Steppin’ OutFeature

Fourth annual guitar festival

offers classes and concerts
By NICOLE LIEURANCE

T
he oldest instrument at the
fourth annual Guitar Solo
& Ensemble Festival will
be more than 200 years old,but the
youngest player is only 9.
The festival, presented by the
South Bay Guitar Society through
an arts grant from the city of San
Jose,takes place March 28-30,with
the cooperation of San Jose State
University’s music department.
The majority of the festival will
be held at the School of Music
building at San Jose State Univer-
sity, S. Seventh Street near E. San
Carlos Street, San Jose. An
evening concert takes place March
29, 8 p.m. at Le Petit Trianon The-
atre,72 N.Fifth St.,San Jose.
The festival kicks off March 28,
8 p.m., with an evening perform-
ance titled “World Guitar Night”
that features music from India,
Persia and Turkey, performed by
Babak Falsafi, Mesut Ozgen and
Matthew Grasso.
“We’re proud to have a lot of
international music this year,”
Jerry Snyder, president and artis- Top classical guitarist Ricardo Cobo performs March 29 at the
tic director of the South Bay Gui- Guitar Festival.
tar Society, says.
The March 29 concert features Eric Symons. tique with professionals.”
renowned classical guitarist Ricar- Other lectures include “Self- All workshops and events of the
do Cobo of Las Vegas. Cobo, who publishing Guitar Music,”“Effec- festival are free,with the exception
is Colombian-born, was the first tive Practice,” and instruction in a of the evening performances and
Hispanic to win consecutive prizes variety of techniques and styles master classes.Twelve vendors are
at the Guitar Foundation of ranging from Brazilian to Celtic. also participating in the festival.
America International Solo Com- Some of the classes are clinics, in The public may audit master
petition, a feat he accomplished which participants are encour- classes for $5 each. Tickets for
while still in college. aged to bring their own instru- World Guitar Night on March 28
Cobo has been playing profes- ments.A total of 13 professionals are $15-$20; tickets for the March
sionally since the age of 16,when he will teach at the festival. 29 Cobo concert are $15-$35. For
played with Orquesta Filarmonica The remainder of the festival more information, call 408.292.
de Bogota in a nationwide telecast activities is adjudicated performanc- 0704 or visit www.sbgs.org.
for more than nine million viewers. es,in which professionals will critique
In addition to his performance, artists of all ages and skill levels.
Cobo will teach a master class for Roberto Granados, 9, is one of
pre-screened advanced students. the performers.Despite his young STEPPIN’ OUT STAFF
The master class takes place March age, he has no trouble keeping up Editor
29, 2 p.m. Marc Teicholz, another with his adult counterparts, says Dale Bryant
winner of the Guitar Foundation of Snyder. 408.200.1021
America International Solo Com- “He’s quite a sensation,”Snyder dbryant@community-
petition, gives a master class on says.“He played classical guitar last newspapers.com
March 30,2 p.m. year … even sang the blues too.” Arts Coverage
During the day on March 29-30, The adjudicated section will Heather Zimmerman
professionals will give lectures feature many other young partici- 408.200.1054
and clinics. pants,as 29 students are scheduled hzimmerman@community-
Guitar collector Jim Forderer, to come from Las Vegas Academy, newspapers.com
an expert on guitar history, will a prestigious music and arts high Social Coverage
speak about the evolution of the school.These performances are all Mary Gottschalk
guitar since the 14th century. He free and open to the public. 408.200.1035
will also show off his extensive col- “There is very little opportuni- mgottschalk@community-
lection, which includes baroque ty for guitar players to play for newspapers.com
guitars dating back to the 1700s. adjudication, especially younger Advertising Information
His instruments will be demon- players,”Snyder says.“We wanted 408.200.1002
strated by guitarist and composer to present an opportunity for cri-