The trip around the sun is complete and we’re back for the 7th annual musical feast at University of Rhode Island. What’s on the menu? No need to use your imagination, it’s all about to transpire before your eyes and ears.

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With no appetizers and the occasional amuse-bouche (lectures, masterclasses, and workshops), we salivate over the main courses. I hope you left room, there’s still desert (cough-encore-cough) available upon request!

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We depart from classical guitar festival convention of presenting only classical guitarists in favor of showcasing the vast plucked instrument ecosystem, which only reinforces the majesty of the classical guitar. Along the way we feature -in earnest- three plucked instruments that are natural extensions of the guitar’s range and color palette: oud, mandolin, and harp. How marvelous these three instruments are and the vast musical traditions that travel with them, but even more exciting are the artists (Simon Shaheen, Jacob Reuven (of Duo Mantar), and Bridget Kibbey, respectively) who will grace the stage. 

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Our musical cuisine follows American fingerstyle virtuoso, Andy Mckee, the oud legend, Simon Shaheen, Cuban-American classical guitar virtuoso, René Izquierdo, the dynamic and whimsical guitar trio, The Great Necks (Matthew Rohde, Scott Borg and yours truly), the dazzling Spanish guitarist, Andrea González Caballero, the winner of the 2021 Rising Stars Virtual Guitar Competition, Chinnawat Themkumkwun, and my impressive violin duo partner of 16 years (Duo Sonidos), William Knuth. The intensity as well as the variety of musical flavors will not disappoint. Might I add that this festival will be calorie free.

 

2022 will inaugurate several exciting new features, the first ever Rising Stars Youth Guitar Program geared to young classical guitarists ages 7-14 with faculty members Victor Main, Ceili Connors and Jim Davidson, a composer-in-residency program featuring Cuban-Spanish composer Eduardo Morales-Caso, and a new partnership with our local friends at the Narragansett Bay Symphony Orchestra under the direction of star conductor, Kristo Kondakci. Together, we will give the US premiere of Eduardo Morale-Caso’s Concierto de la Herradura and Avner Dorman’s double concerto for mandolin, guitar, and string orchestra. And, as part of the Rising Stars Virtual Guitar Competition first prize in the Young Artist Division, we will now be offer a cultural exchange with a Costa Rican guitar organization and co-sponsor a concert and masterclass.

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As you can see, we have a veracious musical appetite here in Rhode Island.

This festival is about community building, sharing the seemingly infinite pool of musical perspectives with one another, and enjoying the bountiful artistry brought before us.None of this would be possible without the tireless effort of our artists, sponsors, partners and patrons.

It’s luck no.7! Enjoy yourself. We’re here for your musical pleasure in both an in-person and virtual (online) format.

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Yours,

Adam Levin

July 19, 2022