2023 Schedule
Thanks for considering HCGF & Competition!!






Description of Events
Monday June 12, 2023
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Workshop – “From Random to Fandom: Working Your Audience”
Kelli Estes
Great concerts aren’t just about the music. Connecting to an audience is the key. You never know who is there. This workshop will offer a snapshot of easy tools to break the ice, invite the audience in and truly curate each performance by making it personal.
1:30 pm – 2:20 pm
Workshop – “Theory Through Time” - Part I
Prof. Eddie Healy
An examination of theoretical and structural characteristics that typify music from different periods. We will focus heavily on music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras and how the musical norms of the Common Practice Era emerged. How do we make our way from Dowland to Bach to Mozart and beyond? Join us to begin to explore those connections.
2:30 pm – 3:50 pm
Workshop – “Cross-String Trills”
Dr. Jay Kacherski
Explore the technique behind one of classical guitar’s most sought-after effects and learn how to incorporate this technique into a variety of music from different eras.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm (NOTE: Monday thru Thursday)
Festival Guitar Orchestra
Prof. Jeremy García, Conductor
The Festival Guitar Orchestra will be joined by the Humble, TX student viol ensemble, Viols of the Creek, and play selections by Vivaldi and Telemann among others. The Orchestra will open the Saturday night concert of Richard Savino with Matthew Dirst and Cecilia Duarte.
Tuesday, June 14, 2023
1:45 pm – 2:35 pm
Workshop – “Theory Through Time” (Part II)
Prof. Eddie Haely
2:45 pm – 4:20 pm
Workshop – "How the Guitar Invented Harmony"
Dr. Richard Savino
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
Guitar Orchestra in Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 14, 2023
1:30 pm – 2:20 pm
Workshop – “Theory Through Time” Class (Part III)
Prof. Eddie Healy
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm
Workshop – "Transcribing Music from Lute to Guitar"
Dr. David Chapman
Get hands on experience of transcribing lute music to the guitar with this practical workshop.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Guitar Orchestra in Fellowship Hall
Thursday, June 15, 2023
1:45 pm – 2:35 pm
Workshop – “Warming up: Building a routine that creates a solid foundation for effortless guitar playing”
Dr. Chad Ibison & Dr. Janet Grahovac
This lecture will include strategies on warming up for your daily practice and how it helps with breaking through technical roadblocks. In addition, we will discuss effective routines on how to prepare for the performance day as well as dealing with performance anxiety.
2:45 pm – 4:20 pm
Workshop – “C.F. Martin and the Birth (?) of the American Guitar”
Dr. Richard Savino
Martin guitars are celebrated worldwide as a classic icon of American “exceptionalism”. Considered to be the quintessential acoustic guitar for pop, folk, blues and country music, Martin guitars are iconic. But the story behind these guitars, and how they came to be, is more complicated than most people’s knowledge of a D-40 dreadnaught made in Nazareth, PA. From 1833 to the time of his death in 1873, Martin continually evolved as a luthier. Savino will describe Martin’s tutelage, building techniques, guitar models and the eventual development of the “American” guitar.
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Guitar Orchestra in Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Lasagna Dinner & Open-Mic Night
Sign up to play a piece or two as we jam in Fellowship Hall. You may play solo, or with a friend or faculty. Enjoy this night of fun and fellowship with a great dinner prepared by Davanti Ristoranti.
Friday, June 16, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Master Class – Dr. Richard Savino
4 Students will play for Dr. Savino 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 Fellowship Hall
Courtesy of The Avalon Diner. Chicken Tenders or Beans & Rice, Salad, Ice Cream.
12:45 pm – 1:45 pm
Vendor Showcase
Participating Vendors will talk about some of their instruments.
1:45 pm – 4:00 pm
“Presentation of Early Music Instruments”
Richard Savino, David Chapman, Pedro Funes
These guest artists will showcase some unusual instruments you rarely get to see: the theorbo, Baroque guitar, romantic guitar, lute, viola da gamba and more. Learn about these unique instruments and hear them played.
7:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Concert - St. Philip Sanctuary
Ibison Guitar Duo
David Chapman
Saturday, June 17, 2023
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Master Classes - Dr. David Chapman and Ibison Guitar Duo
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.
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Festival Orchestra — Dress Rehearsal
Prof. Jeremy García Conductor
The Festival Guitar Orchestra with Viols of the Creek will rehearse the pieces for tonight’s concert as well as stage entrance and exit. Concert attire for rehearsal not required, but attire for the concert is “concert black” (black shirt or blouse, black pants or skirt). The Orchestra opens for Richard Savino with Matthew Dirst, harpsichord and Cecelia Duarte, mezzo-soprano. This an honor to be cherished and your relatives will be proud.
6:15 pm
Arrival of Guitar Orchestra
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Concert – St. Philip Sanctuary
The Festival Guitar Orchestra with Viols of the Creek.
Richard Savino with Matthew Dirst, harpsichord and Cecelia Duarte, mezzo-soprano.
8:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Announcement of Competition Winners