Co-Sponsored by New England Conservatory and Northeastern University
Principle Corporate Sponsor: LA BELLA STRINGS

WELCOME!
I am delighted to welcome music lovers, guitarists, aficionados, and all our many friends "known and unknown" (as Andres Segovia liked to say) to the fifth edition of the cross disciplinary, multi - cultural event that we call BOSTON GUITARFEST.

This year's festival will run from June 9 - 13, 2010, and is organized around the theme "AMERICA, AMERICA". Boston GuitarFest V is dedicated to the sacred memory of our own great, late Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who was such a heroic "drum major for righteousness" and also a great friend and supporter of the arts. Among many other things he did in his long and productive life of public service the Senator was also gracious enough to give a letter of support to Boston GuitarFest.

Boston GuitarFest V is fortunate to have the use of Jordan Hall, the jewel in the crown of the New England Conservatory, for a majority of the major events of the Festival.

The Festival is many things at once: a music festival with a stellar array of exciting concerts; a series of seminars and master classes taught by an incomparable faculty; and a meeting place for all those seeking a deeper message, more enduring values and a more genuine human interchange than can often be found in the world of today's "music business".

I am thrilled at the quality and variety of this year's offerings. A quick rundown of the featured evening events ranges from the stellar young German virtuoso, Franz Halasz, to Fareed Haque's "Hindi Hoedown" project; from American legend David Starobin to cross - over talent, Michael Chapdelaine; from Jorge Caballero's stunning Dvorak 9th Symphony to Benjamin Verdery's eloquent American voice; and from my own duo recital with clarinet genius Richard Stoltzman to t the festival's concluding final concert featuring Donnell Patterson leading a Gospel Gala which will celebrate the role of that style in creating the spiritual soul and solace of our country.

As usual we will sponsor two competitions for classical guitar performance, one for adults and one for young people, as well as our annual competition for composition, this year dedicated to any duo chamber music work for guitar using an American theme or themes.

This year we are extremely fortunate to have been able to inaugurate a new student scholarship fund established in memory of the eminent architect, Thomas Hiksdal.

Equally exciting, this year Boston GuitarFest's Student Affairs Director, Zaira Meneses, also starts her new initiative "Guitar and Friends", which will present a year round series of concerts, seminars, lectures and other events aimed at raising the awareness of the guitar and its possibilities among the general public. These events which will take place all over the Boston area, and will both lead up to Boston GuitarFest and perpetuate the legacy of the festival.

As always we are profoundly grateful for the leadership sponsorship of the La Bella String company and to our numerous other loyal friends and sponsors who make it all possible.

I hope to meet and greet both our many returning friends from past GuitarFests and to make the acquaintance of many new members of our Boston GuitarFest family.

See you all again soon in Boston!

With warmest regards,
Sincerely yours,
Eliot Fisk
Artistic Director and Founder, Boston GuitarFest

Download the Presskit!

Edward Kennedy
This year's festival will be dedicated to the memory of Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)

Deval Patrick
Massachusetts Governor

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.