.

Faculty
Bradford Werner (Artistic Director, A.V.C.M.)
Alexander Dunn (B.Mus., M.Mus., Ph.D.)
Janet Grohovac (B.Mus., M.Mus.)
Stephen Lochbaum (B.Mus., M.Mus.)
Adrian Verdejo (B.Mus., M.Mus.)
Michael Dias (B.Mus., M.Mus.)
Douglas Hensley (B.Mus., M.Mus.)

VCM Guitar Academy Competition 2010:

Congratulations to the all the competition winners! The winners are below with their teachers in brackets.

1. Razvan Bezna [Adrian Verdejo]
2. Marvin Ren [Adrian Verdejo]
3. Davis Plett [Kurt Tittlemier]

Concerts

Faculty Showcase
The concert opened with Douglas Hensley and Emily Nagalbach (flute) performing Sonata for flute and guitar (1983) by Henk Badings (1907-1987). Next was Alexander Dunn and Michael Dias performing Three Songs by Paul McCartney, arr. Leo Brouwer (b.1939). After intermission the Victoria Guitar Trio (Michael Dias, Adrian Verdejo and Bradford Werner) played Fugue in F sharp major, BWV882, Fugue in F sharp minor, BWV883, Fugue in F sharp major, BWV858
by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750); September by Rodney Sharmann (b.1958); Tangondo pour trois guitares by Máximo Diego Pujol (b.1957) and Carnaval by Patrick Roux (b. 1962).

Stephen Lochbaum
Classical guitarist Stephan Lochbaum performed and afternoon concert with transcriptions of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and J.S. Bach Sonata in Am BWV 1003.

Janet Grohovac
The wonderful Janet Grohovac played Etude No. XVII, Cancion de Cuna, Etude No. IXX by Leo Brouwer (b. 1939); Sonatina Meridional by Manuel Ponce (1882-1948); Choro de Saudade and Un Sueño en la Floresta by Agustín Barrios (1885-1944); Deux Pièces, Segoviana by Darius Milhaud (1892-1974); Sonatina para Guitarra by Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982).

Lectures and Classes

From Tone to Timbre
with Stephen Lochbaum
Tone, Timbre, volume, and more! This class provides the student guitarist with expert advice on sound production and volume, one of the most challenging aspects of the instrument. Instructor Stephen Lochbaum, renowned for his strong tone and balanced control of sound, guides students through the maze of techniques and possibilities inherent to the classical guitar.

Chamber Music & The Guitar
with Adrian Verdejo
The role of the guitar in chamber music. Students are guided through the essential skills needed by any guitarist playing in an ensemble experience. This will be an interactive chamber coaching and ensemble skill-building workshop for guitarists at all levels.

Approaching the Composer: Performance Issues in the Guitar Repertoire
with Michael Dias
Through the examination of autograph manuscripts and first editions, this interactive workshop explores the issue of the composer’s intent in his/her’s compositions. Works by Villa-lobos, Falla, and Ponce (and others) will be discussed. The course includes practical performance hints and interpretation skills for the student guitarist.

Guide to the Renaissance Lute
with Douglas Hensley
An introduction to Renaissance lute tablature with an emphasis on accessing the wealth of 6-course lute music just waiting for the guitarist to retune their G string and start playing. Topics include an introduction to lute tablature of the 16th century, playing directly from those sources, a sampling of the 6-course lute repertoire, as well as demonstration of the renaissance lute itself.

I’m very pleased to announce that my Guitar Victoria Volume 1 method book is now available as a downloadable E-Book!!!

The GuitarVictoria Studio Series – Volume I provides the beginning classical guitarist with all the raw materials needed for weekly lessons. Designed for student and teacher alike, this volume avoids editorial fingerings and allows the teacher to incorporate multiple pedagogical approaches to the art of music instruction. A qualified classical guitar instructor is needed to use this book. Number of pages: 87.

Intention :
Students require a wide variety of material unavailable from a single source. Most classical guitar books do
not include chords, blues, popular music, or the variety of teaching materials needed for modern
instruction. After years of carrying around stacks of heavy books between studios I began to write out my
own material. I have left out fingerings and editorial markings to keep the material clean and ready to use
by any pedagogical approach. Enjoy.

Important information about using this book :
This publication is not intended as a self-study method. Nearly every page is designed to give the student
and teacher the raw materials for use in weekly lessons. A qualified instructor is essential as this book
purposely leaves out explanatory materials, suggestions in fingerings, and technical guidelines for
technique and performance practise.

INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME: Fundamentals of reading music notation; Solo & duet repertoire; Traditional songs; Chords, Blues, Folk, Pop, and Rock; Modern tablature; Supplemental scales, technique, & theory; Sight-reading exercises; Arrangements by Bradford Werner; Original compositions by Bratfort von Werwinkle.

Buy the E-BOOK and get your copy instantly! Special Summer Price: $13.99

• Click Here to buy the Volume 1 E-BOOK.

To purchase a hard-copy email Bradford Werner: Click here to e-mail Brad

“The Guitar Victoria series has been an invaluable resource in my teaching curriculum. Each volume offers a sound, logical approach to the classical guitar for students of any level.” - Adrian Verdejo (B.Mus, M. Mus – Faculty at Victoria Conservatory of Music)

Featured Performer: Janet Grohovac

Janet Grohovac
Wednesday, July 7, 2010, 7:30pm
Wood Hall
Victoria Conservatory of Music
$15 adults, $10 students

Janet Grohovac, recent winner of the 2009 Northwest Guitar Competition is one of Canada’s musical gems! An Alumni of the Victoria Conservatory of Music and the University of Victoria, Janet played her first guitar competition at age 16 winning top prize in the youth division of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. In 2007, Janet graduated from the University of Victoria obtaining a Bachelor of Music with distinction studying under Dr. Alexander Dunn. In May 2009, Janet received her Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Adam Holzman.  This year, Janet has returned to Austin to begin her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Texas. Janet returns home for the Summer Guitar Academy and what will be an unforgettable concert!

“Janet Grohovac offers everything someone would want from the classical guitar: elegance, style, and beautifully compelling tone!” – Classical Guitar Canada

Faculty Showcase

Guitar Academy Faculty and the Victoria Guitar Trio
Monday, July 5, 2010, 7:30pm
Wood Hall
Victoria Conservatory of Music
$15 adults, $10 students

Join Alexander Dunn, Douglas Hensley, Emily Nagalbach (flute) and the Victoria Guitar Trio (Michael Dias, Adrian Verdejo and Bradford Werner) for a night of classical guitar chamber ensembles. An exciting concert of Bach, Beatles, Canadian works, and tangos!

Stephen Lochbaum

Tuesday, July 6, 2010, 12:45pm – 1:45pm
Wood Hall
Victoria Conservatory of Music
$10 admission

Virtuoso classical guitarist Stephan Lochbaum performs transcriptions of Modest Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and J.S. Bach violin works. A multiple competition winner and extraordinary classical guitarist in all styles from solo masterworks to jazzy solos and pop arrangements this is one very versatile talent.

“One of Canada’s strongest players!” – Guitar Victoria

Competition Prizes:
1st place: $700
2nd place: $400
3rd place: $200
Youngest Competitor Prize
(presented by Bradford Werner)

Both rounds of the competition are open to the public by donation.

Semi-Finals: July 5th, 9:30-10:30am, Alix Goolden Hall

Finals: July 8th, 9:30-10:30am, Alix Goolden Hall

Faculty bios:

Alexander Dunn
B.Mus, M.Mus, San Francisco Conservatory of Music; PhD, University of California, San Diego. Extensive summer studies at the Aspen Festival and Sommerakademie Mozarteum. Performances and activities at music festivals include Darmstadt, Salzburg, Vancouver New Music, International Guitar and Lute Institute, Stetson Internatioanl Guitar Workshop, Guitar Foundation of America, Boston GuitarFest, Northwest Guitar Festival, Paracho Festival de Guitarra, Vancouver Festival, Early Music Society of the Islands, CBC Festival de Printemps, Zihuatenejo International Guitar Festival, Appalachian Guitar Festival, Singapore Youth Festival, and many others. Mr. Dunn has performed in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Eastern and Western Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China, Southeast Asia, New Zealand, Japan, South Africa, Cuba, and numerous other places. A sought after instructor, his students are regular prize winners at regional and national competitions. Dr. Dunn is an examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and currently heads what is considered one of Canada’s top guitar programs at the University of Victoria and the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Michael Dias
B.Mus, University of Calgary; M.Mus, University of Victoria (Guitar Performance). An enthusiastic teacher and performer, Michael Dias completed a Masters of Music in classical guitar performance under Dr. Alexander Dunn at the University of Victoria in 2008. A Calgary native, he previously studied under Jacob Salomons and has had the opportunity to play in masterclasses with reknowned artists such as David Tanenbaum, Roland Dyens, Benjamin Verdery, Adam Holzman, Judcael Perroy and Carlos Barbosa-Lima. Michael was the recipient of the first prize at the 2008 Northwest Guitar Festival.

Janet Grohovac
Janet Grohovac began her music studies at the age of 5 in Victoria, BC. Following extensive training in piano, musicianship and theory, she began guitar lessons at the age of 15. Shortly after enrolling at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Janet played her first guitar competition at age 16 winning top prize in the youth division of the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival. In 2007, Janet graduated from the University of Victoria obtaining a Bachelor of Music with distinction studying under Dr. Alexander Dunn. In May 2009, Janet received her Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin where she studied with Adam Holzman. Janet enjoys attending music festivals throughout North America and has played in masterclasses for world-renowned artists such as Pepe Romero, Roland Dyens, Scott Tennant and Eliot Fisk. Most recently, Janet received first prize in the 2009 Northwest Guitar Competition. This year, Janet has returned to Austin to begin her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Texas.

Douglas Hensley

Douglas has also worked with ensembles such as Aventa, Ensemble Laude, Victoria Philharmonic Choir, Victoria Children’s Choir, CapriCCio, Anima, Les Violes de Ste Colombe, and the Civic Orchestra of Victoria, and he has appeared in faculty recitals at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and UVic. In California, he performed with numerous ensembles as well as the Symphony Orchestras of San Francisco, Berkeley and Marin. He co-founded and co-directed the contemporary music ensemble ISKRA with conductor Kent Nagano. Mr Hensley has significantly enriched the guitar’s repertoire by commissioning and premiering over 50 works by composers from many different countries, including Jean Coulthard and Murray Adaskin (Canada), Henk Badings (Holland), Hans Holewa and Rolf Martinsson (Sweden), Rudolf Kelterborn (Switzerland), Larry Polansky and David Loeb (USA), Byung Dong Paik and Hyo-shin Na (Korea), Reza Vali (Iran), Junko Mori (Japan), György Geszler (Hungary), etc. He has recorded, on several labels, a wide variety of pieces for classical and electric guitars, lutes, viola da pendola, oud, and setâr. He has studied classical Persian music with several Iranian masters in California and Paris, including Mohammad Rezâ Lotfi, Dâriush Talâ’i, Rez Ghâsemi and Mahvash Guerâmi.

Stephen Lochbaum
Classical guitarist Stephen Lochbaum began his musical studies with rock and roll and the blues when he was twelve years old. Over the years he explored every genre that came his way: jazz, blues, heavy metal, folk, county and flamenco. Stephen then attended Kwantlen University College in Langley where he began studying classical guitar with Dr. Bruce Clausen. He went on to earn his Bachelors and Masters degrees at the University of Victoria. His guitar studies were with Dr. Alexander Dunn. Stephen has had the opportunity to perform with Pepe and study with him in masterclasses. He performed Dr. Dunn’s newly discovered Beethoven arrangements for two guitars in Festivals and recitals in Montreal, Calgary, Tofino, and Victoria. He placed third in the 2005 Northwest Guitar Competition, and later won the 2005 Canadian National Festival classical guitar section. In 2005, Stephen began teaching at the Victoria Conservatory of Music where he stayed for 2 years. Soon after he played with the Vancouver Cantata Singers, which was to be his first radio broadcast on CBC radio 2. In 2006, Stephen began playing classical concertos, pop arrangements, and original compositions in nightclub settings around Vancouver hoping to bring this music to new audiences. Currently, Stephen is preparing for international competitions as well as maintaining a rigorous jazz and classical performance schedule.

Adrian Verdejo
Adrian Verdejo began his musical training on piano and guitar at the age of eight. He studied with Raymond Bell and Michael Holzer at the Regina Conservatory of Music. He has played electric guitar with several bands. He studied with Stephen Boswell at Capilano College and in 2004 he earned his Bachelor of Music (distinction) at the University of Victoria studying under Dr. Alexander Dunn. In 2007 he received his Master of Music from the University of Ottawa studying with Patrick Roux. he has won top prizes in music festivals and competitions and performs regularly in a variety of settings. Mr. Verdejo is a faculty guitar instructor at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Bradford Werner
AVCM (Performance/Teaching); Diploma (Camosun); Artistic Director – VCM Summer Guitar Academy 2008-2010; Examiner and instructional faculty member at the Victoria Conservatory of Music. Originally from Nelson, British Columbia, Brad now resides in beautiful Victoria where he teaches and works as a freelance musician. Primary guitar studies with Dr. Alexander Dunn at the Victoria Conservatory of Music and previous studies in various disciplines with Stephen Boswell, Wes Wraggett, Stephen Brown, and Murray Visscher. In 2009 he was a finalist in the Northwest Guitar Festival Competition. Brad is currently working with Adrian Verdejo and Michael Dias as a member of the Victoria Guitar Trio and Quelus Guitar Duo premiering new works with a focus on Canadian content.

Santa Cruz OM/PW $3150.00

This steel string acoustic instrument is in immaculate condition. The PW (pre-war) version is perfect for the aficionado that loves the OM’s versatility and ergonomics though prefers additional bass for traditional picking styles and impressive rhythm work.

Complete specifications and a description are available at http://www.santacruzguitar.com/instruments/om_ooo/ompw_model/ompw_model.html

Contact:
Don Evans
dkevans@shaw.ca
250-592-2777