Author: Mary Ann Lauricella
The JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition returns the week of June 2, the sixth time since 2004 that outstanding young professional classical guitarists will perform for Buffalo audiences.
Eight talented guitarists representing seven nations will compete in the semifinals at 7:30 pm. on Wednesday, June 4 and Thursday, June 5 (four each evening) at the WNED-WBFO studios downtown. Three finalists will move on to perform with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Falletta at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7 at Kleinhans Music Hall. Presented by WNED and the BPO, the event honors BPO conductor JoAnn Falletta, who is a classical guitarist.
Tickets for the semifinals ($12 each night) and the finals ($41-$76) are available at 885-5000 or www.bpo.org. Special prices are available for students and seniors.
The first-prize package includes $10,000, a solo concert in Milan, Italy; performances at Carnegie Hall, the BPO, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, the Round Top Music Festival; a recording contract, and a concert guitar.
Two Americans are among the semifinalists – Benjamin Beirs (Philadelphia) and Chad Ibison (Austin). Joining them are Sanel Redzic, Bosnia; Laura Klemke, Germany; Marcin Kuzniar, Poland; Dan Alexandru Arhire, Romania; Ekachai Jearakul, Thailand; and Marko Topchii, Ukraine.
Competition artistic directors are Buffalo-based Michael Andriaccio and Joanne Castellani, who perform together internationally as a classical guitar ensemble, are educators and owners of Fleur de Son Classics record label. Joining them as judges are the Amadeus Guitar Duo (Dale Kavanagh and Thomas Kirchhoff), from Germany; Micaela Pittaluga, president of the Pittaluga Competition, from Italy; David Osenberg, program host at WWFM Radio in New York City; and virtuoso guitarist Ana Vidovic, from Croatia.
Audience Favorite and BPO Musicians’ Favorite awards also are voted on and presented on June 7.
In conjunction with the Competition, “Guitar Day,” free daytime solo performances by the semifinalists will be held at various community sites on Friday, June 6. Among them are Larkin Square at Noon, Roswell Park Cancer Institute at 1 p.m. and Women & Children’s Hospital at 10:30 a.m. Visit www.fallettacompetition.org for all locations and times.