Southeastern NEWS
Southeastern Louisiana University
Public Information Office
publicinfo@selu.edu
SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
Date: 3/27/01
Contact: Christina Chapple 97
Editors: Photo accompanies release
SOUTHEASTERN STAGES GUITAR FESTIVAL MARCH 29-APRIL 1
HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University will stage the Southeastern Guitar
Festival, four days of recitals by guest artists, university faculty, students and community
musicians, March 29-April 1.
The festival is sponsored by the Southeastern Student Government Association, Music
and Dramatic Arts Department and the Southeastern Guitar Society, a new community
organization of guitar enthusiasts formed to provide financial and other support for guitar
activities in southeast Louisiana.
Southeastern guitar professor Patrick Kerber, president of the Southeastern Guitar
Society, said all festival events will take place at Southeastern's Pottle Music Building
Auditorium. All recitals are free.
The festival will feature guitarist and composer Benjamin Verdery, who will present a
guest recital at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 31. Verdery has been described by Guitar Review
Magazine as "An American original; an American master." He has performed at festivals
including the International Guitar Festival in Havana, Cuba; the Festival International de Agosto
in Caracas, Venezuela, and the Bad Urach Schubert Festival in Germany. He also has performed
with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera and the
Ambassador Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., and Chichester Cathedral in England.
Verdery has recorded and performed with diverse artists such as Frederic Hand, Leo
Kottke, Anthony Newman, Jessye Norman, Paco Pena and John Williams.
Following Verdery's concert at 9:15 p.m., popular local jazz guitarists David Bivens and
Matt Johnson will perform for "Jazz and Coffee at Pottle."
(MORE)
SOUTHEASTERN GUITAR FESTIVAL -- Add One
"Come sit outside, meet Benjamin Verdery, and enjoy the performance and
complimentary coffee and dessert," Kerber said.
Verdery will also present a masterclass for students from Southeastern and area schools
from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday, April 1.
The guitar festival schedule includes:
The Southeastern Classical Guitar Ensemble, 7:30 p.m., Thursday, March 29. Directed
by Kerber, the popular ensemble will perform a varied and eclectic program of music ranging
from Vivaldi's "Concerto for Two Mandolins" to the Tito Puente and Carlos Santana pop hit,
"Oye Como Va," with piano and percussion. Mezzo soprano Daveda Karanas will join the
ensemble for de Falla's "Siete Caciones Populares Espanolas."
Patrick Kerbert, 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 30. Kerber will be joined by Southeastern
colleagues Emily Truckenbrod, soprano, and Larry Gray, poet, playwright and director, for an
evening of eclectic and traditional performances. Truckenbrod will perform a set of Louisiana
French folk songs and Kerber's composition, "Songs of a Mother." Gray, an award-winning
playwright and retired member of the Southeastern English faculty, will read selections from his
own poetry accompanied by Kerber's improvisations. The program also will feature music for
solo guitar by Kerber and Giuliani.
Student Invitational Concert, 2 p.m., Sunday, April 1. The festival will close with
performances by Southeastern and area guitar students. "These musicians are the future," Kerber
said. "Expect a high level of performance from talented and dedicated young guitarists."
For additional information about the Southeastern Guitar Festival, contact Kerbert at 985-
549-2886 or 985-542-1319.
-SLU-
Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp01.htm