91¶ÌÊÓƵ

SALISBURY, MD---Learn guitar in the key of “B” (for “beginner”) in 91¶ÌÊÓƵ’s “Guitar from Scratch” class.

Held as part of the University’s third annual Classical Guitar Festival and Competition, the 75-minute course is 10-11:15 a.m. Saturday, April 9, in Holloway Hall. Guitars are available to borrow. Participants should register online by Thursday, April 7, to secure one. Class registration is $10.

With full registration, students may perform in master classes for nationally and internationally acclaimed performers, compete musically and play in an ensemble during the festival.

Activities begin Friday, April 8, with a pre-festival concert by recording artist and international performance competition winner Robert Trent at 7 p.m. at the Wicomico County Public Library, 122 S. Division St. Admission is free.

Participants may register online or during Saturday check-in from 9-9:30 a.m. in the Great Hall of Holloway Hall. Master classes are taught by Trent, Javier Calderón, Thomas Kirchhoff, Zoë Johnstone Stewart, Dr. Jerry Tabor and Dr. Danielle Cumming.

Trent has performed in North and South America and Europe on modern guitar, renaissance lute and historic instruments of the 19th century. German-born Kirchhoff founded the International Guitar-Symposium Iserlohn, one of most prominent international guitar festivals in Europe, and has performed on and produced 16 acclaimed albums. One of the world’s most renowned classical guitarists, Calderón was called “a virtuoso with poetic sensibility” by The New York Times following his Carnegie Hall debut.

Stewart has taught at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University and performed solo at New York’s Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Tabor, of SU’s Department of Music, is a sought-after musician, conductor and composer, whose work is performed by this year’s Festival Ensemble. Cumming, also of SU’s Department of Music, has performed in Europe, the United States and her native Canada. She coordinates the festival.

During the competition, participants vie for more than $1,000 in cash prizes, over $500 in D’Addario and Planet Waves products, a guitar donated by the Kirkpatrick Guitar Studio and custom-made hygrometers from luthier David Pace.

Contestants compete in three age categories: 11 and under, 12-15 and 16-18. Registration deadline is Friday, April 8. For rules visit the festival Web site at www.salisbury.edu/musicdept/guitarfestival.

Parents may participate in the workshop “Practicing With Your Child,” led by Stewart. Pace gives participants a chance to try their hand at mosaic rosette construction. The Kirkpatrick Guitar Studio will have merchandise for sale.

Following classes and the Festival Ensemble performance, the day concludes with a 4:30 p.m. concert by Calderón. The public is invited to these performances.

Registration is $35 for participants, $15 for active parents, which includes all classes, activities and lunch. Classes are open to all ages; however, competitions are limited to guitarists ages 18 and under. Pre-registration is recommended.

Sponsors include the SU Department of Music, D’Addario Music Foundation, 91¶ÌÊÓƵ Wicomico Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts and Maryland State Arts Council. Other donors include Colonel Donald Stegman, the Kirkpatrick Guitar Studio and David Pace.

To pre-register or for more information, call Cumming at 410-677-3269 or visit the festival Web site.