Valérie Hartzell, director
and Fernand Vera and Lauren Kesgen-Guidry, assistant
directors
Check out the pictures from the 2007 festival!
PICTURES
The fifth "Classical Minds" Guitar
Festival will be held from June 27 - July 3, 2008
at University of Houston
Moores School of Music
for more infomtion click
HERE
"Congratulations...what an amazing thing to pull off. I know how hard
you [Valerie] and all your co-teachers had to have worked and the end
result was well worth
it. Thank you for coaxing Charlotte into it. She's in love with
classical again. The teachers were all so different and
fascinating.....This is my second experience hearing a guitar orchestra
and I just can't think of anything more pleasant than a bunch of
beautiful strings playing in parts." Jane Heron, parent of Charlotte
Heron
"What an incredible experience!!!! Randall Avers was just
awesome to watch, listen and talk to. What a great guy. The
unlimited access to the artists and staff was incredible! My
[private] lessons with Olga Amelkina-Vera were very informative.
Valdemar Phoenix was very kind to us "classical" types and helpful in
his insight into the Spanish music and how to approach it from a
flamenco point of view. Thank you for putting together such a fun
festival! I spent an entire week of my annual vacation attending
and will definitely be attending next year! It was well worth my
vacation time!" Jon Erickson
"Thanks Valerie the recital was absolutely beautiful! I know that
Cat was depressed when it was over she said she made a lot of friends
and wished it was longer. I know she will be delighted to attend
again next year she feels she really learned from this experience.
Thanks Again!" Margaret Garcia (Cat Anton's mom)
"As a result of the festival, both Katie and Cat decided to take
classical guitar lessons (neither were), so you [Valerie Hartzell and
faculty] must have done lots of things well." Margaret Hornbostel
(Katie Hornbostel's mom)
Valerie Hartzell,
Classical Guitarist
Full audio clips: Click HERE
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6th 'Classical Minds' Guitar Festival & Competition
University of Houston, Moores School of Music
June 26 - July 2, 2009
Valerie Hartzell, director
Fernand Vera, assistant director
Douglas James, William
Yelverton, Randall Avers, Jerome Ducharme, Elliot Frank, Austin Moorhead, Jonathan Dotson, Mark Cruz, Jhon Akers, Olga Amelkina-Vera, Andrea Cannon, and Alejandro Montiel
Click HERE for more information.
Click HERE to read about the new Guild in Houston:
The Greater Houston Guitar Guild
Valerie Hartzell, director
Claudio Zangirolami, co-director
Eric Gracia, co-director
JB Taylor, student assistant
Exciting new season with Robby
Gibson, Matthew Hinsley, Jonathan Dotson, Randy Reed, Duo LiveOak,
Valerie Hartzell, Yuri Liberzon, and Christopher Berg
NEWS:
* Recital on Sunday, September 13th at the Roger Smith Hotel: Presented by The Roger Smith Hotel, Co-Sponsored by
New York City
Classical Guitar Society (Frank Wallace and John Olson, co-curators)
Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City (
see map)
Tickets $15. For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or
call (212) 755-1400
* Katy Guitar Fest to take place on October 24, 2009 from 10am -
8pm at the Westland Baptist Church (1407 W. Grand Parkway S., Katy,
TX). So far, artists include
Bill Solley (jazz guitarist), Mark Everson (flamenco), Mike Wheeler (jazz), Valerie Hartzell (classical guitarist),
Erich Avinger (jazz / world music) George Heathco, and Sam Perez (classical guitarist). For more information, call 281-578-5873 or go to:
KatyFest
*
Concert and master class at the Dia de la Guitarra at Eastfield Community College on May 30th, 2009.
* Concert at Wofford College, The Troubadour Series, in Spartanburg, SC on January 14th at 4pm in Sandor Teszler Library Gallery. All Troubadour Series concerts are free and open to the public.
The address of the college is: 429 North Church Street, Spartanburg, SC
29303-3663 For more information about The Troubadour Series,
please contact Dr. Akers:
akersjc@wofford.edu
* Concert and Masterclass through the Charlotte Guitar Society at 7:30pm on January 17th. The master class will be on Saturday the 17th from 11am - 1pm (610 Minuet Lane Suite A Charlotte, NC 28217).
The concert will take place in Tate Hall @ CPCC in Charlotte , NC.
* Recital and Master class at Yeager Recital Hall in the Center of the Arts Building at Elon Universty (Elon, NC) at 7:30pm on January 21st. For a map of the campus and directions, click HERE.
* 1st Houston Community College Jazz and Classical Guitar Festival:
February 20-22nd. Duo Athena in concert on Saturday, February
21st. For information on the festival, click HERE.
* Concert at the Fort Worth Guitar Guild Concert Series on Sunday, March 8th at The Art Gallery at the Rose Marine Theate (1440 N. Main Street). To contact the guild, call (817) 721-8500 (ask for Mitch Weverka).
* On Saturday, March 21st, solo concert CANCELED, due to lack of funding at the Pennsylvania Academy of
Music Guitar Festival in Lancaster, PA.
* Solo Recital at Eastfield College on March 25th at 12:45pm. More information will be added later. The address is: 3737 Motley Drive Mesquite, Texas 75150
* Solo Salon Concert through the Greater Houston Guitar Guild on
Saturday, March 28th at 7:30pm. Free appetizers to be served at
7pm before the concert. Seats must be reserved ahead of time,
please email the guild for directions to the Hartzell-Nejako residence
and for ticket information: katyguitarguild@yahoo.com
* Solo Concert at Herberger College of the Arts, Arizona State
University in Tempe, AZ on Thursday, April 9th. Master class will
be held on Friday the 10th.
* Concert and judging at the
Rosario Festival and Competition from April 24-26 in Columbia, SC at the Carolina Music Academy.
Other artists and judges include Stephen
Aron, Christopher Berg and Jonathan Gangi. For more information on the festival, go to: Rosario Festival
*
Solo concert at the Texas Music Festival 'Classical Minds' Institute on
Tuesday, June 30th at 7:30pm in Dudley Recital Hall at University of
Houston.
* In concert with members
of the Houston Grand Opera Studio! The concert was SOLD OUT!!
It took place on Fri, March 2nd at 7:30 pm at Rienzi, part
of the Museam of Fine Arts. Click HERE for pictures.
Please go to the DUOATHENA web site for biographies, pictures, programs, and more information on the concerts.
Festival in Italy:
For all the advanced guitar students out there..........
There are still a couple of spaces left in the Guitar on the Mediterranean
Festival in Cervo, Italy (June 23-30). If you have an advanced student who would
like to participate in the festival, he/she could perform on the young
professional series: a 1/2 rectital, and get in the festival program next to
Lorenzo, Matteo, etc. the web address for the festival is:
www.cervoguitarfestival.com
Contact Andrew Zohn if you are interested:
aezohn@knology.net
Biography
Click HERE for more promotional pictures
Click HERE for pictures of the Ft. Worth Guitar Guild Concert.
Click HERE for picture of the Dia de la Guitarra Festival.
Valerie
Hartzell began
her classical
guitar studies on a half-size Ramirez at the age
of three. At the age of six, she
studied with maestro Alexandre Lagoya at the Académie
Internationale d’Eté in
Nice, France. She has participated in
master classes with several internationally acclaimed artists,
including Ako
Ito, Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, David Russell, and Elena Papandreou.
In 1991,
Ms. Hartzell made her debut performing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Concerto
for
guitar and orchestra” with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving,
Texas. She made her international debut
in San Mamete, Italy at the Festival del Piccolo Mondo in August
1994.
She has performed in Europe, Canada, the
U.S. and has appeared on television in Nice, FR. From September 29-October 5, 2002 she toured the Carolinas which promoted her first cd, Fuoco!
She has performed in many festivals, including the 'Close Encounters' Voice and Guitar
Festival at University of Houston (where she performed and co-directed
the festival along the side of Katherine
Ciesinski), the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition in Mesquite, the
first Classical Guitar Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of
Texas in Frisco, the Tennessee Festival at Middle Tennessee State
University, the ECU Competition and Festival in Greenville, NC and the MANC Guitar Competition and Festival in Greensboro, NC. In
March of 2007, Ms. Hartzell performed with studio members of the Houston Grand
Opera at the Rienzi Recital Series.
In
August 2003, Ms. Hartzell was the first performer to win
the “K-Artist of the Month
Contest” sponsored by Houston’s
former classical station, KRTS, 92.1FM. Additionally,
she was a prizewinner
at the
Portland
Guitar
Competition, the East Carolina University Competition and Festival, and
the Appalachian Guitar Festival and Competition. Was has won 1st prizes at the 10th International
Guitar
Competition “Simone Salmaso” in Viareggio, Italy and at
the Concours de Guitare Classique Heitor Villa-Lobos in Nice, France.
At
the Peabody
Conservatory of Johns
Hopkins University, Ms. Hartzell was awarded the highest undergraduate
scholarship for the classical guitar and studied with Manuel Barrueco
earning
her Bachelor’s Degree in 1997. She was
awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at Radford University with
Robert Trent
and was placed as Adjunct Faculty while studying for her Master’s
Degree in
Music. She received her performance
degree in May of 1999 and currently, she is a Professional Teacher at
Moores
School of Music, University of Houston and is Adjunct Faculty at the
Houston Community College. She also accompanies many vocal
students at both Moores School of Music, University of Houston and at
the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University. She keeps an
active solo career and works in a professional duo with soprano Sandra
Johnson, as Duo Athena and frequently is a judge at international competitions throughout
the United States (St. Joseph International Competition, Texas Guitar
Competition, East Carolina University International Competition, the
Eastfield Guitar Competition, the 'Classical Minds' Guitar Competition, and the MANC Guitar Competition). Many
of her private students have placed and won national and international
competitions. Also, her private
students have been accepted on scholarship to Schwob School of Music
(University of Columbus), San Francisco Conservatory, University of North Texas
in Denton, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University at San Marcos.
Valerie Hartzell is the creator
and Director of the "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival and Competition
at Moores School of Music, University
of Houston and is the director of the Greater Houston Guitar Guild.
Ms. Hartzell plays a Greg Byers Guitar.
Examples of Valerie's playing:
(right click and select 'save target' to download the clip)
Pujol
Dyens-LIVE
MEDIA
APPEARANCES:
Valerie Hartzell with soprano Sandra
Johnson (Duo Athena)
May 31, 2007
on 'The Front Row,' KUHF, 88.7FM. Interview with Dean Dalton.
Guest
on 'Pulling Strings' with Elaine Kennedy and Marc
May 26,
2007
Garvin; KUHF, 88.7FM
Valerie Hartzell and tenor Richard
Kosowski on 'The Front
November 3, 2006
Row'. Performed three of the "Letters from Composers" by
Argento. Interview by Catherine Lu.
Duo Athena (soprano Sandra Johnson and guitarist Valerie
June 1, 2006
Hartzell) interviewed by Dean Dalton on 'The Front Row' KUHF,
88.7FM (with Kithara Duo)
Guest on 'Pulling Strings' with Elaine Kennedy and Marc
May, 2006
Garvin; KUHF, 88.7FM
(with Isaac Bustos)
Guest on ‘Pulling
Strings’
with Elaine Kennedy and
Marc
May 14, 2005
Garvin; KUHF,
88.7FM
Interview
on 'The Front Row' with Dean Dalton on
May 28, 2004
KUHF,
88.7FM
(With Beau Benson and Kithara Duo)
Interview
on 'The Front Row' with Dean Dalton on
June 2, 2004
KUHF,
88.7FM (With Randall Avers)
Houston:
Winner of the
“K-Artist of the Month Contest”
-Interview with Tom Richards on 92.1FM
August
14, 2003
-Performance (live broadcast) at
Magnolia Bar &
Grill
August
17, 2003
-60 second bio spot on 92.1 FM; three times a day for all of
August
Houston:
Interview
with Dean Dalton on KUHF,
88.7FM
May
8, 2003
FESTIVALS:
Solo concert, master
class and judging of the College Division November 14 - 16, 2008
at the MANC Guitar Festival and
Competition in Greensboro, NC
Judged,
performed, and gave master classes at the East
July 12-15, 2008
Carolina University Competition & Festival; Greenville, NC
Solo recital at the Tennessee Gutiar
Festival at Middle March 16th,
2008
Tennessee State University
Taught private lessons at the East
Carolina University Festival
July 15-July 18, 2006
& Competition; Greenville, NC
Director of "Classical Minds"
Guitar Festival at Moores School
May 29 - June 3, 2007
of Music, University of Houston (Texas Music
Festival)
May 30 - June 4, 2006
May 31 - June 4, 2005
May 30 - June 5, 2004
'
The Houston Festival was a great experience. The festival provided one
of the most thorough and comprehensive programs available for classical
guitarists of all levels. Each day, the student is completely immersed
- from warming up, ensemble practice, master classes to lectures on
guitar building and flamenco among other things. The aspect that truly
sets this festival apart was the laid-back atmosphere and the staff's
ambition to design a program that is well rounded and accommodating to the student.'
Randall Avers - Faculty Artist 2004, 2005, 2007
www.randallavers.com
classical guitarist, competition winner, performer, teacher, recording artist
'I have enjoyed the last two years attending the guitar festival and
look forward to attending again next year. I did gain valuable
knowledge and experience from this year's festival. Specifically with
the lecture on indentifying and avoiding medical problems with our
hands, the technique classes, the work during the flamenco break out
sessions, and the individual lessons with Richard Todd.
I cannot dismiss the value and enjoyment received from observing the
high quality performances offered up as a part of the festival as well.
I came away with six or seven CDs this year. It was a win/win for me. I
obtained more classical and flamenco music to enjoy and was also able
to support the performing artists. Thank you again for sponsoring the
annual festival. I look forward to supporting you, your directors and
the other instructors again by participating in next year's festival.'
Michael Smith - Student of the 'Classical Minds' Institute 2 years in a row
Thank you so much [Valerie], and thank you Robb, for your hospitality and
generosity. You were gracious hosts and great company....I enjoyed the festival
and the visit and think you have made a real and lasting impression on the folks
in Houston; I see only successes in your future!!
Again, thanks for including me on the roster, and for your many kindnesses.
Stephen Aron - Faculty Artist 2007
stephenaron.net
performer, recording artist, arranger, composer, teacher, writer, adjudicator, lecturer and impresario
Co-Director of "Close Encounters:
Chamber Music Festival for
June 1 - 6, 2003
Voice and Guitar"; Moores School
of Music (University of Houston)
Director of Montgomery College Guitar
Festival;
February 29 - March 1, 2003
Montgomery College, Conroe, TX
Competitions
First person to win 92.1 FM's K-Artist of the Month Contest
August 2003
Semi-Finalist in Stotsenberg International
Competition;
May 30- June 1, 2003
Malibu, Ca
2nd Place Winner
of the Portland Solo Guitar
Competition:
March 9, 2002
Portland, Or.
Finalist in Appalachian State Guitar Competition
April
2001
First Prize: 10th International Guitar
Competition
March 30, 2001
‘Simone Salmaso’: Viareggio, Italy
Finalist in East Carolina University Competition
July 2000
First Prize: “Villa-Lobos” Guitar Competition: Nice,
France
June 2000
Performances
Solo performance at Appalachian State University in November 10, 2008
Boone, NC - Master class on November 11th.
Solo performance through the Triangle Guitar Society November 9, 2008
at the Durham Arts
Council in Raleigh/Durham, NC
Solo
performance at the Austin Classical Guitar
October 19, 2008
Society Meeting at the Austin History Center
Solo Concert at the East Carolina University July 12, 2008
Competition and Festival; Greenville, NC
Duo Athena and Valerie Hartzell in concert at the Greater May 3, 2008
Houston
Guitar Guild Salon Concert Series
Solo Recital and Master class (Mark Cruz Studio) at April 6, 2008
Texas State University-San Marcos in Evans Recital Hall;
San Marcos, TX
Solo recital at the Tennessee Gutiar
Festival at Middle March 16th,
2008
Tennessee State University
Duo
Athena (Sandra Johnson, soprano and Valerie
March 3, 2008
Hartzell, guitar)
in concert at Kemp Recital Hall
at the Illinois State University; Bloomington-Normal, IL;
Valerie Hartzell in Master class with Dr. Angelo Favis' studio
Duo Athena
(Valerie Hartzell, guitar and
Sandra Johnson, June 1, 2007
soprano) in Concert at the 'Classical Minds' Guitar
Institute Faculty Artist Concert Series at the Moores
Opera House: University of Houston
Duo Athena in Concert at the First Unitarian Universalist May 5, 2007
Church downtown Houston
Duo Athena in Concert at the Houston
April 14, 2007
Community College; Houston, TX
Duo Athena Recital at the University of Houston, March 30, 2007
downtown campus.
Recital at Rienzi with Houston Grand Opera Studio March 2, 2007
Members (Alicia Gianni, Tamara Wilson, Beau
Gibson, and Liam Bonner); Houston, TX
Performed "Letters from Composers" by Dominick November 12, 2006
Argento for tenor, Richard Kosowski's doctoral recital
at Moores School of Music, University of Houston
Fundraising concert for S.T.A.A.R., a dog shelter, with November 4, 2006
Richard Kosowski at the Crosspoints Community
Church in Katy, TX
Concert with soprano, Sandra Johnson at the
June 3, 2006
'Classical Minds' Guitar Festival at University
of Houston
Concert & Master Class at the first Classical Guitar
January 27-29, 2006
Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of
Texas; Frisco, TX
Fundraiser Salon Concert at Hartzell-Nejako residence December 10, 2005
for the S.T.A.A.R. dog shelter; Houston
Private Guitar Concert at the Surgical Pathology
December 8, 2005
Conference, M D Anderson Cancer Center at the
Westin Galleria Hotel; Houston, TX
Guitar Concert at the Eastfield College Guitar Festival
July 30, 2005
& Competition; Mesquite, TX
Guitar Concert
sponsored by the Ft.Worth Guitar Guild at
March 14, 2004
the Southwest Regional Library
Auditorium; Ft. Worth, TX
Close
Encounters: Chamber Music for
Voice and Guitar June 5,
2003.
Katherine
Ciesinski, director Valerie Hartzell,
co-director
Flute and Guitar recital at the First Unitarian
May 11,
2003
Universalist
Church; Houston, TX
Voice and Guitar Concert at Moores School of Music with
April 14,
2003
Sandi Johnson,
soprano; Houston, TX
Montgomery College Guitar Festival featured Kithara
Duo,
February 28 - March 1, 2003
Valerie Hartzell and Mike Havens.
Recital at East Carolina University School of Music;
January 21, 2003
A. J. Fletcher Recital Hall in Greenville, NC
Tour: Saluda, NC; Wofford College, SC;
September 29 – October 5, 2002
Appalachian State
University, NC; Elon University, NC
Guest Artist at
the Winner’s Recital of the Villa-Lobos
April 23, 2001
Guitar Competition, sponsored by KATAULUS: Nice, FR
Faculty Recitals
at Montgomery College
October 12, 2002 February 17, 2002, February
24,
2002,
March 18, 2001, October 28,
2001
Guest Artist at the Summer Guitar Workshop:
June 22, 2001
Greensboro,
NC
Guitar Recital presented by the
Guitar Houston,
at
February 20, 2000
Texas Select Music: Magnolia, TX
Guitar Recital presented by the
Guitar Houston,
at
October 1, 1999
St. Dunstan's Church
France Debut: Guitar Recital
at the Saint
Antoine
May 28,
1999
de Ginestière Church presented by the Ars
Antonina:
Nice, France
Guitar Recital, Christopher Newport
University:
April 20, 1999
Newport News, VA
Faculty Recital, Bondurant Center
(Norwood
Room):
December 4, 1998
Radford, VA
Switzerland Debut: Guest
Artist at the Arts
Festival May
23, 1998
presented by the American School in Switzerland,
Villa
Monticello: Lugano, Switzerland
Debut:
Guest Artist with the New Irving
Philharmonic,
April 1991
Irving, TX
dkfjl
RESUME
Please click HERE
for
a list of teaching experience, judging, and awards.
Information
If you are interested in private
lessons,
concert bookings, or would like more information, please:
Links
Monrad Guitars
Sandra Johnson (Duo Athena)
Byers
Guitars
Clear Lake Guitar
Instructor
www.fleurdeson.com
ECU
worldguitarist.
Matt Gould
Guitar Houston
Naxos
GFA
RandallAvers
Lorenzo Micheli
www.multimania.com/parj/ako/
www.utexas.edu/cofa/music/
www.music.appstate.edu
www.savarez.com/
www.uh.edu/music/tmf.html
Guitarra
Magazine
Los Angeles Classical Guitars
Guitarrabrava.com
UnivofTexasDallas
DouglasJames
FortWorthGuild
EdwardGrigassy
Marc Garvin
ACGS
FrankKoonce
RosarioFestival
MexicoFestivalCompetition
http://www.GuitarCurriculum.com
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Last Updated: 01/08/08
Produced
by: Robert Nejako
nejrob@consolidated.net
