WELCOME

to the Miami International GuitART Festival (MIGF) at the Florida International University School of Music, which will present ten concerts, five masterclasses, three lectures, and a composers panel, as well as a composition competition and luthiers expo. It is my honor and privilege to serve as the Artistic Director of MIGF. The inaugural edition of the MIGF last year was a huge success thanks to all guest artists, our generous sponsors at all levels, tireless student volunteers, and audiences. Without you, it wouldn’t have been possible for us to accomplish this tremendous task of organizing a major international festival and making it a successful contribution to the lives of South Florida residents and in general to the music and guitar world. Thank you so much for sharing our excitement and joy of being part of this great festival. It was an extraordinary series of events all day and night during the five-day festival filled with the enthusiasm and energy of all the participants, including the artists and students, as well as the outstanding reception from the audiences. You can view the photos and videos from the festival events here in the media pages, as well as the festival facebook page and youtube channel.

FIUMGO_7998-800 copy_600In the upcoming MIGF 2017, we present you again a wonderful group of artists from all around the world. The artists featured in the concerts include Evan Hirschelman (U.S.A.), Celso Cano (Peru/U.S.A.), Microtonal Guitar Duo (Turkey) with Tolgahan Çoğulu and Sinan Cem Eroğlu, Duo Alto Plano (France) with Valentine Dente (flute) and Arthur Dente (guitar), Federico Bonacossa (Italy), Jacob Sudol (U.S.A.), Celil Refik Kaya (Turkey), Thomas Lippincott (U.S.A.), Felipe Carvajal (Costa Rica) and his flamenco ensemble, Amernet String Quartet(U.S.A.), Muriel Anderson (U.S.A.), and myself. We are excited to start a new collaboration with the wonderful Boston GuitarFest directed by maestro Eliot Fisk and present a concert of the winner of 2016 Boston GuitarFest Competition, Celil Refik Kaya, in the 2017 MIGF.

The composition competition will be presided by the extraordinary composer Orlando Jacinto Garcia (FIU) and joined by two other distinguished judges: the award-winning composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (University of Miami) and the Fulbright scholar/composer Jacob Sudol (FIU). The competition welcomes composers’ submissions of new compositions for solo guitar with or without electronics. There will also be a composers panel among the festival events with non-guitarist and guitarist composers discussing various issues of writing for guitar. The Luthiers Expo will be presenting a wide variety of wonderful guitars of the talented luthiers during the festival.

Masterclasses will be conducted by Evan Hirschelman, Celil Refik Kaya, Muriel Anderson, Arthur Dente, and Microtonal Guitar Duo (open to students of all ages and levels, but there are only 24 spots, don’t wait long to enroll in the masterclasses). Among the lectures are Tolgahan Çoğulu’s presentation of Microtonal Guitars, early music specialist Dr. David Dolata’s presentation of Encyclopedia of Tablature, and internationally renown luthier Kenny Hill’s presentation of Lutherie, Commerce, Music, Satisfaction. The festival will also present many talented young guitarists in a student showcase concert with the FIU Miami Guitar Orchestra.

I look forward to seeing you in the last week of February 2017 as we celebrate the music, our beloved instrument, and the Art in general. Who wouldn’t agree with what great Manuel de Falla said,

“The harmonious efforts which our guitarists produce unconsciously represent one of the marvels of natural art”!

Sincerely,
Mesut Özgen
Artistic Director and Founder

MESSAGES

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