Southeastern Louisiana University

Guitar Festival to conclude with concerts, masterclass

Contact: Christina Chapple

4/13/06

      HAMMOND – The 2006 Southeastern Louisiana University Guitar Festival concludes April 25-27 with a recital and masterclass by guest artist Robert Wetzel and a concert by the Southeastern Guitar Ensemble.

      Recording artist Robert Wetzel will give a “back by popular demand” recital of traditional music for the classical guitar at Pottle Music Building Auditorium on Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m.

      “Mr. Wetzel gave us a good ‘one-two punch’ last year with an exceptional recital and one of the best masterclassses for students that I’ve seen,” said Patrick Kerber, Guitar Festival director and coordinator of guitar activities in the Department of Music and Dramatic Arts. “His soft spoken style belies a wealth of knowledge and a true gift of communication on stage and in the classroom. The requests from students and audience members from last year’s recital made it very easy to invite this talented artist for an encore.”

      Kerber said Wetzel will perform music from his “Guitar Fantasy in Spain and Italy” CD series, which includes music by Milan, Guerau, Marcello, and the hauntingly beautiful, “Serenata Espanola” by the Spanish romantic Joaquin Malats.

      “Presently, contemporary guitar music is moving in many varied directions,” Wetzel said. “The music on this program is still the heart and soul of the classical guitar repertoire, steeped in Latin culture and sentiment. This is the music that captured the first audiences of the guitar.”

      Wetzel will also conduct a masterclass for Southeastern guitar students on Wednesday, April 26, at noon. The public is invited to attend this event in which students will receive instruction in an informal performance setting.

      More information about Wetzel is available online at www.robertwetzel.com. His recordings will be available for purchase following Tuesday night’s recital.

      On Thursday, April 27, the Southeastern Guitar Ensemble’s spring concert will be the Guitar Festival’s grand finale. Kerber said the program will feature music for various combinations of guitars from the Renaissance to the 20th century and will also feature two guest artists.

      Flutist Elizabeth Rollins will perform two pieces for guitar and flute by Southeastern alumnus Don Dupuis, and soprano Jessica Davis will perform the Brazilian cantilena/vocalise, “Bachianas Brasilieras #5” by Villa-Lobos.

      “The Guitar Ensemble continues to increase in popularity,” said Kerber, the ensemble’s director. “This will be a typically varied program, featuring the guest artists, lute music, a transcribed Handel organ concerto, and an exciting set of pieces from Falla’s, ‘El Amor Brujo.’ Anyone who attended the festival’s opening concert by Trio Sonacion will remember some of this music played on two guitars. The arrangement of this music performed on 17 guitars is a unique musical experience.”

      All of festival events are free and open to the public. For more information, contact Patrick Kerber at (985) 549-2886 or pkerber@selu.edu.