Co-Sponsored by New England Conservatory and Northeastern University
Principle Corporate Sponsor: LA BELLA STRINGS
WELCOME!
It is a great pleasure to welcome all our many friends and supporters to the 5th Boston GuitarFest, dedicated to the theme, “America, America”.
Since its in inception in 2006, Boston GuitarFest has been a labor of love for all involved. Countless people have giving unstintingly of their time, energy, and hard earned money to make this dream a reality.
It is all of you: donors, artists, aficionados, and audience members who come together each year to make Boston GuitarFest one of the truly memorable events of the Boston cultural calendar.
This year, in addition to celebrating the musical tradition of our country, we pay tribute to a beloved and greatly missed native son, the late Senator Edward Kennedy, who along with his innumerable achievements for our country and our state, was also a great friend of the arts. Boston GuitarFest V is dedicated to his memory.
Like Boston GuitarFests I - IV, Boston GuitarFest V welcomes artists from all over the world and across the continuum of musical expression: from German virtuoso Franz Halasz to Fareed Haque and his exciting “ Hindi Hoe Down” project, from Peruvian phenom Jorge Caballero to our own marvelous Benjamin Vendery; from David Starobin, legendary hero of the contemporary guitar repertoire, to self invented Huck Finn of the guitar, Michael Chapdelaine. Truly Boston GuitarFest has something for everyone. In addition, I am delighted to welcome my adored colleague, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, who has created with me a wholly new repertoire for our duo recital on June 12. Finally my dear friend, the eminent Donell Patterson, will close our Festival with his Gospel magic, reminding us all of the width and depth of our uniquely American musical soul, forged in the crucible of the joys and sorrows of our common heritage.
Along the way I hope you will also take in our wonderful afternoon concerts, master classes, seminars, and the friendly competitions that fill out the five packed days of the Festival. As always, we welcome your suggestions, comments and participation at all of these events. Our goal is always a festival “of the people, by the people and for the people”.
Let the fun begin!
With warmest regards,
Sincerely yours,
Eliot Fisk
Artistic Director and Founder, Boston GuitarFest
Edward Kennedy This year's festival will be dedicated to the memory of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). Eliot Fisk, Artistic Director of the Boston Guitar Festival, describes Senator Kennedy as “heroic "drum major for righteousness and also a great friend and supporter of the arts.” This year’s festival includes a new piece dedicated to Kennedy’s memory, and the theme of the whole festival is, appropriately, “America, America.”
Seminar
Thursday, June 10 - 2pm, Pierce Hall (NEC) Anita Walker, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Cultural Council, will speak on the topic “Senator Edward Kennedy and Support for the Arts” as part of this year's Boston GuitarFest. This year’s Boston GuitarFest is dedicated to the memory of the late Massachusetts senator, who was a noted champion of the arts. The event is free and open to the public.
On behalf of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I am delighted the New England Conservatory and Northeastern University are hosting this year's Boston GuitarFest. We have a wealth of musical talent here in the Bay State. Professional and amateur guitarists alike from around New England will share in their love of music and celebrate this year's theme of "America, America." From the country music of the Appalachians to today's folk music, the guitar has played the soul of America. Music brings people together and I am so proud we hold this festival here in the Bay State.
I thank Eliot Fisk, Artistic Director and Founder of Boston GuitarFest, for continuing this fantastic musical tradition. I am grateful for the role you play enhancing the quality of life in our Commonwealth. Please accept my wishes to both performers and audience members alike for a richly rewarding and fun week.
John Kerry Massachusetts Senator
I am thrilled that New England Conservatory and Artistic Director Eliot Fisk will once again be hosting Boston GuitarFest. This series of performances and workshops highlights both the exceptional musical talent we have right here in Boston and that of guest musicians from all over the world. Boston GuitarFest is a perfect example of music’s ability to traverse geographic, cultural and ethnic boundaries, and as a confirmed amateur guitarist I know it will also be a lot of fun. I encourage musicians and everyone who appreciates their work to become involved in this important cultural celebration, and I thank NEC and Eliot for making Boston GuitarFest a reality.
Barney Frank Massachusetts Representative
I was very pleased to learn of the plans for a fourth Boston GuitarFest following the great success of Boston GuitarFest 2008. Of course, GuitarFest is first and foremost an extraordinarily rewarding musical experience, but it also serves to introduce new people to the New England Conservatory of Music, which is such an important part of our cultural environment in Greater Boston. We recall with pride that Coretta Scott King, was a New England Conservatory alumna and that she shared Boston educational roots with her illustrious husband, Martin Luther King Jr. I welcome Boston GuitarFest as it continues to showcase the cultural advantages of the City of Boston, and to provide us all with the opportunity to hear wonderful music, played at its best.
