BGFest XVIII Programs Young Guitarists Workshop
Fun-for-all! individual and group instructed, performance oppotunities (ages 6 - 15)
The BGFest Young Guitarists Workshop (YGW) provides students ages 6 to 15 the opportunity to participate in classes focused on guitar fundamentals, including improvisation and composition.
YGW 2023 features expert faculty members including Thatcher Harrison (BGFest 2020 First Prize Competition winner) and Alexander Romanov (BM, NEC 2021). We hope to see you this summer!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: JUNE 1ST, 2023
For more information about YGW please contact Ceili Connors: [email protected]
Preliminary Schedule
Wednesday 6/28
4:00 – 4:30 – Registration
4:30 – 5:00 – Meet & Greet
5:00 – 6:00 – Guitar Ensemble
6:00 – 7:00 – Workshop
Thursday 6/29
4:00 – 5:00 – Flamenco Workshop
5:00 – 6:00 – Guitar Ensemble
6:00 – 7:00 – Lessons (Round Robin Masterclasses)
Friday 6/30
4:00 – 5:00 – Guitar Ensemble
5:00 – 6:00 – Workshop
6:00 – 7:00 – Lessons/Workshop
Saturday 7/1
10:00 – 11:00 – Workshop
11:00 – 12:00 – Composition Workshop
12:00 – 12:30 – In class performances
12:30 – 1:30 – Lunch Break
1:30 – 2:30 – Guitar Ensemble
2:30 – 3:30 – Lessons (Round Robin Masterclasses)
Sunday 7/2
10:00 – 11:00: Field Trip
11:00 – 12:30 – Field Trip/Ensemble
12:30- 1:30 – Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 – Closing Performances / Open Mic
2:30 – 3:00 – Dress Rehersal Performances / Open Mic
3:00 – 6:00 – Participant Concert & Closing Reception
Young Guitarists' Workshop Group Classes
The Art of Improvisation
Colombian-born Lautaro Mantilla continues his popular improvisation and Latin rhythm workshops.
Dr. Lautaro Mantilla
Composer / Guitarist
Dr. Lautaro Mantilla
Composer / Guitarist
LAUTARO MANTILLA, DMA is a guitarist, composer, and improviser from Bogota, Colombia. In his performances, he typically combines guitar, extended vocalization techniques, and homebuilt electronics to create music that is both viscerally affecting and conceptually rigorous. Based in Boston, Lautaro is active in the NY and Boston music scenes and is a faculty member of the Contemporary Improvisation department at New England Conservatory.
Lautaro holds a Master's in guitar and improvisation and a Doctorate in Composition both from New England Conservatory in Boston.
Composition
Have you ever wanted to write your own music but did not know where to start? Thatcher Harrison:“We will help students create beautiful music out of thin air.”
Thatcher Harrison
YGW
Is a guitarist and a composer. As a composer, Thatcher Harrison tries to expand the boundaries of classical guitar repertoire through what he calls “classical fusion” composition: pieces based in classical composition and performance techniques, but with influences from other genres such as jazz music, rock music, fingerstyle guitar music, blues music, pop music, film score music, and world music. As a guitarist, Thatcher Harrison chooses to perform unconventional and daring programs, oftentimes consisting primarily of his own compositions. After winning 20 competition prizes, Thatcher Harrison is currently working to establish his career as an international concert artist, with his 2021-2022 season including concerts for Boston Classical Guitar Society, Pleven Guitar Festival, The 21st Century Guitar Conference, Twents Gitaarfestival, Boston Guitarfest, and Domaine Forget International Music Festival. Thatcher Harrison is currently studying for his Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance at New England Conservatory with Eliot Fisk and Jérôme Mouffe.
Practice for Fun
Alex Romanov explores new ways to have fun and stay motivated while practicing effectively
Alexander Romanov
YGW
Alexander Romanov is a guitarist and audio engineer from the Washington D.C. area. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music with a Bachelor of Music degree in Guitar Performance studying with renowned musicians Eliot Fisk and Jerome Mouffe. During 2021, Alexander received accreditation from Berklee College of Music in audio engineering. He is pursuing his Master of Music diploma at the New England Conservatory of Music. Alexander is an active teacher, and maintains a private studio in Boston and online.