[CDU eNews] - STARS GALORE FOR DARWIN GUITAR FESTIVAL NEXT WEEK

[Peter.Hurt at cdu.edu.au]

Stars galore for Darwin guitar festival

Some of the finest performers on the national and international concert
circuit will be in Darwin next week to headline a glittering array of
talent and activities for the sixth Shell Darwin International Guitar
Festival concert series.

There will be 35 performances in 11 days, featuring more than 50 musicians
from an estimated 10 countries, including Spain, the US, the UK, Australia,
Germany and Italy.

The festival, hosted by Charles Darwin University, will be held from July 6
to 16.

Festival Director Adrian Walter said today: "The festival will offer
something for everyone, with an enormous program of events planned for each
of the 11 days. You will hear some wonderful guitar playing by some of the
finest classical guitarists in the world and we are immensely proud to
bring them here to Darwin."

Among the galaxy of stars appearing will be:

·     Australian guitar quartet Saffire, one of the hottest properties in
the guitar world;
·     Scotsman Paul Galbraith, renowned for his captivating performances on
an eight-string 'Brahms' guitar;
·     Brilliant American guitarist Jason Vieaux, a winner of the
prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition;
·     Spaniard Oscar Guzman with a captivating night of Flamenco guitar
music.

Mr Walter, Head of the School of Creative Arts and Humanities at CDU and
himself one of the stars of the concert series, said the festival would
include night-time concerts under the stars at the Darwin Amphitheatre and
on CDU's Casuarina and Palmerston campuses.

"Leading international musicians will conduct workshops, there will be a
lunchtime concert series, an evening concert series, plus great social
activity and music at the After Dark Club."

Venues will include the Darwin Entertainment Centre, the amphitheatre and
Wesleyan church in the Botanic Gardens, CDU facilities in Casuarina and
Palmerston, and the Supreme Court.

Mr Walter said: "There is so much to see and hear for aficionados that you
would almost need to take 11 days off work to keep up with it all. But if I
had to choose a handful of 'must-see' events,  appealing to all
music-lovers, I would choose:

·     The Opening Night Concert by Saffire, four of Australia's most
successful and talented guitarists - Gareth Koch, Leonard Grigoryan, Karin
Schaupp and Slava Grigoryan - at the DEC, Wednesday July 6, 8pm;
·     Guitars Under the Southern Stars, featuring guitar orchestra
Guitarstrophe!, Melbourne pianist Donna Coleman, plus William Barton on the
didgeridoo, lakeside at the CDU Palmerston campus, Saturday July 9, gates
open 5.30pm for 6.30pm;
·     Sunday Serenade, featuring Perth guitarist Jonathan Paget and
Mary-Anne Bl ades on flute, American guitarist Jason Vieaux, the Darwin
Chorale, featuring the premiere of a new work by Nora Lewis, at the Supreme
Court, Darwin, Sunday July 10, 1pm;
·     A Night in the Gardens of Spain, featuring Spanish flamenco guitarist
Oscar Guzman and Adelaide flamenco dancer Roshanne Wijeyeratne, in a
special taverna, with Spanish wine and paella available, at CDU Sound
Shell, Casuarina, Friday July 15, 8.30pm;
·     The closing concert - Guitar in the Gardens, featuring the Darwin
Symphony Orchestra and soloists Jason Vieaux, Karin Schaupp, Richard
Charlton, Rebecca Harris, Alan Banks, and Adrian Walter, closing with
Rimsky-Korsakov's rousing Spanish flavoured masterpiece Capriccio Espagnol
accompanied by synchronised fireworks.

Mr Walter said for students of the genre, the festival would also include
the CDU festival lecture series, a selection of masterclasses and a series
of composers' workshops, all held at the CDU.

"The lecture series will bringing together leading Australian and
international academics and researchers including composer Dr Frank Lyons
from Ireland and CDU academics Professor Eugene Clark and Martin Jarvis.

"Artists such as Graham Devine, Oscar Guzman, Paul Galbraith, Jason Vieaux
and Francesca Torelli, will conduct masterclasses.

"Six leading Australian and international composers, including American
Martin Bresnick and Irishman Frank Lyons, will give some of Australia's
most talented young composers a week's intensive tuition at the workshops."

Bookings can be made at the CYM Shop, Building 16, CDU Casuarina campus,
(08) 8946 6860, although tickets will also be sold at the door.

Full details, including ticket prices, venues, program and artist
biographies can be found on the guitar festival website on www.cdu.edu.au
or www.darwinguitar.com



Adrian Walter is available for interview.
Leading performers can be interviewed nearer the start of the festival



Peter Hurt
Media Manager
Charles Darwin University
Tel: 08 8946 6019 or 0438 466 439

CRICOS Provider No: 00300K