NOTE: ALL OUR PRIZES HAVE BEEN RAISED

Samuel Carvalho Guitar

Prizes:
Division 1:
$800 Greater Houston Guitar Guild First Prize, a concert through the Greater Houston Guitar Guild and a Samuel Carvalho guitar  
$400 Second Prize - TxGQ Prize
$250 Third Prize  - EnvisionArts 

Division 2:
$500 First Prize - Jim Crain Prize
$300 Second Prize Baker and Wallace Prize  
$200 Third Prize TxGQ and TXGG Prize

Division 3:
$300  GuitarCurriculum.com Prize
$200  GuitarCurriculum.com Prize
$100  Bruce Wright Prize

Sandburg and Segovia
This presentation / performance  covers the American poet Carl Sandburg’s livelong passion for the classical guitar and his ties to Andrés Segovia. It includes a narration, a dramatization and recitation of Sandburg’s best guitar-inspired writings, and a performance of the classical guitar music Sandburg loved—including Segovia’s original composition for Sandburg. This program has been presented at both the Carl Sandburg Days Festival in Galesburg, Illinois, and the Carl Sandburg Home Historic Site in Flat Rock, North Carolina—run by the National Park System and the United States Department of the Interior.

Exhibitions will take place in Room 145 of the Moores School of Music Bldg. on the University of Houston campus.  This room is spacious enough for many vendors to comfortably showcase their guitars.  Also, vendors are welcome to bring music, strings, and any other materials they wish to showcase.  Forms must be sent in by June 22nd.  Please download the form here: VENDORFORM

Born in Managua, Nicaragua Isaac Bustos began playing popular Latin-American music on the guitar by ear at age 11. By age 12, he was accepted into the Conservatorio Nacional de Musica in Managua where he received top honors in guitar performance. Isaac immigrated to the United States with his family in 1988 and continued his studies with Juan Mercadal, Carlos Molina and Rene Gonzalez. An extensive performance career has taken Bustos to Canada, Central America, Europe and all over the US.  He has gained critical acclaim and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the top young guitarists of his generation. “Soulful and virtually flawless,” hails the Portland Oregonian and the Boston Globe writes, “In warm, round tones, the notes of Bach cascaded from the guitar, every note correct and played without hesitation.” He has made several Radio and Television appearances and has been invited to perform in the Portland Guitar Festival, the St. Joseph Guitar Festival, the Eastfield College Guitar Festival, Texas Guitar Festival, and the Classical Minds Festival. Isaac has appeared as soloist with the Orchestra of New Spain, The Baytown Symphony Orchestra and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Maestro JoAnn Falletta.
An impressive array of top prizes include: First Prize – 2006 Miami International Guitar Competition, Miami, FL; First Prize – 2005 Texas International Guitar Competition, Dallas, TX; First Prize – 2004 Lachine International Guitar Competition, Lachine, QC, Canada; First Prize – 2004 St. Joseph International Solo Guitar Competition, St. Joseph, MO; First Prize – 2004 Portland Solo Guitar Competition, Portland, OR; First Prize – 2004 East Carolina University Solo Guitar Competition, Greenville, NC; First Prize – 2002 University of New Hampshire Concerto Competition, Durham, NH; Top Prize – 2003 Appalachian State University Solo Guitar Competition, Boone, NC; Top Prize – Second International JoAnn Falletta Concerto Competition, Buffalo, NY; Top Prize – 2006 Columbus State University Solo Guitar Competition, Columbus, GA; Top Prize – 2007 Southwest International Guitar Competition,
San Antonio, TX; Top Prize -- 2008 IX Concurso Internacional Guitarras Alhambra, Valencia, Spain; Semifinalist – 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2009 Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Guitar Competitions.
In addition to guitar study, Bustos has performed in several premieres. Most recently works by composers Peter Askim for solo guitar, Andrew Dickinson for four guitars, a work for two guitars and electronic sound effects by Jeremy Cumbo and “After Sylvius” a solo guitar work written for Isaac by composer/guitarist Frank Wallace.
Isaac has participated in Masterclasses of international world-renowned performing artists such as Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Paul Galbraith, Fabio Zanon, Ricardo Iznaola, Odair Assad, Elliot Fisk, Jason Vieaux and Pepe Romero. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree in guitar performance from the University of New Hampshire, where he was the only guitarist to ever hold a full scholarship, and a Master of Music degree from the University of Texas at Austin where he is also currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts.  

Isaac is currently on faculty at Texas A&M University Department of Performance Studies.

Always an active performer, James' recent concert schedule has included engagements at the Oberlin Conservatory, Peabody Conservatory, the Cleveland Institute of Music, numerous American guitar societies, Piccolo Spoleto, and the Stetson International Guitar Workshop. Dr. James has served in the Artists-in-Residence program of the State of North Carolina, and as a touring artist for the Southern Arts Federation and the Arizona Commission on the Arts. He frequently serves as a judge for important guitar competitions, including such events as the Guitar Foundation of America International Solo Guitar Competition and the GOLD Competition at Oberlin Conservatory. As a radio recitalist, James has been featured on National Public Radio's Performance Today, as well as special broadcasts on the major classical stations of Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. His critically acclaimed CD of Italian Romantic solo guitar music performed on period guitars was recently followed by the release of a duo CD with Italian guitarist Pasquale Rucco, Early Romantic Music for Two Guitars. Both discs are on the Cala Vista label. Douglas James holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Arizona, where he studied guitar with Thomas Patterson. Dr. James is currently Director of Guitar Studies and Appalachian Guitar Fest at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina.

Applauded by critics and audiences for his unique blend of powerful virtuosity, beautiful tone, and natural musicianship, Elliot Frank has appeared as solo recitalist, chamber player, and as concerto soloist throughout the Americas and Europe. He is a frequent guest performer and teacher at guitar festivals throughout the Americas. Recent highlights include performances for the 2006 Guitar Foundation of America Festival, the 2006 Classical Minds Guitar Institute, Alexandria Guitar Festival, Piccolo Spoleto, the Appalachian Guitar Fest, his Canadian debut at the Festival Lachine in Montreal, Canada, at the Southwest Guitar Festival in San Antonio, and at the Sixth Guitar Festival of the Dominican Republic. Other international performances include appearances in Colombia, Venezuela, and Vienna, Austria as part of the Duo Saint Caecilia with flutist Christine Gustafson. He has also performed for the Tennessee Classical Guitar Festival, the North Carolina Bach Festival, Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, and the East Carolina University Summer Guitar Festival, where he also serves as Director.  ACA Digital Recordings recently released his first compact disc, South American Guitar Music, which has been praised as being “eloquent” and “delightful.”  He has also appeared in solo recitals for the Tallahassee Guitar Society, the University of Memphis Classical Guitar Society, the Dallas Guitar Society, the Piedmont Guitar Society, the Richmond Classic Guitar Society, and Guitar Houston. An aficionado of guitar music of Hispanic cultures, he has performed lecture/recitals pertaining to the music of Antonio Lauro for the Guitar Foundation of America at international festivals in Pasadena and New Orleans. Elliot Frank has commissioned and performed works for guitar including an important new sonata by Andrew Zohn, E Sonata, which was premiered in 2004 at the New Music at ECU Festival. Most recently, he was selected to give the inaugural performance at the inaugural Sauble Beach Festival of the Classic Guitar in Sauble Beach, Ontario.

Since his 1988 European debut in Glasgow, Dr. Yelverton has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. His concert schedule has included performances at the Aspen and Tanglewood Music Festivals, live radio and television appearances, and guest artist recitals at prominent universities and music societies. As a founding member of the Stones River Chamber Players, he has performed with the group throughout the US and on their May '03 European tour of Switzerland, Germany and France. In June '03, William Yelverton performed as concerto soloist with the Black Sea Philharmonic Orchestra in Constanta, Romania. In February 2002, William Yelverton commissioned and premiered a new guitar concerto by Roger Hudson with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra strings during NCO's Nashville Guitar Festival. At the festival, he performed a showcase solo concert and with elite Nashville guitarists: John Jorgenson, John Johns, and Phil Keaggy. In February 2000, he was selected to accompany legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti in concert with the Nashville Symphony before an audience of 16,000. His '95 performance was heard nationally on NPR's broadcast of "150 Years of American Fingerstyle Guitar."

Austin Moorhead is a well established up and coming Classical Guitarist currently based in New Haven, Connecticut. He received his Bachelor’s in Guitar performance at Arizona State University while studying with Frank Koonce, and is currently pursuing his Masters of Music at Yale University studying with Ben Verdery on a full scholarship. Most recently, he received third prize in the prestigious 2007 Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition in Los Angeles, CA.  He has also received first prize in several other well-known National and International Guitar competitions, including the 2008 National Guitar Workshop Competition; the 2007 ECU Guitar Competition; the 2007 American String Teachers Association Competition in Detroit, MI; the 2006 Eastfield Guitar Competition in Mesquite, TX; the 2006 Music Academy of North Carolina Guitar Competition in Greensboro, NC; the 2006 Rosario Guitar Competition in OH; and the 2006 Arizona State University Concerto Competition in Tempe, AZ

Mr. Moorhead has also been a prize winner in numerous competitions including 2nd Prize in the 2008 Columbus State International Guitar Competition in Columbus, GA; 2nd Prize at the 2007 St. Joseph International Guitar Competition in St. Joseph, MO; 4th Prize in the 2008 GFA International Guitar Competition in San Francisco, CA; 4th Prize at the 2007 and in the 2009 Southwest International Guitar Competition in San Antonio, TX

Mr. Moorhead keeps a busy schedule an active performer, competitor, and teacher.   As a prize for receiving 2^nd place at the St. Joseph International Guitar Competition he was asked to perform a concert, give a master class, and teach lessons at the 6^th ‘Classical Minds’ Guitar Festival.

Kithara Duo  (Fernand Vera and Olga Amelkina-Vera) was formed in 2002. They have been invited to perform as guest artists by numerous Texas organizations and festivals, most notably Foundation of Modern Music (Houston), Col Canto (Houston),  “Classical Minds" Guitar Festival at the University of Houston Moores School of Music, Fort Worth Guild Music Festival, Mesquite Guitar Festival, and live on "The Front Row," a program on Houston's classical radio station KUHF 88.7.  Kithara Duo are the creators and directors of the annual Guitar Orchestra Workshop in the North Texas area.

Accolades for the duo from the University of Texas at Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival:

"… an absolutely beautiful sounding duo!"

"A real pleasure to hear--wonderful uniformity of articulation and phrasing.  A first rate duo."

"Rhythmic vitality and a light and facile approach."

“A fine, expressive performance.” 

Jhon C. Akers, associate professor in foreign languages and associate director of the Success Initiative, came to Wofford in 1993 from North Carolina State University where he was the coordinator of the Spanish section in the department of foreign languages and literatures. He is a cum laude graduate of Middlebury College, Vermont, and earned a Ph.D. in Hispanic languages and literatures from UCLA.
The author of several articles on Spanish and Mexican American literature, he has presented research to the Modern Language Association, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, the Philological Association of the Carolinas, and the state language organization of North Carolina.
Along with his work in the Success Initiative at Wofford, Mr. Akers teaches in the department of modern languages and has led January Interim groups to Cuernavaca, Mexico. He is the advisor to the Wofford chapter of Sigma Delta Pi Spanish Honor Society and was elected May 2001 as the national organization's vice president for the Southeast.  Recently, he began a chapter of Rotaract at Wofford, working as a Rotarian with the downtown Spartanburg Rotary to develop career and service opportunities for Wofford students. 
An avid classical guitarist, he has performed programs at Wofford, Furman, Notre Dame University, Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, the North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of South Carolina School of Music, the Telfair Museum in Savannah, Georgia, and most recently the Free Library of Philadelphia. He has been at Carl Sandburg Home as a featured performer for the annual Poetry Celebration and the Folk Festival in May—the only classical artist to bridge the two events, most recently in May 2008. The summer of 2000 he was in Cuernavaca, Mexico, as a guest of the Cultural Institute of the State of Morelos; in October 2001, he traveled to Winterthur, Switzerland, with a group of Greater Spartanburg Philharmonic soloists, representing Spartanburg in a cultural exchange. He has taught courses at Wofford on the evolution of the classical guitar and its ties to the Spanish vihuela. He also maintains a busy private classical guitar studio.
His transcription of an original composition of Andrés Segovia composed for Carl Sandburg was accepted for publication by the Columbia Music Company of Chapel Hill, NC, and with permission of Segovia’s widow. It was released spring 2004 and has been recorded by Agustín Maruri for the Spanish Academy of Music.  In spring 2005 he presented the opening event at Sandburg’s birth home for the annual Carl Sandburg Days festival in Galesburg, Illinois, sharing the stage with Kevin Stein, Illinois’ poet laureate; his book A Small Friend—Carl Sandburg’s Guitar was published that spring as well.
Dr. Akers received recognition from the Wofford Campus Union in 1997 as “Faculty Member of the Year.” He is also twice recipient of a Western North Carolina Regional Artist grant to produce his CD on Sandburg and Segovia, and publish his book. 

"Mr. Montiel's performance was the finest of our season." ~ Larry Aynesmith, President of the Sierra Nevada Guitar Society.

In 2005, Alejandro returned to the University of Texas and is currently studying to obtain his doctorate in music, once again under the tutelage of Adam Holzman. In 2006 and 2007, Mr. Montiel was named a finalist in the Texas Guitar Competition. From 2005 - 2008, Alejandro served as a private instructor through the Austin Classical Guitar Society’s educational outreach program, where he worked with the local schools to further their already established classical guitar programs. Alejandro was one of two student assistants under full scholarship for the 2007 and 2008 "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival in Houston, TX. Mr. Montiel has been featured in public radio interviews and performances throughout the US. In January 2008, Alejandro was appointed to the music faculty in Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX.

In addition to his studies and instruction, Alejandro also performs as a founding member of the award-winning Texas Guitar Quartet and the Duo Gran Colombia. Mr. Montiel plays on a 2008 Granados guitar.