Guitarists Chad Ibison and Silviu Ciulei
The graceful chant of classical guitar will lilt from the stage of Grusin Hall on Monday, Oct. 12.听听补苍诲听, winners of the 2015 CU International Guitar Festival and Competition, are returning to give Boulder audiences an encore performance.
Organized by Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program Director and Assistant Professor of Guitar听狈颈肠辞濒貌听厂辫别谤补, last February鈥檚 festival brought 41 guitarists from 16 countries to CU-Boulder. While it provided Boulder audiences with performances by internationally renowned artists such as听听and the听, the festival also helped further the program鈥檚 mission.听
鈥淲e want to create and nourish a supportive and encouraging environment for our students' dreams,鈥� says Spera. 鈥淭he guitar is an instrument that inspires kindness, that is always singing the importance of being kind and gentle in this loud, often aggressive world.听We are so happy and excited to welcome back Chad and Silviu to bring our community and our students their incredible talent and wonderful music through the inspiring sounds of their guitars.鈥�
Ibison is a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin. He says he鈥檚 excited to return to Boulder and play for an audience that truly appreciates guitar. 鈥淓ven amidst dangerous weather conditions, I was听blown away by the level of audience attendance during last year's festival,鈥� Ibison says. 鈥淚鈥檓 really looking forward to the great warmth of Nicol貌 and the people of Boulder.
鈥淏oulder is such a beautiful town and the music hall is a pleasure to perform in,鈥� Ibison adds. 鈥淧erforming classical guitar in a great hall creates an intimate setting that allows me to connect with the audience on such a palpable level.鈥�
Ciulei, originally from Romania, is teaching guitar at Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina. He says his experience here last year made him eager to return for the recital. 鈥淚t was a great competition. I was really impressed with the quality of the guitar program and how many competitors from all over the world came to the competition.
鈥淚t was fun to perform for this audience. I really enjoy moving people with the lyrical lines of the music of the guitar, sort of telling a story to the audience and taking their minds off of daily things in their lives,鈥� Ciulei says.
Monday鈥檚 recital begins at 7:30 p.m. in Grusin Music Hall.听
Named and endowed听last fall by a donation by CU alumni Michael and Michele Ritter, the Ritter Family Classical Guitar Program continues to build momentum. This winter, SoloDuo鈥擨talian guitarists Lorenzo Micheli and Matteo Mela鈥攚ill be at the college for their first in an听ongoing series of residencies. The duo returns to Boulder in February for lessons, ensemble coaching and a public recital on February 25. Additionally, the third CU International Guitar Festival and Competition is planned for February 2017.
