Denver Guitar Festival & Competition
Friday, Saturday & Sunday – September 8 –10, 2023
Welcome to the fourth annual Denver Guitar Festival & Competition at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. This three-day celebration of the classical guitar includes guest recitals, lectures, master classes as well as the Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition and Undergraduate & Youth Competitions, totaling over $8000 in prize money.
We hope you can join us in what promises to be an exciting weekend of guitar events!
Laura Husbands, Artistic Director
Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition
First prize $2500
Second prize $1500
Third prize $750
Fourth prize $500
* $300 cash audience prize
Undergraduate Competition
First prize $1000
Second prize $500
Third prize $300
Fourth prize $200
Youth Competition
First prize $500
Second prize $300
Third prize $150
Fourth prize $50
Contact
Questions?
Please contact Laura Husbands, Artist Director at laura.husbands@du.edu
All events will take place in the Robert & Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, on the University of Denver campus.
2344 East Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210
For questions about the guitar program at DU Lamont, please contact Jonathan Leathwood, Chair of Guitar and Harp at Jonathan.Leathwood@du.edu
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Schedule
All events will take place in the Robert & Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, on the University of Denver campus.
2344 East Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210Festival schedule
Friday, September 89:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration & Check-In
Joy Burns Plaza10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Preliminary Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
Closed to public.10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 2092:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m, Preliminary Round (continued)
Hamilton Recital Hall
Closed to public.4:00 p.m. Matthew Denman lecture
Williams Salon7:30 p.m. Guest Recital Recital: Connie Sheu
Hamilton Recital Hall
$15 Ticket
Purchase ticket
Saturday, September 910:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Jonathan Leathwood Masterclass
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 209
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Semifinal Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public.3:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Check-In
Joy Burns Plaza
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Preliminary Round
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public
7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital: Martha Masters
Hamilton Recital Hall
$15 Ticket
Purchase ticket
Sunday, September 1010:00 a.m. Jonathan Leathwood lecture: "Perceiving and Shaping Harmony: A Practical Talk for Guitarists"
Williams Recital Salon
Open to the public10:00 a.m. Youth Competition Check-in
Joy Burns Plaza10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 20911:00 a.m. Youth Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public
1:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Final Round
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public2:00 p.m. Undergraduate and Youth Competitions Awards Ceremony
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public
3.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Martha Masters Masterclass
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public3.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Connie Sheu Masterclass
Williams Recital Salon
Open to the public
7:30 p.m. Final Round - Josefina P. Tuason International Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
$15 Ticket
Purchase ticketDownload free parking voucher
9:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public -
Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition
Competition Rules
JOSEFINA P. TUASON INTERNATIONAL
GUITAR COMPETITIONThe Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition is open to classical guitarist regardless of nationality and age.
Preliminary Round: 7 minutes
Semi final Round: 10 minutes
Final round: 20 minutesFree-choice programs for all rounds. Competitors may repeat repertoire without penalty. It is expected that repertoire will fit the time limit of each round. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty. Up to 12 competitors will be chosen for the semi final round, and 4 for the final round. All competitors will be provided an individual practice room for 1 hour before their performance time. The Preliminary and Semi final round will be judged blindly.
All decisions by the judges are final. Guitar professors teaching at the Lamont School of Music will NOT be taking part in any judging of the Solo Artist Competition.
Judges
To be announced.First prize $2500
Second prize $1500
Third prize $750
Fourth prize $500All prizes subject to mandatory 30 percent federal tax withholding for foreign prize-winners; US prize-winners will be issued an IRS-1099 Form. By submitting an application to this competition, participants agree to terms allowing the University of Denver to use audio, recording and photo during the competition.
Purchase ticket to attend final round
Download free parking voucher for final round
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Undergraduate Competition
UNDERGRADUATE COMPETITION
The Undergraduate Competition is open to all classical guitarists ages 18-22 as of September 8, 2023.
The Undergraduate Competition will be held in two rounds. Free choice program for all rounds.Preliminary round 7 minutes.
Final round 10 minutes.Free-choice program for both rounds. Competitors may repeat repertoire without penalty. It is expected that repertoire will fit time limit of each round. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty.
First Prize - $1000
Second prize - $500
Third prize - $300
Fourth prize- $200All decisions by the judges are final.
Judges for the Youth Competition
Laura Husbands
Jonathan Leathwood -
Youth Competition
YOUTH COMPETITION
The Youth Competition is open to all classical guitarists 18 years and under as of September 8, 2023.
One round: 7 minutes time limit
Free-choice program. It is expected that repertoire will fit the time limit. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty.
First Prize - $500
Second prize - $300
Third prize - $150
Fourth prize- $50
Additionally, all winners are guaranteed admission to the Lamont School of Music* and a minimum scholarship award:
First prize = $30,000
Second prize = $25,000
Third prize = $20,000
Fourth prize = $15,000
*Admission and scholarships are guaranteed provided all the standards for admission into the University of Denver have been met. If the winner is not a senior in high school, admission and scholarship will be awarded upon graduation.All decisions by the judges are final.
Judges for the Youth Competition
Laura Husbands
Jonathan Leathwood -
Guest Artists
Connie Sheu
Friday, September 8 at 7:30 pm
Dr. Connie Sheu is a dynamic guitarist, devoted pedagogue, and ardent advocate of classical guitar. In demand as both a soloist and chamber musician, her playing has been hailed by the New York Sun as “excellent, ruminative... scholarly." According to Classical Guitar Magazine, “Her debut recording displays, without a doubt, her talents as a concert artist.”
Past performances have brought her to Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, 92nd StY, Merkin Hall, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall; venues in Moldova, Italy, Hungary; and across the United States. She is a frequent performer on various concert series and music festivals, and has appeared at the Women in Guitar Festival, New York Guitar Festival, and Guitar Foundation of America International Convention.
Dr. Sheu studied U.S. History and Music at Columbia University, and earned a Master of Music from the Juilliard School. She completed her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California under William Kanengiser and Pepe Romero. She also studied under scholarship at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana with Oscar Ghiglia in Siena, Italy.
Dr. Sheu performs with LA Philharmonic flutist Elise Henry as Duo Arroyo. She lives in Los Angeles and teaches at Pomona College and the Colburn School.
Martha Masters
Saturday, September 9 at 7:30 pm
Martha Masters first achieved international recognition in 2000 when she won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. That same year she also won the Andres Segovia International Competition in Linares, Spain, and was named a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland.
Since then, Ms. Masters has been active as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist around the world. Recent seasons included appearances at festivals and on concert series through the United States, Europe, Russia, China and Australia.
Masters received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant.
Ms. Masters is on faculty at Arizona State University, and is President of the Guitar Foundation of America. She has released seven recordings (Naxos, GSP and independent releases), and has published three books with Mel Bay Publications and Alfred Music. For more information, visit www.marthamasters.com.
Matthew Denman Lecture
Friday, September 8, 4:00 p.m.
Asturias: The Power of Story & The Guitar Hero's Journey
Abstract
How can we use Narrative to connect to the vivid and emotional history of the guitar? Many of our guitar heroes have lived adventurous and meaningful lives. The plot points of their stories often parallel aspects of The Hero's Journey. Some have played for their lives, been jailed for playing guitar, and have narrowly escaped death. The musical treasures left by these luminaries become soundtracks to powerful stories worthy of the stage, big screen, and further exploration. Stories that help us reflect on our personal lives and consider what part we play in this epic legacy. You can bring your guitar to this interactive presentation.
Matthew Denman is a Grammy Nominated Music Educator, a Pepe Romero String Artist, the Assistant Professor of Guitar at Oklahoma City University, and the director of Guitar at Classen School of Advanced Studies. He directs the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute and has been the Director of Education for the Guitar Foundation of America.His programs have received top prizes at competitions, including three awards from the Guitar Foundation of America, top-tier competitions, including the Eastman Concerto Competition, the GFA ensemble competition, the Haire Classical Guitar Competition, etc. He is one of three recipients of the GFA/Augustine Award for Excellence in Guitar Education. His work has been praised in books such as Building an Award-Winning Guitar Program by Bill Swick. Alumni of Matthew's programs have gone on to have successful programs in music and other disciplines.
Matthew has often been a featured performer and conductor for music festivals and a guest clinician for several institutions, including Beijing Central Conservatory, Chamber Art Madrid, and Artist in Residence for the New Mexico Guitar Society.
Matthew is a guitarist and composer who has toured Asia, Europe, and the US. He has often been a featured performer and conductor for music festivals. Les Productions d'OZ publishes Matthew's music.
More information is available at matthew-denman.com.
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Applications & Competition Registration
Festival Passes (Admission to all ticketed events):
- International Competition registration and pass
$130 - Undergraduate Competition registration and pass
$110 - Youth Competition registration and pass
$90
Once competitors have paid their registration fee they will be emailed an application form. This may take up to one business day.
- Non-Competitor Festival Pass
$35 - Concert & Competition Individual Ticket
$15
- International Competition registration and pass
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Places to Stay Near DU
Information & reservations for hotels near the University of Denver.
