Classen SAS Guitar
Classen SAS Guitar Festival February 7-11
Classen School of Advanced Studies is a magnet school in Oklahoma City that has recently been named the #14 school in the US. Classen also boasts one of the largest and most successful pre-college classical guitar programs. This years exciting events include a concert series and many competitions and performances. The goal of the concert series is to provide an affordable opportunity for students and music lovers of all ages to experience world class musicians such as Andrew York and Ana Vidovic whose information is listed below. ENJOY!
Matthew Denman February 7 4:00p.m. Crossings Community Church for more information 755-2227
This concert will include students from CLASSEN SAS, SNU, and friends Douglas Back, Susan Pierce, and Bear Rodriguez. THIS CONCERT IS FREE TO THE PUBLIC!
“… a great talent, musician, and person.” Pepe Romero
Matthew Denman is a guitarist and a composer from the Oklahoma City area. He directs, with the help of Bear Rodriguez, one of the largest and most successful classical guitar programs in the country at Classen School of Advanced Studies (over 230 students). For the past two years his students have received national awards including 1st place (High School Quartet) at the Brownsville Guitar Festival and Competition. He also directs the guitar program at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, OK with help of adjuncts Luke Buthman and Jeff Hicks. Matt was awarded the “Images of Excellence” in May of 2008 for inspirational teaching.
At heart, Matt is a classical guitarist who has played for Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin, and Nicholas Goluses. With performances ranging from guitar concertos with full orchestra to intimate solo guitar recitals Matt keeps a full performance schedule every year. Last summer Matt was one of 16 guitar players from around the world chosen to attend the 1st Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute.
In addition, Matt loves playing other styles of guitar professionally. This year he has played for professional productions of Chicago(Banjo), The Who’s Tommy , and High School Musical.
Matthew Denman graduated from Oklahoma City University with a double major in classical guitar performance and music composition and has received his Masters of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Matt has had many teachers including Joe Settlemire (USAO), Michael Fresonke (OCU) and he is currently a student of Connie Sheu (USC).
Matthew Denman is a guitarist and a composer from the Oklahoma City area. He directs, with the help of Bear Rodriguez, one of the largest and most successful classical guitar programs in the country at Classen School of Advanced Studies (over 230 students). For the past two years his students have received national awards including 1st place (High School Quartet) at the Brownsville Guitar Festival and Competition. He also directs the guitar program at Southern Nazarene University in Bethany, OK with help of adjuncts Luke Buthman and Jeff Hicks. Matt was awarded the “Images of Excellence” in May of 2008 for inspirational teaching.
At heart, Matt is a classical guitarist who has played for Christopher Parkening, Sharon Isbin, and Nicholas Goluses. With performances ranging from guitar concertos with full orchestra to intimate solo guitar recitals Matt keeps a full performance schedule every year. Last summer Matt was one of 16 guitar players from around the world chosen to attend the 1st Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute.
In addition, Matt loves playing other styles of guitar professionally. This year he has played for professional productions of Chicago(Banjo), The Who’s Tommy , and High School Musical.
Matthew Denman graduated from Oklahoma City University with a double major in classical guitar performance and music composition and has received his Masters of Education from the University of Central Oklahoma. Matt has had many teachers including Joe Settlemire (USAO), Michael Fresonke (OCU) and he is currently a student of Connie Sheu (USC).
CONCERT SERIES - For Ticket information contact Matthew Denman at 405-535-7940
Ana Vidovic February 9th 7:30 Classen SAS
Biography Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary talent with formidable gifts taking her place amongst the elite musicians of the world today. Ms. Vidovic has given over one thousand public performances since first taking the stage in 1988. Her international performance career includes recitals in New York, London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis. Equally impressive is the fact that she has already recorded 6 CDs, the most recent for the Naxos label featuring works by F. Moreno Torroba, released in Spring, 2007. Mel Bay Publications released Ana Vidovic's most recent DVD in 2009 entitled "Guitar Artistry in Concert," a journey through the the music of Torroba, Piazzolla and Pierre Bensusan, Sergio Assad, Stanley Myers, Villa-Lobos and Agustin Barrios Mangoré. "Guitar Virtuoso," Ana's performance of works by Bach, Torroba, Paganini and Walton, was released on DVD by the Mel Bay label in 2006.
Ms. Vidovic continues to broaden her repertoire and maintains an ongoing performance schedule in the United States and abroad. Her recital schedule in the USA this season takes her to Portland (OR), Pasadena, Pensacola, Austin, Erie, Baltimore and the 92nd St. Y in NYC; and she performs with the Asheville Symphony.
Her Summer 2008 engagements included Monterrey (Mexico), Dublin, Bulle (Switzerland) and the Interlochen Music Festival in Michigan. Her 2008-09 season internationally includes recitals in Paris, Brazil, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Mexico; and, in the US, a concerto performance with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra conducted by Markand Thakar, and recitals in St. Louis and Sarasota. Highlights of Ana Vidovic’s 2007-08 season included tours to Hungary, Croatia, Korea, Colombia and the Netherlands with stateside engagements including recitals at Spivey Hall (Morrow, GA), Richmond (VA), Portland (OR) and Mobile (AL); and a concerto performances with the West Virginia Symphony conducted by Grant Cooper. Ms. Vidovic has won an impressive number of prizes and international competitions including first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor competition in Rome, Italy and the Francisco Tarrega competition in Benicasim, Spain. Other top prizes include the Eurovision Competition for Young Artists, Mauro Giuliani competition in Italy, Printemps de la Guitare in Belgium and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York. In Croatia the guitarist has performed with the Zagreb Soloists and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and with Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian Radio and Television, as well as having been featured in three television documentaries by the eminent Croatian film director Petar Krelja.
Ana Vidovic comes from the small town of Karlovac near Zagreb, Croatia, and started playing guitar at the age of 5, and by 7 had given her first public performance. At the age of 11 she was performing internationally, and at 13 became the youngest student to attend the prestigious National Musical Academy in Zagreb where she studied with Professor Istvan Romer. Ana's reputation in Europe led to an invitation to study with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory where she graduated in 2003.
Biography Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary talent with formidable gifts taking her place amongst the elite musicians of the world today. Ms. Vidovic has given over one thousand public performances since first taking the stage in 1988. Her international performance career includes recitals in New York, London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis. Equally impressive is the fact that she has already recorded 6 CDs, the most recent for the Naxos label featuring works by F. Moreno Torroba, released in Spring, 2007. Mel Bay Publications released Ana Vidovic's most recent DVD in 2009 entitled "Guitar Artistry in Concert," a journey through the the music of Torroba, Piazzolla and Pierre Bensusan, Sergio Assad, Stanley Myers, Villa-Lobos and Agustin Barrios Mangoré. "Guitar Virtuoso," Ana's performance of works by Bach, Torroba, Paganini and Walton, was released on DVD by the Mel Bay label in 2006.
Ms. Vidovic continues to broaden her repertoire and maintains an ongoing performance schedule in the United States and abroad. Her recital schedule in the USA this season takes her to Portland (OR), Pasadena, Pensacola, Austin, Erie, Baltimore and the 92nd St. Y in NYC; and she performs with the Asheville Symphony.
Her Summer 2008 engagements included Monterrey (Mexico), Dublin, Bulle (Switzerland) and the Interlochen Music Festival in Michigan. Her 2008-09 season internationally includes recitals in Paris, Brazil, Sweden, the Netherlands, Germany and Mexico; and, in the US, a concerto performance with the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra conducted by Markand Thakar, and recitals in St. Louis and Sarasota. Highlights of Ana Vidovic’s 2007-08 season included tours to Hungary, Croatia, Korea, Colombia and the Netherlands with stateside engagements including recitals at Spivey Hall (Morrow, GA), Richmond (VA), Portland (OR) and Mobile (AL); and a concerto performances with the West Virginia Symphony conducted by Grant Cooper. Ms. Vidovic has won an impressive number of prizes and international competitions including first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor competition in Rome, Italy and the Francisco Tarrega competition in Benicasim, Spain. Other top prizes include the Eurovision Competition for Young Artists, Mauro Giuliani competition in Italy, Printemps de la Guitare in Belgium and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York. In Croatia the guitarist has performed with the Zagreb Soloists and the Zagreb Philharmonic Orchestra and with Symphony Orchestra of the Croatian Radio and Television, as well as having been featured in three television documentaries by the eminent Croatian film director Petar Krelja.
Ana Vidovic comes from the small town of Karlovac near Zagreb, Croatia, and started playing guitar at the age of 5, and by 7 had given her first public performance. At the age of 11 she was performing internationally, and at 13 became the youngest student to attend the prestigious National Musical Academy in Zagreb where she studied with Professor Istvan Romer. Ana's reputation in Europe led to an invitation to study with Manuel Barrueco at the Peabody Conservatory where she graduated in 2003.
Andrew York Feb 11 2009 Southern Nazarene University Cantrell Hall Contact SNU 491-6345
Andrew York is one of today's most visible and innovative classical guitar composers, winning a GRAMMY with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet during their sixteen-year partnership. Andrew’s discography includes “California Breeze,” a recording for Sony Japan, three solo CD's for the GSP label, ten CD’s with the LAGQ on Delos, Sony and Telarc labels, as well as inclusion on Rhino Records “Legends of Guitar” and numerous other compilations.
In film, Andrew shares the stage with artists Eric Johnson, Albert Lee, Doc Watson, and Mason Williams in the documentary “Primal Twang,” written and hosted by eminent musician and storyteller Dan Crary.
For the last decade, Andrew’s concert touring schedule has spanned more than thirty countries. Recent concerts include Bogotá Columbia, Ankara Turkey, Czech Republic and Andrew’s eleventh tour of Japan.
In 2006 Andrew recorded and performed with the Atlanta symphony for the opera “Ainadamar” by Osvaldo Golijov. The recording of “Ainadamar” (Deutsche Gramophone) won two GRAMMY awards.
York's compositions have been recorded by guitar luminaries John Williams and Christopher Parkening, and Japanese pianist Mitsouko Kado. As a published composer, York's works appear in print worldwide through Alfred Publications, Hal Leonard, Mel Bay Publications, Guitar Solo Publications, Doberman-Yppan in Canada, Ricordi in London, and Gendai in Japan.
Besides his classical performance and compositional accomplishments, Andrew also has an extensive background as a jazz guitarist, studying with jazz legends Joe Diorio and Lenny Breau. As a classical musician, Andrew received a grant from the Del Amo Foundation for Study in Spain. Andrew received his Master of Music degree from University of Southern California, and is the only USC graduate in the school’s history to twice receive the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award – in 1997 as a member of LAGQ and in 2003 as the sole recipient.
In film, Andrew shares the stage with artists Eric Johnson, Albert Lee, Doc Watson, and Mason Williams in the documentary “Primal Twang,” written and hosted by eminent musician and storyteller Dan Crary.
For the last decade, Andrew’s concert touring schedule has spanned more than thirty countries. Recent concerts include Bogotá Columbia, Ankara Turkey, Czech Republic and Andrew’s eleventh tour of Japan.
In 2006 Andrew recorded and performed with the Atlanta symphony for the opera “Ainadamar” by Osvaldo Golijov. The recording of “Ainadamar” (Deutsche Gramophone) won two GRAMMY awards.
York's compositions have been recorded by guitar luminaries John Williams and Christopher Parkening, and Japanese pianist Mitsouko Kado. As a published composer, York's works appear in print worldwide through Alfred Publications, Hal Leonard, Mel Bay Publications, Guitar Solo Publications, Doberman-Yppan in Canada, Ricordi in London, and Gendai in Japan.
Besides his classical performance and compositional accomplishments, Andrew also has an extensive background as a jazz guitarist, studying with jazz legends Joe Diorio and Lenny Breau. As a classical musician, Andrew received a grant from the Del Amo Foundation for Study in Spain. Andrew received his Master of Music degree from University of Southern California, and is the only USC graduate in the school’s history to twice receive the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award – in 1997 as a member of LAGQ and in 2003 as the sole recipient.
