UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
URI GUITAR FESTIVAL 2023
AND COURSE IN MANDOLIN EXCELLENCE
in collaboration with the rhode island guitar guild
OCTOBER 18–22
ARTISTS
Hailing from Greenville, Georgia, Jontavious Willis grew up singing Gospel music with his grandfather at the Mount Pilgrim Baptist Church. From an early age, he had the talent and passion for music and the ability to sharpen his skills fast. At 14, he found a YouTube video of Muddy Waters playing “Hoochie Coochie Man” and was instantly hooked on the blues.
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A self-taught musician, Mathias Duplessy has been composing on his guitar since he was six. He first developed a passion for classical music, particularly for Ravel, his inexhaustible source of inspiration. The discovery of jazz—Miles Davis and John Coltrane always resonated in his walkman on the way to school.
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Elisa La Marca studied classical guitar at the International Academy of Music under the guidance of P. Coppi, graduating with honors in 2005 at the Milan Conservatory. He attended specialization Masters with L. Micheli, M. Mela, S. Grondona. He attended the advanced training seminars at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena held by Oscar Ghiglia, receiving the diploma of merit in 2009.
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Luca Stricagnoli, born and raised in Italy, is an acoustic guitarist known for his unique style and innovative playing techniques. His original approach to music has led him to various successes—obtaining over 100 million views on his music videos and allowing him to perform all around the globe.
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The Great Necks Guitar Trio has enchanted audiences across the US with its whimsical, interactive, and daring performances. Founded by guitarists Scott Borg, Adam Levin, and Matthew Rohde, the trio, through its original madcap arrangements, stretches at the conventions — and at times, the physical limits — of the guitar. "These guys aren't afraid to shake things up and take chances," writes Classical Guitar Magazine.
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Juan Falú was born in Tucumán, Argentine Republic, on October 10, 1948. Guitarist and composer of Argentine music and its projections, his works have integrated the repertoire of guitarists from different latitudes. They were published in Argentina, Belgium, and France and recorded in 9 records in Brazil, Argentina, and France.
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Grammy-nominated guitarist and composer Jay Azzolina has been part of the New York jazz scene for the past three decades. After leaving the “Berklee College Of Music,” where Jay studied with Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick, and Charlie Banacos. Jay began working and recording in New York with a variety of artists. He has developed numerous associations, including Michael Urbaniak, Herbie Mann, Jaco Pastorius, Harvie S, Spyro Gyra, Dave Samuels, Kenny Werner, Chuck Mangione, Ron McClure, John Abercrombie, Randy Brecker, Jerry Bergonzi, and John Patitucci.
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Nicoló Spera is one of the few guitarists in the world to perform on both six-string and ten-string guitars and theorbo. His wide-ranging repertoire includes the extraordinary music of the Franco-Andalusian composer Maurice Ohana. Spera has given lecture-recitals on the pieces of Ohana at many institutions and festivals worldwide. His recordings of Ohana’s works for solo guitar have won awards, including a “Chitarra d’oro” at the Convegno Internazionale di Chitarra in Milan, Italy.
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Mauro Zanatta was born in Treviso, Italy, in 1977 and started playing guitar at six. He has become one of his generation’s most renowned and talented guitarists. A graduate with the highest honor in the Conservatory of Music “E. A. Dall’Abaco” in Verona, Italy, he studied with maestro Giampaolo Gobbo. During his years as a student, he had the honor to learn from world-renowned guitarists such as David Russell, Alvaro Pierri, Tilman Hoppstock, Carlo Marchione, Angelo Gilardino, Oscar Ghiglia, and Stefano Grondona.
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Pierre Bibault is a multifaceted French classical and electric guitarist. He has performed in over 25 countries and many prestigious venues: Radio France, Philharmonie de Paris, Flagey in Brussels, and Wigmore Hall in London. As a soloist, he explores contemporary music: written, improvised, with electronics, or sounds transformed in real-time, and handles his guitars along with samplers, loopers, and computers. He works closely with today’s composers, many of whom have dedicated their guitar works to him. Among them: Zad Moultaka, Thierry Pécou, Jeffrey Holmes.
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Acclaimed by international ratio FIP as the ambassador for classical guitar worldwide, Jérémy Jouve multiplies international tours, recordings, and collaborations with the most outstanding performers and composers. His studies at the Ecole Normale de Musique and at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse (CNSMD) in Paris, where he followed the teaching of the great masters Alberto Ponce and Roland Dyens oriented him toward a committed and poetic approach to music, an ongoing search for beautiful sound, with a deep love and respect for the original compositions.
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Filippos Manoloudis (* 2001 in Kavala, Greece) is one of the leading classical guitarists of his generation. Praised by the Gendai Guitar Magazine for his “stunning technique and expressive power”, he is described as an “all-around player”, flawlessly interpreting music spanning various periods and styles. Filippos has been succesful at around 30 international guitar competitions, winning some of the most prestigious ones worldwide, including the “65th Tokyo International Guitar Competition” in Japan. Together with three fellow students from the Music Academy in Darmstadt, he forms the "Foursome Guitar Quartet" and they perform often in Germany and abroad. He is a D’Addario Artist and performs on Koumridis Handmade Classical Guitars.
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Renowned worldwide for his musical integrity and effortless brilliance, Israeli mandolin player Jacob Reuven is one of the most sought-after virtuosos of his instrument. Reuven's broad musical horizons encompass everything from baroque to contemporary music, bringing an exuberance matched with uncompromising musical standards to all he does.
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Dor Amran's musical education includes 12 years of mandolin studies and 8 years of piano studies at the Be’er Sheva Conservatory. He studied mandolin under the guidance of Lev Khaimovich. Between the years 2013-2016, he studied mandolin under the guidance of Teddy Shushankov and during this year (2017) he studied under the guidance of Yaki (Jacob) Reuven. In 2014, he won the first prize of the “Sarni” competition in the Jerusalem Conservatory. In 2017, he received recognition as an excellent musician in IDF. He’s performed at the Zichron Yakkov Festival, Abu gosh festival, Slavianski bazaar- Vitebsk festival, and concert tours in Montenegro, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia.
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Ekaterina Skliar, the accomplished Russian Mandolinist and domrist, won the 2019 Astral National Auditions and 2020 International Music Competition "The Hope." She received Third Prize at the International Music Competition of Folk Instrument Performers and the 2019 Silver Medal Global Music Award. Ekaterina holds a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Music Performance from M. Glinka Novosibirsk State Conservatory. In 2022, she performed at the 47th International Festival Plectro de La Rioja in Spain alongside Alexey Alexandrov, showcasing their mandolin and domra arrangements.
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Mark Davis, the director of Providence Mandolin Orchestra since 1989, has an impressive musical journey. With numerous CD recordings, international tours, and a significant YouTube following, he has made a mark in the mandolin world. He conducted various performances, including the premiere of Phil Moloso's "Kindertoten II for 12 guitars and narrator" and Steve Jobe's folk-rock opera "Joan of Arc." Additionally, he leads the New American Mandolin Ensemble, showcasing contemporary plucked string music. Mr. Davis continues to perform with guitarist Beverly Davis, and his Hampton Trio was featured at the 2018 Festival Internacional Musica de Plectro in Rioja, Spain.
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Amit Kavthekar, a young and talented tabla player, was mentored by the legendary Ustad Allarakha from the age of six. He also learned from Ustad Zakir Hussain, a maestro in Indian classical and world music. Amit has performed with esteemed musicians such as Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Pt. Shivkumar Sharma, and Pt. Jasraj. He frequently collaborates with Western classical and fusion musicians, including being part of the Purnalokha quartet and the band Sawaari. Currently, he teaches tabla at the New England School of Music and conducts workshops at universities.
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Dave Zinno, a seasoned bassist, has been performing since 1980 and teaches at URI, Salve Regina, and Brown University. He honed his skills at Berklee College of Music and The University of Rhode Island. His journey included working with Grammy-winning vocalist Dianne Schuur in Seattle, studying with jazz greats like Walter Booker Jr. in NYC, and touring internationally. Zinno's extensive discography includes collaborations with talented musicians, and he has been a sought-after sideman for artists like Ann Hampton Callaway and George Garzone. Recent tours have taken him to Italy and Brazil.
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Max Goldman is a drummer and teacher based in Rhode Island. He attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he studied under Tony Moreno, Gerald Cleaver and Kenny Washington. After graduating he continued to live in New York City for 16 years playing regularly and touring in the US, Europe, Russia and South America. Many diverse collaborators have shaped Max’s unique musical voice, among them The Elan Mehler Group, The Danny Fox Trio, Old Time Musketry, With Orbit, Tony Malaby, Michael Attias, Midnight Magic, Becca Stevens, Chris Tordini, Mette Henriette, Jessica 6, Daniel Carter, Will Mcevoy, Patrick Breiner, Eliot Cardinaux, Andrew Dow, Tim Berne, Kenny Warren, Marty Ballou, Jeff Platz, Brendan Carniaux, John McKenna, Anna Webber, Jay Azzolina and many more.
Joe "Sonny" Barbato, a pioneering jazz accordionist, is known for his skills on both accordion and piano. He started learning at a young age and attended Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory. His talent has taken him on tours across Europe, Russia, and the U.S., collaborating with esteemed artists like Ravi Coltrane, Eddie Harris, and Kenny Barron. Joe's versatile accordion playing can be heard on over thirty recordings, spanning various genres. His album "Crackerjack" with guitarist Jimmy Ponder received critical acclaim. Based in Boston, he continues to perform and educate as an experienced instructor in instrumental playing and songwriting.
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Adrián Montero began his musical studies in 2002 at the “Conservatorio Municipal de Alajuela.” In 2006 he was accepted into the Conservarorio de Castella. In 2018 he finished his Bachelor’s degree at the National University of Costa Rica and is currently completing his master’s degree in the studio of Adam Levin at the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Montero has two released albums, mainly composed by Contemporary Costa Rican composers, and is the winner of several international competitions.
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Céili Connors is a Boston-based performer, teacher, and artistic administrator actively performing as a soloist and chamber musician. She has established a growing studio in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and holds faculty positions at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Community College of Rhode Island.
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Jeisson Ramirez Salas begins his studies in the classical guitar at the Escuela Municipal de Música de San Pablo de Heredia under guidance and pedagogy of Jorge Luis Sancho. In 2016, he finishes the guitar program from the Escuela Municipal de Música de San Isidro de Heredia. Consequently, in 2019, he is admitted in the guitar major at the Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica with the professors Jorge Luis Zamora, Pablo Ortiz, and Andrés Saborío. Currently he is the 2022 first prize winner of the Concurso Nacional de Guitarra de Costa Rica and has already finished the bachelor program.
Jim Davidson is a southern New England-based guitarist & teacher. Highlight performances include Boston GuitarFest, the Boston Classical Guitar Society, Tuesday Night New Music in Jordan Hall, the Rhode Island Guitar Guild, the University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival, the Brockton Symphony Orchestra, and numerous solo & chamber recitals throughout New England.
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Victor Main is an award-winning classical guitarist, composer, and educator from Cranston, Rhode Island. Victor is the guitarist in residence at Pumphouse Music Works in Peace Dale, Rhode Island. Victor is also the president of the nonprofit organization the Rhode Island Guitar Guild. The Rhode Island Guitar Guild presents concerts and masterclasses of international soloists and ensembles and leads educational outreach programs for aspiring musicians.
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Classical guitarist Catherine O’Kelly performs both as a soloist and as a member of Tedesco Duo with flutist Arielle Burke. A former Suzuki student at The Rivers School Conservatory, she is delighted to now be teaching Suzuki guitar at Rivers. Catherine earned her BA in music and philosophy from Vassar College in 2011, graduating with honors, and earned her MM in guitar performance in 2013 at The Hartt School, where she studied classical guitar with Richard Provost. Currently Catherine is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in classical guitar performance at The Hartt School in West Hartford, CT.
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Richard Bruné is self taught, he has explored and made many instruments beyond guitars, which include harpsichords, lutes, baroque guitars, Arabic ouds and even a violin. Many major artists such as Andrés Segovia, Julian Bream, Sabicas, the Romeros, Paco Peña, have been visitors to the shop over the past nearly 50 years. His work has been exhibited by many major museums including the Smithsonian Institute of Washington D.C., the Museum of Contemporary Crafts, and the Illinois State Museum.
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Renowned luthier Marshall Bruné is a highly pursued workman with over two decades of experience. His instruments are known for their powerful sound, astoundingly rapid response, clean, pure tone, and remarkable build quality. Marshall grew up beside the bench of his father, R. E. Bruné, and learned guitar building and repair from him. Marshall has a “Certificate of Luthier” from the Violin Making School of America, where he studied with Charles Woolf, Sanghoon Lee, and Peter Prier. He also had the opportunity to complete an internship with and be mentored by the legendary Carl Becker.
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Alan Chapman has been listed by Acoustic Guitar Magazine among the top five Classical Guitar makers in the country, alongside renowned American Luthiers R.E. Brune and Thomas Humphrey. He has been building guitars for over fifty years. In that time, he has studied many different makers’ approach to building, giving him an understanding of the craft that is both broad and deep. He is known in the community for his fastidious attention to detail and his constant tinkering in pursuit of perfection.
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Gef Fisher developed his guitar building skills in a five year apprenticeship with Alan Chapman following his graduation from Williams College. He takes a holistic approach to guitar making, drawing on his performance studies with classical guitarist Robert Phelps, world renowned Sitarist Veena Chandra, and Maestro Wang Guowei, conductor of the Music from China Ensemble. In his guitars he prioritizes sensitive and tactile response, bold character, and beauty of tone, while demanding great clarity and evenness.
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At 16, Aaron Green found luthiery when he chanced upon the guitar maker Alan Carruth at a school folk festival. Aaron asked for mentorship, which Alan generously granted. The three-year apprenticeship created an enduring bond, with Aaron consistently learning from his mentor. Initially inclined towards steel-string guitars, Aaron's focus shifted to classical and flamenco types through his association with the Boston Classical Guitar Society. Later, a pivotal meeting with guitarist Dennis Koster led Aaron to New York City in 1995. Their shared passion forged a strong friendship and a new mentorship, exposing Aaron to historic guitars and accomplished players. Aaron is based in Massachusetts.
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Jordan Luff is a forester and musician from the mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. He has played in several rock, punk, and metal bands, touring internationally before returning to school to pursue a career in sustainable forest management. After receiving two undergraduate degrees in forestry, he traveled to the University of Vermont for graduate school to study the restoration of red spruce and northern hardwoods mixedwoods forests in New England and New York. In 2020, Jordan returned to his home state to work for the NC Forest Service, developing sustainable forest management plans for private landowners. He is currently the Management Forester for DuPont State Recreational Forest.
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Greg Hanson is currently an Associate Professor of German at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. He began his undergraduate studies as a music major at St. Olaf College in Minnesota, graduating, however, with a German major. He did his M.A. and Ph.D. in German at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. His interest in the classical guitar and its construction led him to take guitar building courses with Sergei de Jonge in Canada and José Romanillos in Spain. When his summer schedule allows, he works two to three weeks at Tonewood Switzerland where he continues to learn some of the ins and outs of processing high-quality tonewood. He has written articles about the German luthier Sebastian Stenzel, the Hermann Hauser Guitar Foundation, and Tonewood Switzerland.
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Dr. Eric A. Zillmer, a licensed clinical psychologist, received his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Florida Tech in 1984 where he was subsequently awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award in 1995. Dr. Zillmer completed internship training at Eastern Virginia Medical School and a postdoctoral fellowship in clinical neuropsychology at the University of Virginia Medical School.
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Peter Zisa is an award-winning performer on the six and eight string guitar. Reviewers and audiences across the U.S. and abroad describe Zisa’s musicianship as “dynamic, sensitive, authentic, inspiring and emotionally expressive”. Peter is grateful for his studies with David Grimes, and with legendary performers Maestro Andrés Segovia, José Rey de la Torre, José Tomas, and Oscar Ghiglia, who have contributed to his musical development.
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Dr. Danilo Prefumo articles have been published in Il Fronimo, Chigiana, Rivista Musicale Italiana, Rivista Italiana di Musicologia and Quaderni dell’Istituto di Studi Paganiniani. He has written Invito all’ascolto di Franz Schubert, I Fratelli Sammartini and Niccolò Paganini, La vita, le opere, il suo tempo and L’elemento separatore. He serves on the Artistic Committee of the International Competition “Premio Paganini.” His novel La Sinfonia degli inganni became a radio play on Radio Svizzera Italiana For the same station, he wrote the plays L’ombra di Niccolò, inspired by the life of Paganini, and La grande fuga, dedicated to Beethoven.
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Thomas Spencer Ladd is a university professor, designer, and photographer. He has received MFAs from Cranbrook Academy of Art and Rhode Island School of Design. Prof. Ladd's research interests include typography, information design, photography, art history, communication theory, and environmental advocacy. His photographs have been exhibited internationally, and he has presented talks and workshops at national conferences. A professor at the University of Massachusetts, Thomas has also taught at Endicott College, Northeastern University, and Rhode Island School of Design. Currently, Spencer is developing a design and arts practice around the history, ecology, harvest, and use of tonewood.
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Conductor, composer, and vocalist Mark Conley has led several high schools, middle schools, and little opera companies, including a performance of Haydn's Te Deum for the Empress Marie Therese, making his Carnegie Hall debut. He oversees the choral department at the University of Rhode Island and is the artistic director of both the selective chamber group Lively Experiment and the auditioned Concert Choir.
His choral and instrumental compositions have been performed around the country. He won the Sadie Rafferty Choral Competition, and has worked as a director or performer with organizations like the Aspen Opera Theater. In addition, he has also worked as the music director for several theatrical groups.
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Gerard Heroux, formerly an adjunct faculty at Brown University, is a published composer and arranger and an instructor/performer of French horn, trumpet, and bass guitar. Mr. Heroux plays Eb alto horn in the Providence Brigade Band, a group that recreates a typical mid-19th century brass band in look and sound. He also plays French horn and trumpet and sings in the AS220 Criss-Cross Orchestra, an 11-piece dance band that combines African and other world music styles. He is the musical director of the Munroe Dairy Marching Milkman Band, a group that performs original and improvised parade music. Currently the Facilities Coordinator for the URI Department of Music of all URI concerts, recitals, and festivals, and supervises a resource center serving 3,000 students annually.
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Festival Team
Adam Levin
Founder and Director, URI Guitar Festival; Artistic Director, Rhode Island Guitar Guild

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Mark Conley
Music Chair, URI

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Jessica Peabody
Fiscal Clerk, URI

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Jacob Wolf
Concert Hall Manager, URI

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Gerard Heroux
Coordinator of Music Resource Center. URI
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Evelyn Mahon
Development Coordinator
Festival Team
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Raffi Danoian
Social Media Coordinator
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Jim Davidson
Director of Competition, Social Media

Céili Connors
Festival Coordinator, Social Media

Osvaldo Gold
Festival Development

Scott Hacker
Festival Project Manager

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​Spencer Ladd
Graphic Design
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Colin Ladd
Graphic Design
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Festival Team
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Raffi Donoian
Social Media Coordinator
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Hannah de Jesus
Social Media Coordinator

Ian Maysmith
Festival Logistics

Adrián Montero
Festival Coordinator
Gef Fisher
Coordinator
Catherine O'Kelly
Rising Star Faculty