Summer Guitar Workshop @ ECU: Faculty Artists

Applauded by critics and audiences for his unique blend of powerful virtuosity, beautiful tone, and natural musicianship, workshop director Elliot Frank has appeared as solo recitalist, chamber player, and as concerto soloist throughout the Americas and Europe. He is a frequent guest performer and teacher at guitar festivals throughout the Americas. Recent highlights include performances at the 2006 Guitar Foundation of America Festival, the Classical Minds Guitar Institute at the Texas Music Festival, the Alexandria Guitar Festival, Piccolo Spoleto, the Festival Lachine in Montreal, Canada, at the Southwest Guitar Festival in San Antonio, and in the Dominican Republic. ACA Digital Recordings recently released his first compact disc, South American Guitar Music, which has been praised as being “eloquent” and “delightful.” He has also appeared in solo recitals for the Memphis Classical Guitar Society, the Dallas Guitar Society, the Piedmont Guitar Society, the Richmond Classic Guitar Society, and Guitar Houston. An aficionado of guitar music of Hispanic cultures, he has performed lecture/recitals pertaining to the music of Antonio Lauro for the Guitar Foundation of America at international festivals in Pasadena and New Orleans. He has also performed for the Tallahassee Guitar Society, the Tampa Classical Guitar Festival, the North Carolina Bach Festival, the Appalachian Guitar Fest, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, and the East Carolina University Summer Guitar Festival. Elliot has commissioned and performed works for guitar including an important new sonata by Andrew Zohn, E Sonata, which was premiered in 2004 at the New Music at ECU Festival. Most recently, He was selected to give the inaugural performance at the inaugural Sauble Beach Festival of the Classic Guitar in Sauble Beach, Ontario.

Elliot Frank was selected to initiate the guitar studies program for East Carolina University and is currently teaching there in addition to maintaining an active concert schedule. His students have earned awards on state, regional, national and international levels, including national first prize of the Music Teacher's National Association Wurlitzer Young Artist Competition. When he is not practicing, performing or teaching Elliot is a dedicated runner who recently completed his first marathon.

Jason Vieaux is expanding the definition of “Classical Guitarist” and changing the face of guitar programming, building a solid audience and fan base along the way. As a result of his growing reputation for making “the single guitar seem like a body of instruments at work…an orchestra of sound…” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Mr. Vieaux’s 2007 – 2008 season contains over 50 dates internationally. Highlights include the world premiere of a guitar concerto by renowned composer Jerod Tate with the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis, a Florida Orchestra debut, a “Carte Blanche” Series spot for the Music@Menlo Festival, and solo recitals in Los Angeles, Seattle, Denver, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Cincinnati and Cleveland.

Jason Vieaux has eight recordings to his credit and many more to come with his multi-record deal with Azica Records. His latest release, Images of Metheny, is a disc of music by American Jazz guitarist/composer Pat Metheny. Metheny, after listening to this landmark recording, declared: "I am flattered to be included in Jason's musical world. And I am honored that a musician of his stature has directed his considerable talents to manifest such beautiful and true renditions of these pieces in such a personal way." Sevilla: The Music of Isaac Albeniz, was rated one of the Top Ten Classical CDs of 2003 by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Cleveland’s Plain Dealer. Mr. Vieaux recorded his first CD when he was just 19; two years later this was followed by Laureate Series Guitar Recital on Naxos, which went on to sell over 40,000 copies internationally. Vieaux also has two duo CDs with flutist Gary Schocker, Dream Travels and Arioso. Mr. Vieaux's recordings and live performances are heard nationally on the radio and worldwide via the Internet, and he is regularly broadcast via NPR, on such top-rated programs as "Performance Today", "All Things Considered" and "Morning Edition". A solo CD of Bach lute works is scheduled for a December 2007 release.

Jason Vieaux began guitar studies at age eight with Jeremy Sparks in Buffalo, New York, and continued study at The Cleveland Institute of Music with John Holmquist. He is the youngest First Prize winner in the history of the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America International Competition, a Naumburg International Guitar Competition prizewinner, and a recipient of The Cleveland Institute of Music's Alumni Achievement Award. In 1995, Mr. Vieaux was honored as an Artistic Ambassador of the United States to Southeast Asia, concertizing in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Myanmar (Burma). He has also toured Europe, Mexico, Canada, the Far East, Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Vieaux is a regularly featured guest with orchestras across the United States. He has performed as concerto soloist with the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Pops, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the Auckland Philharmonia, Santa Fe Symphony and San Diego Symphony, working with such conductors as Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Luis Biava, Jahja Ling, Rossen Milanov, Stefan Sanderling, Alasdair Neale, Steven Smith and Carl Topilow. As a passionate advocate of new music, Vieaux has premièred new pieces by José Luis Merlin, Eric Sessler, Arthur Hernandez, Gary Schocker and Fazil Say, and plays works by Allen Krantz, Mario Davidovsky, Augusta Read-Thomas, Roberto Sierra and John Corigliano.

Aside from his duties as a performer, Mr. Vieaux is highly dedicated to the art of teaching. He currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is Head of the Cleveland Institute of Music Guitar Department, making him the youngest Department Head to serve at the prestigious conservatory. He is also affiliated with Philadelphia-based Astral Artistic Services.

Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli (of SoloDuo) met in Texas, far away from their native Italy, in Autumn 2000. Since then, they have shared a number of ideas, musical projects, and travels all over the world. In 2002, with violinist Ivan Rabaglia and cellist Enrico Bronzi, they created a chamber music group devoted to 19th century repertoire. A year later they formed a duo that has already performed throughout Europe and North America, and has been acclaimed everywhere as one of the best ensembles ever heard. About one of their performances, The Washington Post wrote: 'extraordinarily sensitive, with effortless command and an almost unbearable delicacy of touch, the duo's playing was nothing less than rapturous - profound and unforgettable musicianship of the highest order.'In addition to classic, romantic and modern repertoire, Matteo and Lorenzo - joined by lutenist Massimo Lonardi - enjoy exploring the early literature for baroque guitar and theorbo. Together, Matteo and Lorenzo have recorded François de Fossa's Three Quartets, op. 19 (Stradivarius), a CD of Italian Music from the XVII Century for baroque guitar, archlute and theorbo (Stradivarius, forthcoming), an anthology of 20th Century Masterpieces for two guitars (Pomegranate), the Duos Concertants by Antoine De Lhoyer (Naxos) as well as a dozen solo recordings on the labels Naxos, Brilliant Records, Kookaburra, Mel Bay, and Stradivarius.

Matteo Mela was born in Imperia in 1971. A student of Renzo Doria Miglietta in his hometown, he moved to Cremona to pursue his studies of musicology at the University. In Cremona he met Giovanni Puddu, who played a major role in his musical education; at the same time, he had the chance to attend the classes of Angelo Gilardino, Alirio Diaz, Oscar Ghiglia, David Russell, the Assad brothers. Moreover, he studied chamber music at the Accademia Pianistica di Imola with Dario De Rosa, Alexander Lonquich, and Pier Narciso Masi.

As a member of the Mela-Bandini duo Matteo won - between 1991 and 1998 - the first prize in several prestigious chamber music competitions, such as the Aram (Rome) 1992, the F. Cilea Competition in 1993, the GMI in 1994, the Città di Gubbio, Città di Caltanissetta and Perugia Classico Competitions in 1995. Recently he has been enjoying regular collaboration with Lorenzo Micheli in a number of projects.

Matteo also regularly gives recitals and makes tv and radio appearances across Europe and North America (recent engagements have included performances in Rome, Milan, Bologna, Turin, Naples, Paris, Hamburg, Cologne, Warsaw, Oslo, Cincinnati, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston). A teacher at the Conservatorio di Musica “A.Scontrino” in Trapani, at the Accademia di Perfezionamento “G. Caccini” in Montopoli Val d’Arno and at the Accademia Musicale Tema in Milan, Matteo has released a CD of Latin American Dances (Quadrivium, with G. Bandini) and the solo CD Italian virtuosos of the nineteenth century (Kookaburra), as well as the Three Quartets, op. 19, by french composer François de Fossa (CD Stradivarius). His forthcoming new CD features Astor Piazzolla's complete guitar music, with Ivan Rabaglia (violin), Lorenzo Micheli (guitar), Per Arne Glorvigen (bandoneon) and the Piazzolla String Ensemble.

Hailed by the musical critics as "virtuoso extraordinaire" (Nice Matin, France), "absolutely astonishing" (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, USA), "prodigious talent" (Sounboard, USA), "the prince of the guitar" (Suonare, Italy), Lorenzo Micheli is today one of the most important and active Italian guitarists in the world. A student of Paola Coppi in Milan, Frédéric Zigante in Lausanne and Oscar Ghiglia in Siena and Basel, he graduated with full marks from both the Conservatory of Trieste and the Musik-Akademie of Basel.

Since winning the first prize in some of the most important guitar competitions in the world (Gargnano, 1996; Alessandria, 1997; ARAM, Rome 1999; Mauro Giuliani, 1999; Guitar Foundation of America, 1999), Lorenzo Micheli has taken up a busy concert career throughout the world, performing regularly - both as a soloist and with orchestra - in many European countries (Italy, Switzerland, Greece, Finland, Spain, Austria, Ireland, Germany, the UK, France, Croatia, Turkey, Poland, Slovenia) and all over the US and Canada, as well as in Africa and Latin America. He gives masterclasses at universities and music festivals throughout North America and Europe, and he has made recordings for radio and TV in three continents. His several recordings, reflecting his leaning towards works written originally for the guitar, include the music of Dionisio Aguado (Stradivarius), a selection of guitar works by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Naxos), the Three Quartets, op. 19, by the french composer François de Fossa with Matteo Mela and the members of the Parma String Trio (Stradivarius), the complete works for solo guitar by Miguel Llobet (Naxos), as well as the live video In concert - Live at Texas Tech University (Mel Bay) and the complete recording of the concertos for guitar and orchestra by Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco (Brilliant).

Guitarist/composer Andrew Zohn has been hailed as "one of the finest guitarists of his generation" by Anthony Morris, host of the nationally-syndicated radio program Guitar Alive. His ability on the instrument has earned prizes in five national and international competitions including the Guitar Foundation of America and the Stotsenberg International. In addition to concertizing throughout North America and in Europe as a soloist, Andrew Zohn has been active as a chamber musician and orchestral soloist. Recent performances include venues in New York City, Boston, Cincinnati, Toronto, and Ottawa.

Andrew Zohn holds a doctorate of music degree from Florida State University, a master of music from the University of Texas, and a bachelor’s degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Since 1999, Zohn has served on the faculty of Columbus State University, where he founded and directs the annual CSU Guitar Symposium and Competition. He also currently serves on the faculty of the Guitar on the Mediterranean Festival in Cervo, Italy, and the Guitare Lachine festival in Canada, each summer. Dr. Zohn is a frequently invited guest artist, lecturer, and clinician at music festivals, seminars, and universities throughout North America. Students of Andrew Zohn have won prizes in international competitions, and have been featured on the American national radio program From the Top.

Beginning a career in composing in 1998, Zohn has already received commissions for new works from, among others, La Flame Records, Canada, the Campbell University Foundation for the Arts, and the East Carolina New Music Festival. In 2004 and 2005, Zohn was selected as a recipient of a Plus Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) in recognition of his compositions. Original compositions and transcriptions by Andrew Zohn are published through Les Productions d’Oz, Canada, Tuscany publications (Theodore Presser), and FJH Publications. His latest recording, Music of Piazzolla, Debussy, Gershwin, and Zohn, is now available through Centaur Records.

The American guitarist Douglas James has appeared as a classical guitarist throughout the United States as well as in Europe and Mexico. Soundboard magazine has noted his performances to be filled with "appealing intensity and obvious enthusiasm." The Arizona Daily Star described his Bach as "warm and ornate" and his Spanish pieces "downright sexy." A noted proponent of period instrument performance, Dr. James uses 19th century guitars when playing music of the Classical and Romantic periods. In 1992 he was the top prize winner in the Arturo Toscanini Solo Guitar Competition (Italy). He has twice been awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowship and has received touring grants from Arts International and several state arts commissions.

Always an active performer, James' recent concert schedule has included engagements at the Oberlin Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, the Cleveland Institute of Music, numerous American guitar societies, Piccolo Spoleto, and the Stetson International Guitar Workshop. Dr. James has served in the Artists-in-Residence program of the State of North Carolina, and as a touring artist for the Southern Arts Federation and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He frequently serves as a judge for important guitar competitions, including such events as the Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Guitar Competition and the GOLD Competition at Oberlin Conservatory. As a radio recitalist, James has been featured on National Public Radio's Performance Today, as well as special broadcasts on the major classical stations of Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. His critically acclaimed CD of Italian Romantic solo guitar music performed on period guitars was recently followed by the release of a duo CD with Italian guitarist Pasquale Rucco, Early Romantic Music for Two Guitars. Both discs are on the Cala Vista label. Douglas James holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona, where he studied guitar with Thomas Patterson. Dr. James is currently Director of Guitar Studies and Appalachian Guitar Fest at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Valerie Hartzell began her classical guitar studies on a half-size Ramirez at the age of three. At the age of six, she studied with maestro Alexandre Lagoya at the Académie Internationale d’Eté in Nice, France. She has participated in master classes with several internationally acclaimed artists, including Ako Ito, Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, David Russell, Benjamin Verdery, Antigoni Goni and Elena Papandreou.

In 1991, Ms. Hartzell made her debut performing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Concerto for guitar and orchestra” with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Texas. She made her international debut in San Mamete, Italy at the Festival del Piccolo Mondo in August 1994. She has performed in Europe, Canada, the U.S. and has appeared on television in Nice, FR. From September 29-October 5, 2002 she toured the Carolinas including Saluda, NC, Wofford College, SC, Appalachian State University, NC and Elon University, NC. She also performed at East Carolina University in January of 2003. Her tour promoted her first cd, Fuoco!

She has performed in many festivals, including the Montgomery College Guitar Festival, 'Close Encounters' Voice and Guitar Festival at University of Houston (where she performed and co-directed the festival along the side of Katherine Ciesinski), the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition in Mesquite, and the first Classical Guitar Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of Texas in Frisco. In March of 2007, Ms. Hartzell performed with studio members of the Houston Grand Opera at the Rienzi Recital Series.

In August 2003, Ms. Hartzell was the first performer to win the “K-Artist of the Month Contest” sponsored by Houston’s former classical station, KRTS, 92.1FM. Additionally, she was a prizewinner at the Portland Guitar Competition, the East Carolina University Competition and Festival, and the Appalachian Guitar Festival and Competition. She has won 1st prizes at the 10th International Guitar Competition “Simone Salmaso” in Viareggio, Italy and at the Concours de Guitare Classique Heitor Villa-Lobos in Nice, France.

At the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Hartzell was awarded the highest undergraduate scholarship for the classical guitar and studied with Manuel Barrueco earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1997. She was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at Radford University with Robert Trent and was placed as Adjunct Faculty while studying for her Master’s Degree in Music. She received her performance degree in May of 1999 and currently, she is a Professional Teacher at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is Adjunct Faculty at the Houston Community College.

Valerie is currently pursuing an active solo career, works in a professional duo with soprano Sandra Johnson, as Duo Athena, and frequently is a judge at international competitions throughout the United States (St. Joseph International Competition, Texas Guitar Competition, East Carolina University International Competition, and the Eastfield Guitar Competition). Many of her private students have placed and won national and international competitions. Also, her private students have been accepted on scholarship to Schwob School of Music (University of Columbus), San Francisco Conservatory, University of North Texas in Denton, and Texas State University at San Marcos.

Valerie Hartzell is the creator and director of the "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival at Moores School of Music, University of Houston.

Joseph Ikner (teacher-trainer) directs the guitar program at Mercer Middle School in Loudoun County, Virginia. Loudoun County Public Schools is a highly progressive district with a fully supported guitar program in every middle and high school, and Joseph has been a pivotal figure in the advancement of this growing program. In addition to educating 200 very bright middle school guitar students yearly, he serves as a mentor teacher and is active in curriculum development and the recruitment of a highly talented guitar faculty. In 2007, Joseph was honored as a Founding Teacher of the National Music Certificate Program for his efforts in establishing a national standard for developing musicians in the United States. Joseph Ikner has also served as curriculum consultant and teacher trainer for The Lehigh Valley School for the Performing Arts in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and is regularly sought to conduct master classes for high schools and universities

Still an active solo and chamber musician, Joseph Ikner is frequently invited to perform at university campuses, music festivals and for a variety of audiences. His debut recording, Premiere, has been well received and is available on itunes.com and CDBaby.com. Joseph has directed guitar studies at Campbell University and served on the faculties of Shenandoah Conservatory and Barton College. He has completed studies toward a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Guitar Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory and holds a MM and BM, magna cum laude, in Guitar Performance from East Carolina University. Joseph Ikner has been a faculty member of the ECU Summer Guitar Workshop since it’s inception in 1996.

Classical guitarist Mary Akerman has performed to critical acclaim throughout the United States and abroad. Reviews have stated that--"From the first note, Mary drew the audience to her . . . She sculpts the attack and finish of each note with the precision of a fine pianist . . . Mary Akerman is a natural."-Soundboard Magazine. "A beautiful warm tone, delicate phrasing, and true musicianship marked her playing."-Guitarra Magazine. “Her technique was excellent and she played with great depth of feeling. Throughout the concert she managed to make it all seem effortless, the sign of a true artist.”-Charleston Post-Courier.

Mary Akerman performed at the 2000 Guitar Foundation of America Festival and is currently on the advisory board of that organization. She has given concerts and masterclasses at the Festival de Guitarra Paracho in Paracho, Mexico, the Festival Internacional de Guitarra del Noreste in Saltillo, Mexico, the Southwestern Guitar Festival in San Antonio, Texas and at the ECU Summer Music Workshop in Greenville, North Carolina. In addition to giving solo concerts throughout the US and internationally, she has performed with the Atlanta Symphony,recorded with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Festival Singers, and has played on National Public Radio's "In Performance Today" program.

Mary Akerman is a first prize winner in the Guitar Foundation of America Competition and the Casa de Espana of Puerto Rico Competition. She was also awarded the bronze medal in the Concours International Radio France. Her educational credits include Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the University of Georgia and Doctoral studies in performance at Florida State University. In 1986 she had the honor of being selected to perform in the Master Class of Andres Segovia. A resident of Atlanta Georgia, she teaches classical guitar at Kennesaw State University.

Known for the depth and precision in his playing, guitarist Patrick Lui has established himself as both a notable performer and a gifted teacher. Prize winner of several competitions, including the first Hong Kong Guitar Competition, the Yamaha Guitar Competition, and the Hong Kong, Macau, and Canton Invitational Guitar Competition, a finalist in the East Carolina Guitar Festival, and a semi-finalist in the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, his performances have been heard in the United States, Canada, Japan, and China. He has performed as a recitalist, a soloist with orchestras, and as an ensemble player.

Patrick Lui holds degrees from North Carolina School of the Arts, Arizona State University, and has attended the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has studied with such teachers as Wilson Yuen, Susan McKethan, Larry Almeida, Aaron Shearer, and Frank Koonce. He has also worked in master classes with Gerald Garcia, Roberto Assuel, Robert Guthrie, Pepe Romero, and Manuel Burreco.

Patrick Lui has taught at Arizona State University, Salem College, Catawba College, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Forsyth Technical Community College. He currently teaches at the Weaver Academy for Performance and Visual Arts. Since 1995, Lui has dedicated himself to the education of young guitarists. One of his student was recently featured on the NPR and PBS Television Show 'From the Top.” His students have won over 50 prizes in the Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, the East Carolina Guitar Competition, South Carolina Guitar Competition, the Appalachian Guitar Festival, the Greensboro Music Academy Guitar Competition, America String Teachers Association Guitar Competition and most recently, the Guitar Foundation of America Competition.

Acclaimed by the Classical Voice of North Carolina as having an "Elegant and effortless" playing style, Austin Moorhead is a well established Classical Guitarist currently based in New Haven, Connecticut. He received his Bachelor’s in Guitar performance at Arizona State University while studying with Frank Koonce, and is currently pursuing his Master’s of Music in 2007 at Yale University studying with Ben Verdery on a full scholarship. Most recently, he received third prize in the prestigious 2007 Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition in Los Angeles. He has also received first prize in several other well known National and International Guitar competitions, including the 2006 Music Academy of North Carolina Guitar Competition, the 2006 Eastfield College Guitar Competition in Dallas, and the 2007 American String Teachers Association competition. He is an active performer and teacher.

Born in 1985, Robert Sharpe is establishing himself as one of America'soutstanding young guitarists. He began formal study of the classical guitarwith Dr. Andrew Zohn in 2000. Since his national radio debut on NPR'sacclaimed program From the Top, Sharpe has received many awards and honors including first prize in the 2006 East Carolina University Guitar Competition, second prize in the 2006 Music Academy of North Carolina Guitar Competition, third prize in the 2006 St. Joseph International Guitar Competition, fourth prize in the 2004 Guitare Lachine International Guitar Competition, Robert has performed as a soloist in concerts in the United States andItaly, and has performed as a concerto soloist with the Albany Youth Symphony. He has performed in masterclass with such acclaimed artists as The Assad Brothers Duo, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, David Russell, David Tanenbaum, Jorge Morel, and Paul Galbraith. He was named a Golden Herald Award winner for 2004, and was awarded the Woodruff Award Scholarship for Columbus State University.