to the Miami International GuitART Festival (MIGF) at the Florida International University School of Music, which will present eleven 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 inaugural edition, which has been a dream of mine for a long time. Since I came to Miami, where is a home to so many wonderfully talented guitar artists, and started teaching at FIU School of Music as the director of guitar studies, we have been building a strong guitar program with many outstanding students coming from all around the world. As part of the guitar program, I started the FIU Miami Guitar Orchestra in the fall of 2013 and after presenting six concerts in Miami and Miami Beach during the past two seasons, I am proud to say that we have build a loyal following!
As a result of tremendous support from the FIU School of Music as the primary sponsor of the festival, as well as invaluable contributions from the Miami Classical Guitar Society, FIU Miami Beach Urban Studios, Miami Turkish Consulate, Savino Music, Miami-Dade County Division of Cultural Affairs, Turkish Airlines, FIU Stocker AstroScience Center, and Florida Turkish American Association, we present you a festival with a wonderful group of artists from all around the world, led by the great American master Benjamin Verdery, who personally has been an inspiration for me first as teacher at Yale and later as colleague. The festival concerts will feature Benjamin Verdery (Yale University), Stephen Aron (Oberlin Conservatory), Robert Trent (Radford University), John Schneider (Pierce College), Trio Anka (Turkey) with Kagan Korad (guitar), Demet Gökalp (cello), and Ayhan Ustuk (tenor), Duo Con-Trastes (Cuba) with Zuleida Suárez and Susana Frade, Miami Guitar Trio with Federico Bonacossa (Italy), Federico Musgrove (Argentina), and Corey Harvin (U.S.A.), Felipe Carvajal (Costa Rica) and his flamenco group, Molina Duo with soprano Marisa Molina and guitarist Carlos Molina (Cuba/U.S.A.), Celso Cano (Nova Southeastern University), and myself.
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 the young and emerging composers’ submissions of new guitar compositions for solo, duo, or trio in two age categories. 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 in the Frost Art Museum, which will also be hosting a special exhibition “The Shakespeare’s First Folio” during the festival.
Masterclasses will be conducted by Benjamin Verdery, Stephen Aron, Robert Trent, Kagan Korad, and myself (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 the Grammy winner John Schneider’s presentation of music in just intonation by Lou Harrison, the early music specialist Dr. Robert Trent’s presentation of 19th century performance practice, and the Spanish luthier Amalia Ramirez’s presentation of legendary Segovia and Ramirez Collaboration. The festival will also present many talented young guitarists in a Student Showcase Concert.
I look forward to seeing you in the last week of February 2016 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
Robert B. Dundas
Dear Friends and supporters of the Miami International GuitART Festival! I am delighted to welcome you to this unique and exciting series of concerts and events. Through his tireless efforts, my colleague Mesut Özgen has planned a wonderful festival that celebrates the art of the guitar. At the FIU School of Music we strive to “create, innovate, and inspire” and this festival fulfills that pledge. I’m sure you will enjoy the many styles of music represented on this festival and discover the many facets (and frets!) of the finest in music for guitar. Enjoy!
Brian Schriner
I couldn't be more proud of Dr. Mesut Ozgen and the FIU School of Music for hosting the MIFG. I encourage you to participate in this wonderful celebration of culture and artistic talent!
Kenneth G. Furton
The Miami International GuitART Festival (MIGF) brings renowned artists from around the world to our School of Music to celebrate music and culture. It's a great opportunity to enjoy the wonderful musical performances and to experience Miami and FIU at our best!
Mark B. Rosenberg
The MIGF contributes to FIU’s best qualities in pursuit of our mission. The Arts in general are essential to FIU's life of the mind and music has the potential for engagement at many levels. I would like to welcome all of you to this festival and enjoy wonderful musical performances representing different cultures and traditions around the world.