Annual Guitar Festival

Martha Masters

Saturday, February 22, 2020 | 8 p.m.
Murphy Recital Hall
Free and open to the community

Martha Masters's first CD, Serenade, is now in its second printing, and her Naxos recital disc sold over 10,000 copies worldwide in the first year of its release. Her recording of Italian music was released in 2006 on the GSP label, and a recording of early 20th Century Spanish music was released on GSP in 2009. Masters has published books with Mel Bay and Alfred, and has received critical acclaim as an author and pedagogue.

In October of 2000 Martha Masters won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Solo Competition, including a recording contract with Naxos, a concert video with Mel Bay, and an extensive North American concert tour. In November of 2000, she also won the Andrés Segovia International Guitar Competition in Linares, Spain and was a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland. Prior to 2000, Masters was a prizewinner or finalist in numerous other international competitions, including the 1999 International Guitar Competition "Paco Santiago Marín" in Granada, Spain, the 1998 Tokyo International Guitar Competition and the 1997 GFA International Solo Competition.

In addition to being on the guitar faculty of California State University Fullerton and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Masters is also the President of the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA), dedicated to supporting the instrument, its players and its music in the US and throughout the world.

Masters received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant.

The 16th Annual LMU Guitar Festival

** Due to concerns for the challenging global health situation linked with the Coronavirus, this event has been postponed until further notice. Contact lmumusic@lmu.edu with questions or concerns. **

March 27 & 28, 2020
All concerts will be held in Murphy Recital Hall
Vendor's and Luthier's Fair 9am-5pm, Saturday, March 28

Individual Concert Tickets

$25 general admission, $15 students with ID
Purchase tickets through the Central Ticket Agency.

Festival Passes

$65 general admission, $45 students with ID
Purchase tickets through the Central Ticket Agency.

This year the LMU Guitar Festival is pleased to feature the Crazy Nails, Adam del Monte, and Jérémy Jouve.

Crazy Nails! - Gaëlle Solal and Boris Gaquere

Friday, March 27, 2020 | 8 p.m.
Murphy Recital Hall

After establishing themselves in the world of classical music for years, two musicians decide to take their courage in both hands and to think outside the boxes. Their goal is to breath new life into music of the past and present and to rediscover the pleasure of making music. Beginning as a normal concert, Crazy Nails! will invite you step by step into a playful, zany show full of surprises and a fantastic travel through all genres of music and all kinds of emotions and craziness.

Guitarist of extraordinary passion and virtuosity, Gaëlle Solal was born in Marseilles (France) and began the guitar at age 6 with René Bartoli. At 14, she won three gold medals at the Conservatoire de Marseilles and was awarded the Prix de la Ville de Marseille. She studied then with Roland Dyens, Oscar Ghiglia, Alvaro Pierriamong others great masters.

A winner of the 1st Prize at Alessandria Competition, 1st Prize in Locquémeau, 1st Prize in Savona, 1st Prize in Sernancehle, Finalist at Concert Artists Guild NY and 2nd Prize at Guitar Foundation of America, Gaëlle has performed in more than 40 countries. She has performed in major festivals: Festival d'Ile de France, Avignon, and Montpellier-Radio France as well as prestigious halls: Salle Cortot, Zellerbach Hall, Tsuda Hall, Nikkei Hall, and Merkin Hall. She has presented concertos with the Berkeley Symphony, the Garde Républicaine and the Philharmonic Turin Orchestra. Upcoming recitals include GFA's convention as well as a tour in Canada and her debut with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.

She recorded two CDs: Maestri della Chitarra and Chaconnes & Passacailles. Her new project "Crazy Nails!" is a different concert with Boris Gaquere bringing the audience across borders. Gaëlle plays with Savarez strings. (For more information please visit www.gaelle-solal.com) Exclusive North America representation by Aranjuez Artists. Inc. (visit www.AranjuezArtists.com)

Boris Gaquere has studied with Sérgio and Odair Assad. Boris followed master-classes with Leo Brouwer, Roland Dyens, David Russell, Roberto Aussel, Costas Cotsiolis and Paulo Bellinati in the course of his studies. Boris' compositions are currently published by Les Productions d'Oz (Canada), GSP (California, USA) and Editions Lemoine (Paris, France). Columbia Music Entertainment, Ltd. Japan, commissioned Boris to compose Tabi, as recorded and performed by Shin-ichi Fukuda in 2003. Other Japanese guitarists have recorded Boris' music: Yasuji Ohagiand Tomonori Arai. Boris Gaquere pursues an international career with concerts in all major cities of Europe. He regularly performs both in North and South America as well as Taiwan and Japan. Boris regularly appears in numerous radio and television shows.

Xeque-Mate Boris' first solo album for VGo Recordings was recorded in San Francisco in 2003. Boris is privileged to duet with Odair Assad on the album's title track; one of Boris' compositions for this CD. Carpe Diem released with some pride in 2005, is Boris' second album for VGo Recordings. The album focuses on music from the Baroque period. Tempo Feliz, an album recorded with Brazilian master percussionist Renato Martins, is the fruit of his labor, which was released in the course of 2006 with Mogno Music. In 2011, he released an album with the quartet Caçamba, a project of what could be called Brazilian instrumental jazz music. Two years later, Boris' new quartet Comboio recorded a very original album, as the line-up includes an accordion, bandoneon, double bass, percussion, and guitar. The tracks of this CD were arranged by the members of the band (Gismonti, Pascoal, Mays, Gubitsch, Guinga). In 2013, he was commissioned to compose a double concerto for accordion, guitar and string orchestra for the 20th anniversary of the Rencontres Guitare et Patrimoine en Ardenne (Sedan Guitar Festival, France). (For more information please visit www.borisgaquere.com). With the support of Savarez Strings, Guitares Jean-Luc Joie, Pianofabriek, BAMP, Pocopoc and Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.

Adam del Monte

Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 3 p.m.
Murphy Recital Hall

One of the leading flamenco and classical guitarist/composers of his generation, Adam del Monte has made it his life mission to fully express himself in these two genres, transcending labeling and convention. Always having incorporated a wide array of musical styles in his compositions, del Monte has embarked on a journey of creating a unique sound and language of flamenco that is both steeped in tradition and progressive in its openness to musical flavors from around the world.

Del Monte has recorded for Deutsche Gramophone – the featured flamenco guitar part in the double Grammy award winning opera "Ainadamar" by Osvaldo Golijov (2006), with soprano Dawn Upshaw and the Atlanta Symphony, conducted by Robert Spano. Since then he has toured this opera in, Carnegie Hall, NY, Lincoln Center, NY, Barbican Center, London, Colorado Music Festival, in Boulder, Chicago Symphony and many more.

Del Monte has recently composed his second flamenco guitar concerto, "Paisajes", which was debuted and commissioned by the St. Monica Symphony. He has since performed it with the Moscow State Symphony in Tchaikovsky Hall and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra, in Caracas, Venezuela.

He has also recorded "Avner's Theme" by film composer John Williams for the sound track CD of the motion picture " Munich" by Steven Spielberg. Other film credits include featured participations in Films such as Knight and Day with Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz and Mr and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, music by John Powell, and Toy Story 3, music by Randy Newman.

Del Monte has also performed with flamenco singer Enrique Morente and the Madrid Symphony Orchestra, as well as with Lole' y Manuel. Del Monte was both influenced by and inspired the younger generation of flamenco performers who were beginning to depart from the previous virtual space of Spanish flamenco. Del Monte, too, set out in new directions, integrating years of traditional and leading –edge flamenco training as well as expanding his musicianship on the classical guitar. An eclectic awareness of jazz, world music and other contemporary forms led to new, creative renditions of flamenco repertoire.

He has been commissioned by the LA Guitar Quartet to compose a 'progressive' flamenco piece entitled 'Cambio de Aire'. He has collaborated with Yusef Lateef and the Atlanta Symphony at the National Black Arts Festival in Atlanta GA. His flamenco debut CD on the Spanish label Sonifolk (1998), entitled: "Viaje a Un Nuevo Mundo" (Journey to a New World) was most favorably reviewed by Spain's most acclaimed flamenco critic Angel Alvarez Caballero as well as Miguel Mora of El Pais an Alfredo Grimaldos of El Mundo.

Other discographies include: A Mel Bay Artist Video Series –a classical and flamenco recital. A GSP classical CD entitled "EZORDIO".In 1998, Adam performed in Spain on the TV program "Algo Mas Que Flamenco" with Lole Montoya. He has composed a flamenco guitar concerto;"Ensueño Flamenco" for guitar & orchestra which he premiered in Boston with the BMOP (Boston Modern Orchestra Project) in Jordan Hall, conducted by Gil Rose. In 1999 he returned to Granada to perform in the oldest "Peña Flamenca" "La Plateria",as well as a tour in Switzerland with singer Curro Fernandez.

In February of 2000 he performed the Concierto de Aranjuez with the LA Philharmonic. In June 2000, he performed at the Hollywood Bowl, once with his flamenco ensemble and once with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and classical Spanish dancer Lola Greco.Adam performed as soloist the Concierto de Aranjuez at Disney Hall several times. He has also performed the "Aranjuez" with the Pacific Symphony with Carl St. Claire. In 2005 del Monte took part in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Chamber Music Series at Disney Hall, performing the "Histoire du Tango" by Astor Piazzolla with violinist Mark Kashper. He was a member of the Falla Guitar Trio from 2007-2012 where he performed extensively all around the US.

In 2008 he has performed his Flamenco Concerto and the Concierto de Aranjuez with the Ranana Symphonet, conducted by Nir Kabaretti. First Prize Winner at the 1997 Stotsenberg International Classical Guitar Competition, del Monte is one of the new generations dynamic force in both flamenco and classical guitar. He studied flamenco & classical guitar in Spain, Israel & England. Beginning with his father, he continued his training with such famed Gypsy performers as Pepe "Habichuela", Paco Cortez, Nino Miguel &Gerardo Nunez. His classical guitar teachers were Menashe Baquiche, Israel and Gordon Crosskey at Chethams School of Music and at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester, England. He has also appeared as both a solo artist and group performer in major venues such as LA's Mark Taper Forum and the Wilshire Theater; the Teatro Real and the Conde Duque in Madrid; Manuel de Falla Auditorium in Granada; New Mexico St Francis Auditorium in Santa Fe; the International Guitar Festival in Israel, GFA in St Louis,'96, La Jolla,'97 and Charleston, 99 GFA, Guitar Festival, the 500th anniversary of Columbus celebrations in Paris & Madrid.

Adam has been on the studio guitar department faculty at USC since 2000, where he teaches flamenco and classical guitar. Del Monte plays a guitar by Erez Perelman.

Jérémy Jouve

Saturday, March 28, 2020 | 5 p.m.
Murphy Recital Hall

An active ambassador of classical guitar around the world, Jérémy Jouve is continuing his international tours and his recordings with one objective: to attune classical guitar with modernity. His musical training, at the Ecole Normale de Musique,then later at the Conservatoire Supérieur de Paris (CNSMDP) where he studied with great masters, among them Alberto Ponce and Roland Dyens, steered him toward a deep love and respect of manuscripts, an unending search for a beautiful sound, and a thorough understanding of the architecture of the pieces he chooses to interpret.

Even with this extraordinary trajectory-conservatory prize at age 13, first European tour at age 16, the only guitarist to be accepted into the advanced study "perfectionnement" course of CNSMDP, and winner of the international guitar competition of the GFA in Mexico at age 24-the artistry of Jérémy Jouve has kept a strong stamp of sincerity.

The GFA in 2003 opened the door to a five month North American tour as well as to a first recording with Naxos, followed by two disks dedicated to the demanding works for solo guitar by Joaquín Rodrigo. Then came a DVD with Melbay of a live concert recorded (2009), and another CD, this time in duo with flute for Reference Recording, which was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2014. These recordings illustrate his strong desire to highlight the rich repertoire of classical guitar. He has undertaken, in fact, an intense work researching manuscripts in order to find the essence of the pieces and the soul of the composers; trying to call attention to both his instrument and the original compositions.

This work brought him the gratitude of Cécilia Rodrigo, daughter of the famed composer, who wrote; "What formidable technique, what poetry in your interpretations! I am extremely thankful for your work. my father, Joaquín Rodrigo, would have been very proud of you."

Jérémy Jouve's most recent album "Cavalcade", the fruit of an inspiring collaboration with composer Mathias Duplessy, marks a new direction in his career. An advocate of the existing repertoire which he hopes to expand and enrich, this time in the domain of contemporary music. The pieces put forth by Jérémy Jouve in this album play a leading role in the creation of new repertoire, a music without borders; mixing flamenco, music of India, and with Ravelian accents. This music is in the image of classical guitar that he hopes to embody: free. Vast like the night and light, the depth and elegance of the play of Jérémy Jouve hopes to lead us toward a limitless horizon where classicism and modernity interplay.