If you love guitar, whether it be classical or jazz, then the week of February 9-13 is for you! Dan Sumner, University of Louisiana at Monroe assistant professor of music, plays host to over ten events this week all centered around the guitar.
"This is my favorite week of the year," explains Sumner.
The festival features nightly concerts in the Emy-LouBiedenharn Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m. Beginning Wednesday, artists will hold master classes. All are free and open to the public. Monday night's concert is the only exception, which will take place in Brown Auditorium, and audience members are encouraged to bring their own guitars and play on stage together. Guitars will be available for those who do not have one.
Guests artists this week include: Cain Budds, Jeff George, Howard Paul, Stan Smith, Max Moran, and Louis Romanos.
Here's a complete schedule:
At 7:30 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 9, the Louisiana Community Guitar Orchestra Event will take place in Brown Auditorium. The event welcomes guitar players of all ages and ability levels to make music together in a collaborative session celebrating the opening of the 2015 ULM Guitar Festival. All are welcome and no experience on the guitar is necessary. Guitars will be available for those who do not have one.
At 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, ULM guitar majors, the ULM Guitar Ensemble, and students from the region will be featured in a student concert in Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.
At 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb.11, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, a two-part concert will be held. The first set features Ruston-based Cain Budds on classical guitar. Budds is an accomplished classical guitarist who is returning to the ULM Guitar Festival after a well-received concert in 2011 and master class in 2013.The second set will feature classical guitarist Jeff George from Lafayette, in his return to the ULM Guitar Festival.
Jazz guitarist Howard Paul will perform with bass player Max Moran, drummer Louis Romanos, and ULM guitar professor Dan Sumner at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. Paul, from Savannah, Georgia, will be performing at the Guitar Festival for the first time. He will also hold a master class at 11 a.m. in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall on Feb. 12.
Max Moran and Louis Romanos return to perform with master guitarist Stan Smith at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 13, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. Smith returns to the ULM Guitar Festival after popular concerts and master classes in 2011 and 2014. Smith will teach a master class at 11 a.m. in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall on Feb. 13.
