2024 Schedule
Thanks for considering HCGF & Competition!!
Monday June 10, 2024
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Workshop – Etude Composition - Part 1
Prof. Jeremy Garcia and Dr. Jay Kacherski
Unleash your powers to think critically and create something new! Studies are an integral part of any didactic approach to learning an instrument. For guitarists, composers like Sor, Carcassi, and Villa-Lobos, created studies with the purpose of elevating both technique and concepts of musicality. The value of these pieces is evidenced by their longevity and inclusion in the canon of classical guitar repertoire. In this 2-part workshop, students will explore the process that begins with introspection and ends with a unique creation designed to address technical issues and unlock creativity. Professor Jeremy Garcia and Dr. Jay Kacherski will guide the participants in this process and assist when needed. The workshop will conclude with a brief discussion and performance of these new works by their composers.
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
Workshop – Theory Class - Connecting the Dots - Part I
Prof. Eddie Healy
This year we will dive into the fascinating world of 20th Century music! Musical practices began to shift dramatically as we approached the dawn of the 20th century, but did the theoretical practices that pervaded the baroque, classical, and romantic periods just disappear overnight? We’ll be examining the connective tissue between those periods and modern practices as well as addressing some of the most prevalent characteristics that distinguish modern guitar literature from that of the past!
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop – Musical Truths and Observations
Prof. Benjamin Verdery
Over the past 40 years of performing and teaching, there are certain musical truths and observations that have shaped and continue to shape Ben’s life as a musician. He will briefly discuss and demonstrate about 25 of these. His topics range from interpretation, learning new repertoire and practice techniques to thoughts about our lives as caring and dedicated musicians.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (NOTE: Monday thru Thursday)
Festival Guitar Orchestra
Maestro Benjamin Verdery, Conductor and Composer
The Festival Guitar Orchestra will learn a 15-minute work, Scenes from Ellis Island, composed by Benjamin Verdery. Click here to listen! This work will be enhanced by video. You will receive the music ahead of time to start to learn it and Ben will continue to teach it during the week and conduct you at the Saturday night concert.
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Workshop – Theory Class - Connecting the Dots - Part II
Prof. Eddie Healy
This year we will dive into the fascinating world of 20th Century music! Musical practices began to shift dramatically as we approached the dawn of the 20th century, but did the theoretical practices that pervaded the baroque, classical, and romantic periods just disappear overnight? We’ll be examining the connective tissue between those periods and modern practices as well as addressing some of the most prevalent characteristics that distinguish modern guitar literature from that of the past!
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop – Etude Composition, Part II
Prof. Jeremy García and Dr. Jay Kacherski
Every day when someone hears a guitar, what they hear most often are strummed chords, which are the essence of harmony. Vertical aggregates of notes that provide the bed upon which a melody sleeps. While almost all chordophones produce harmony, few people realize that it is the guitar that invented this vertical phenomenon in music. This presentation will document the first notational systems for harmony that come from manuscripts for the guitar in the late 16th Century and are interestingly not far removed from today's pop chord charts.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Festival Guitar Orchestra
Maestro Benjamin Verdery, Conductor and Composer
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Workshop – Harmonizing Success
Prof. Marina Alexandra
Harmonizing Success will equip musicians of all levels and genres with the skills and knowledge to elevate their concert programs, enhance stage presence, and make a difference through outreach concerts. Learn to curate diverse and engaging concert programs in selecting repertoire, sequencing pieces, and creating thematic connections that resonate with your audience. Discover the art of commanding the stage with confidence, charisma, and authenticity. Explore the transformative power of music through outreach concerts.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop – Rasqueado - Musicality by Extension
Prof. Jeremy García
For guitarists, the rasgueado is one of the most important techniques in our arsenal. It is important to understand how different rasgueado solutions may affect the coloring of a phrase and the overall musical expression of a piece. To achieve this, we will delve into the technique and then explore ways to utilize it in actual classical guitar repertoire. Participants will discover methods for making the best musical decisions while considering their own technical proclivities and aesthetic preferences. Participants are encouraged to bring music they are studying for group analysis and implementation.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Guitar Orchestra in Fellowship Hall
Maestro Benjamin Verdery, Conductor and Composer
Thursday, June 13, 2024
1:45 pm – 2:45 pm
Workshop – Exploring Suzuki Guitar
Prof. Andrea Ricci Canon
The Suzuki Method is a renowned teaching method that is taught all around the world. Prof. Andrea Cannon will discuss the main concepts of the method, the career opportunities available for Suzuki teachers, the benefits of being a certified Suzuki guitar instructor, and will share stories of her travels around the world as a Suzuki Ambassador. This workshop is a must for all guitar students planning to teach guitar for a living and for any guitarist that already has a private studio and would like to enhance their teaching and various aspects of their studio such as parent involvement, student retention and building confident and musical performers.
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop –The Art of Phrasing
Prof. Philip Hii
Music exists in space-time as a series of sonic events; it is not the black and white dots we see on a page in a musical score. Just as the screenplay to a movie is not the movie, the musical score is not the music. The art of a movie director is to flesh out the screenplay with emotion and imagination and similarly, the art of the musician is to bring the musical score to life with expression and yes, imagination also. This presentation will focus on how to achieve this in your own playing and do it within standard musical conventions and stylistic boundaries.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Festival Guitar Orchestra
Maestro Benjamin Verdery, Conductor and Composer
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lasagna Dinner & Open-Mic Night
Sign up to play a piece or two as we jam in the Sanctuary Gathering Area. You may play solo, or with a friend or faculty. Enjoy this night of fun and fellowship with a great dinner prepared by Davanti Ristorante.
Friday, June 14, 2024
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Master Class – Dr. Benjamin Verdery
4 Students will play for Dr. Verdery who will then offer suggestions. The audience learns from the critique as the information imparted to the student player benefits everyone.
12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Lunch in the Sanctuary Gathering Area
Courtesy of The Avalon Diner. Chicken Tenders or Beans & Rice, Salad, Ice Cream.
12:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Vendor Showcase
Participating Vendors will talk about some of their instruments.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Etude Performances
Jay Kacherski & Jeremy García
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Concert - St. Philip Sanctuary
Philip Hii
String Time Duo
Saturday, June 15, 2024
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Master Classes - Philip Hii & Marina Alexandra
4 Students will play in each of these two simultaneous classes and receive suggestions The audience learns from the critique as the information imparted to the student player benefits everyone.
1:45 pm – 3:30 pm
Festival Guitar Orchestra — Dress Rehearsal
Maestro Benjamin Verdery, Conductor and Composer
6:30 pm
Arrival of Guitar Orchestra
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Concert – St. Philip Sanctuary
Benjamin Verdery
The Festival Guitar Orchestra