Internationally renowned guitarists Lily Afshar, Aaron Larget-Caplan and Rene Izquierdo will perform at this year's Memphis International Guitar Festival April 4 through April 6 at the Harris Concert Hall in the music building on campus.
The festival, which is hosted by the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and sponsored by the Augustine Foundation, will include master classes, guitar competitions, a student showcase and a concert performance by one of the aforementioned guitarists each night.
Lily Afshar, head of the University of Memphis' guitar program, said she is very excited about this year's festival. She believes it may be the best one yet.
"Memphis is always promoting blues, jazz and rock," she said. "This festival is all classical. It's a great opportunity for people to hear live classical guitar music that they would never hear before otherwise."
John Oeth, one of Afshar's students, is a 23-year-old master's guitar performance major.
"I am thrilled about the festival," he said. "Not only do we get to hear amazing guitarists, we get to learn from them in master classes. Festivals also provide a community for guitarists that are often many miles apart."
The festival will kick off at 9 a.m., April 4 with a guitar competition. Non-professional guitarists of all ages can compete. Afshar, Larget-Caplan and Izquierdo will be the judges. The competition finals will be at 9 a.m., April 6. Participants must register online and pay a $20 fee by March 30. First place winner will receive a $700 award, second place will receive $350 and third place will receive $200.
"This festival will be more successful than the past festivals because of the number of entrants to the competition which is already about nine or 10 people," she said. "We are having more people from out of town this time around so the word is getting around. We have students from Milwaukee, Illinois, Kentucky and Memphis competing. Teachers are sending their students to the festival from out of town and I'm very happy about that."
Between competition days there will be a student showcase April 5 at 10 a.m.
There will also be master classes each day of the festival from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Each of the renowned guitarists will teach a different class. Larget-Caplan will teach the class the first day, Izquierdo will teach April 5 and Afshar will teach a master class the final day. In each master class, students will perform in front of their peers and the teacher and will receive feedback on how they play. Registration for the master classes must be completed online by March 30.
Afshar believes this is a great way for students to learn and get tips on their technique.
"In a master class everyone will be able to learn from the lesson taught to the student who performs," she said. "They can also ask questions and interesting discussions may come up that would benefit all."
Afshar's student, John Oeth will be taking part in one of the master classes as well.
"I will be playing 'Whirler of the Dance' by Carlos Rafael Rivera in a master class with Rene Izquierdo," he said. "The work was dedicated to Mr. Izquierdo, so I am sure he will provide amazing advice."
The nightly concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. each night. Afshar will perform April 4, followed by Larget-Caplan's performance April 5 and Izquierdo will perform the final night. According to Afshar, there will be a variety of pieces performed, including her own "original compositions by Persian and Azerbaijani folk ballads and other performers are playing world premiers from Spain and Japan, as well as some famous classical pieces by well-known composers."
Afshar said her and her students are very excited for the guest performers.
"They are performing exciting and varied programs and my students are really looking forward to meeting them, hearing them play and getting instructions from them," she said.
Oeth said he looks forward to the concerts the most.
"Although the artists have recordings, they do not compare to a live performance," he said. "Being there is aurally and emotionally different."
Afshar believes this festival will help bring more students to the University as well.
"Now everyone is more aware that classical guitar is active and present in Memphis and at the University," she said. "It is going to bring many classical guitar students from other states to campus. It is great exposure for the University and the music school on both a National and international level. It is just one of many ways we promote the classical guitar program."
Festival passes can be purchased online. Three-day passes are $75 and individual day passes are $30 each. For more details, students can visit memphis.edu/music/special/guitarfest.php
"I want all students and general public to come and enjoy three days of classical guitar concerts and fall in love with the classical guitar," Afshar said.
