The 2009 Convention and Competition is taking place this week in Ithaca, NY.  Visit the Convention Photo Gallery for images and updates about events of the week as well as up to date competition results.

GFA 2009 Convention Update  - Sunday (6/21/09)

This site will be updated in the coming week with a description of the final day's events, as well as with more photos.  But for now, the exhilerated but bleared-eyed staff is proud to share the results of the final rounds of the International Youth Competitions and the International Concert Artist Competition.

International Concert Artist Competition:
1st Prize: Florian Larousse (France)
2nd Prize: Otto Tolonen (Finland)
3rd Prize: Aleksandr Tsiboulski (Australia)
4th Prize: Artyom Dervoed (Russia)

International Youth Competition - Senior Division:
1st Prize: Yunxiang Fan (China)
2nd Prize: Matthew Lyons (USA)
3rd Prize: Andrey Lebedev (Australia)
4th Prize: Chaconne Klaverenga (USA)

International Youth Competition - Junior Division:
1st Prize: Yossi Kohrman-Glaser (USA)
2nd Prize: Henry Johnston (USA)
3rd Prize: John-Marcel Williams (USA)
4th Prize: Alec Holcomb (USA)

Congratulations to all the winners!

GFA 2009 Convention Update - Saturday (6/20/09)

Saturday, June 20, 2009 began with a workshop in Ford Hall led by Jason Vieaux.  He related his thoughts and techniques for proper tone production.  Simultaneously, the next generation of guitarists were putting their best foot forward in the preliminary round of the V International Youth Competition.

At 10:00am, the Luthier Showcase opened in Hockett Hall where a wide variety of instruments were demonstrated.  At the same time, Jim McCutcheon gave a fascinating lecture on the connections between the Guitar and the National Federation of Music Clubs.  As has been the case all convention long, participant artists conducted half-hour lessons at locations around the campus with those who took advantage of the private lesson packages.

Ford Hall welcomed Gabriel Bianco, the winner of the 26th International Concert Artist Competition, at 11:00am for a half recital.  The phenom did not disappoint, joining a long line of worthy champions.  After a short intermission, Nicholas Goluses and Bonita Boyd, on guitar and flute respectively, gave a spirited performance featuring their unique programming.

After the lunch break, the second half of the Luthier's Showcase began at 1:30pm.  This unique event provides an opportunity to hear a wide variety of instruments in similar performance situations.  The GFA's commitment to youth development was shown yet again with the Youth Showcase Concert from 4:00pm to 5:00pm in Ford Hall, featuring the ensembles of Guitar Arts Studio (Houston, Texas) and Levine School of Music (Washington, D.C.).  No doubt, the young artists who took part will be gracing stages around the world in the years to come.

The evening concluded with what turned into a wonderful community event, bringing in a large turnout from the Ithaca arts community.  With wide ranging performances from Eduardo Isaac and Daniel Binell, Marco Periera and Adam del Monte the evening exhibited the guitar in all its varied incarnations, alongside the wonderful Cayuga Chamber Orchestra.  Andrew York's work for guitar orchestra, Brajamazil, was performed by festival participants of all ages.

The concert also included the announcement of the 5th International Youth Competition.  The finalists from the two divisions are as follows (in performance order): 

Junior Division:

Alec Holcomb

Yossi Kohrman-Glaser

John-Marcel Williams

Henry Johnston

Senior Division:

Yunxiang Fan

Chaconne Klaverenga

Andrey Lebedev

Matthew Lyons

GFA 2009 Convention Update  - Friday (6/19/09)

Friday began with a lecture from the legendary Angelo Gilardino, discussing his music and life path with an audience of very appreciative fans.  There were also envigorating workshops with Mark Eden and Chris Stell, concerts with Pablo Cohen and Tango da Camara, the Beijing Angels, and Andrew York.  The semfinal round of the International Concert Artist Competition took place throughout the day, and the results were announced at intermission of the York concert.  The following competitors have advance to the final round (in performance order):

Artyom Dervoed

Otto Tolonen

Florian Larousse

Aleksandr Tsiboulski

GFA 2009 Convention Update - Thursday (6/18/09)

The second full day of the 2009 GFA Convention and Competition began Thursday, June 18, 2009 with two concurrent lectures starting at 9:00am.  In Nebenhauer Hall room 4308 Thomas Heck led a round table on the state of Online Guitar Research.  At the same time Jeremy Mayne gave a lecture on Guitar Education in Iger Hall room 2105.  Following this lecture, David Bergstrom gave an insightful lecture on the music products industry at 10:00am.

Meanwhile, Adam del Monte gave a 10:00am technique class where he demonstrated different aspects of Flamenco technique.  His rich knowledge of the style and considerable virtuosity provided the attendees with a window into the  style that in many ways gave rise to the classical guitar.

10:00am also marked the re-opening of the Vendor's Fair in the Emerson Suites and the continuation of the Competition Prelims in Hockett Hall.  And at locations throughout the campus, festival artists were once again giving private, 30-minute sessions to those participants who signed up for the private lessons segment of the convention.

At 11:00am, Dr. Lynn McGrath presented a recital filled with grace and poise in Ford Hall.  She was followed after intermission by the Tantalus Quartet whose mix of contemporary and classical programming combined with their rich tones and technical prowess wowed the early afternoon crowd.

After the lunch break, Daniel Binelli and Eduardo Isaac gave a fascinating masterclass on Tango Interpretation at 1:30pm in Nebenhauer Hall room 4308.  Their elucidation of the style gave those in attendance a strong grasp of the basics of this style that's become one of the tributaries to the modern classical guitar rep.

The afternoon recital featured former GFA competition runner-up Elena Papandreou.  Her fiery performance in Ford Hall at 4:00pm preceded the induction of Oscar Ghiglia into the Guitar Foundation of America Hall of Fame.  This master of the instrument received a warm reception in recognition of not only his years of concretizing, but his tireless contributions to education and scholarship on the classic guitar.

The evening came to a close with the 8:00pm performance by the Eden Stell Guitar Duo in Ford Hall.  The duo, which met as undergrads at the Royal College of Music in London, set the night alight with a performance that brought day three to a rousing close.

During the recital's intermission, the semifinalists for GFA's 27th International Concert Artist Competition were announced.  They are as follows:

Tomomi Kohno

Marco Sartor

Tristan Manoukian

Cristina Perez Madeido

Artyom Dervoed

Florian Larousse

Isaac Bustos

Hunter Mah

Matthew Rohde

Alexander Milovanov

Aleksandr Tsiboulski

Otto Tolonen

Wednesday

Tuesday