2024 Philadelphia Classical
Guitar Festival

April 13-14, 2024 (Sat.-Sun.)

SATURDAY APRIL 13, 2024 – 7:30 PM – First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia

DAVID RUSSELL – GRAMMY AWARD WINNER

GRAMMY award winner for his CD AIRE LATINO in the category of best instrumental soloist in classical music.Honorary Doctorate in Music by the University of Arizona in Tucson in 2014 Inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Guitar Foundation of America in 2018.

Classical guitarist David Russell is world renowned for his superb musicianship and inspired artistry, having earned the highest praise from audiences and critics alike. In recognition of his great talent and his international career, he was named a Fellow of The Royal Academy of Music in London in 1997. In May 2003 he was bestowed the great honor of being made “adopted son” of Es Migjorn, the town in Minorca where he grew up. Later the town named a street after him, “Avinguda David Russell”. In November 2003 he was given the Medal of Honor of the Conservatory of the Balearics.

After winning the grammy award, the town of Nigrán in Spain where he resides, gave him the silver medal of the town in an emotional ceremony.

During his studies at the Royal Academy, David Russell won twice the Julian Bream Guitar Prize. Later he won numerous international competitions, including the Andrés Segovia Competition , the José Ramírez Competition and Spain’s prestigious Francisco Tárrega Competition .

David Russell spends his time touring the world, appearing regularly at prestigious halls in main cities, such as New York, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Madrid, Toronto or Rome. Concert-goers everywhere are in awe of his musical genius and inspired by his captivating stage presence. His love of his craft resonates through his flawless and seemingly effortless performance. The attention to detail and provocative lyrical phrasing suggest an innate understanding of what each individual composer was working to achieve, bringing to each piece a sense of adventure.

In May 2005 he received a homage from the music conservatory of Vigo, culminating with the opening of the new Auditorium, to which they gave the name “Auditorio David Russell”. In 2009 David was named honorary member of “Amigos de la Guitarra”, the oldest guitar society in Spain.

A prolific recording artists, his collection includes seventeen CDs with Telarc International.

The New York Times wrote about his performance: “… Mr. Russell made his mastery evident without ever deviating from an approach that places musical values above mere display. It was apparent to the audience throughout the recital that Mr. Russell possesses a talent of extraordinary dimension”.

Upon hearing play in London, Andrés Segovia wrote: “My congratulations on your musicality and guitaristic technique”.

Buy David Russel Concert Tickets HERE

PROGRAM

J. BROCÁ                                          PENSAMIENTO ESPAÑOL
(1805-1882)
BENEDETTO MARCELLO                SONATA *
(1686-1739)                                             Adagio
                                                                 Allegro
                                                                 Largo
                                                                 Allegro

F. MORENO TORROBA                    CASTILLOS DE ESPAÑA
(1891-1982)                                             I. Alcázar de Segovia
                                                                II. Alba de Tormes
                                                                III. Montemayor
                                                                IV. Zafra
                                                                V. Manzanares del Real
                                                                VI. Sigüenza
                                                                VII. Simancas
                                                                VIII. Turégano
                                                                IX. Torija
                                                                X. Calatrava
                                                                XI. Redaba
                                                                XII. Alcañiz
                                                                XIII. Javier
                                                                XIV. Olite

INTERMISSION

J.S. BACH                                          SONATA BWV 1034 *
(1685-1750)                                            Adagio  
                                                                Allegro
                                                                Andante
                                                                Allegro

F. KLEYNJANS                                   ARABESQUE EN FORME DE CAPRICE * *
(1951)                                                 TWO BARCAROLES

F. TÁRREGA                                       GRAN JOTA
(1852-1909)

* Transcription: David Russell.
* * Dedicated to David Russell.

---

SUNDAY APRIL 14, 2024 FROM 9 AM TO 5 PM

THE FESTIVAL PASS GIVE ACCESS TO ALL THE ACTIVITIES BELOW

• PCGS Classical Guitar Competion (Junior and Adult ties)
• PCGS Guitar Ensemble concert (program below)
• Students Recitals
• Workshops (descriptions below)
• David Russel Masterclass
• Gwenyth Aggeler closing concert

PCGS Workshop – Sunday, April 14th, 2024 – 10:00 am to 11:00 am

Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Introductory Tango on the Classical Guitar

Alejo de los Reyes

60 Minutes (bring your guitar)

Alejo is one of the world’s leading guitarists who combines the many facets of classical guitar with an in-depth knowledge of Argentine folk music. He has emerged as a sought-after international performer who stands out for his creativity and profound musical expressiveness. Alejo started his musical training under his parents, both guitarists, most notably his father, Argentine classical guitarist Oscar Rubén de los Reyes. His career as a concert guitarist began at age 11 in his hometown of Chivilcoy (Argentina) and has led him to perform in many cities in Argentina, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy. In 2011, he was awarded first place in the María Luisa Anido International Guitar Competition, held in San Lorenzo (Argentina). His most recent and third solo recording is a 2022 release entitled Al Compas de La Vihuela, a collection of Argentinetraditional music, tango, and European renaissance music.

This participatory workshop will be in person (bring your guitar) and focus on rhythmic patterns, notes, and chord sequences that make up the tango, a staple of Argentinian folk music.

PCGS Workshop – Sunday, April 14th, 2024 – 11:30 am to 12:30 pm 

Settlement Music School, 416 Queen St., Philadelphia, PA 19147

Playing Latin American Music on the Classical Guitar

Emiliano Pardo-Tristán

60 minutes (bring your guitar)

Dr. Emiliano Pardo-Tristán is a classical guitar player, teacher, and composer specializing in Classical Guitar, Latin American Popular Guitar, Guitar Composition, and Music Theory. He earned doctoral and MS degrees in Music Composition from Temple University as well as a Superior Degree in Guitar Performance from the Madrid Royal Conservatory of Music (Spain) and the National Institute of Music (Panama) and a post-doc fellow at NYU involving research on Latin American Concert Music Compositions.

This participatory workshop will be in-person (bring your guitar) and focus on rhythmic patterns to accompany some of the most exciting Latin American music genres.

Contact: epardo@temple.edu

Vendor Fair

DON’T BLAME THE GUITARIST – Kathleen Mayes

Don’t Blame the Guitarist, is a new novel by Kathleen Mayes. Step into a suspenseful world of music and mayhem when a classical guitarist mixes with an aging hitman, setting the stage for a mysterious and darkly funny adventure. Please stop by, chat with local guitarist Kathleen Mayes, and check out her new novel. The book will be for sale with the author’s signature and a free CD. 

CLASSICAL GUITAR STORE 

We offer a large selection of fine Spanish, French, German and American student and concert guitars, as well as lessons, sheet music, strings, and accessories. Please visit 2038 Sansom St., Philadelphia, PA 19103. 215-567-2972 www.classicalguitarstore.com

PARACHO CLASSICAL GUITARS

Lutherie in Paracho, Mexico, dates back to the 18th century. Full resonant tone instruments, with the clarity expected from well-handled cedar and spruce soundboards, great projection and much more volume than would be expected. The sound, at their respective price points, is outstanding.

Contact: Emiliano Pardo-Tristán emiliano.pardo@temple.edu

 

I am currently making several styles of guitar.  Most of my effort has gone into standard classic and flamenco guitars. The classical guitars have tops of spruce, western red cedar, or redwood.  Standard backs and sides are of Indian rosewood or morado, but padouk, Southeast Asian rosewood, cocobolo, mahogany, bloodwood, and occasionally other woods are available—necks of Honduras mahogany or Spanish cedar.

My preferred wood for flamenco guitars is Canadian cypress, although Spanish and Monterey cypress (true cypresses) are also available. Recently, I have added a small, or “parlor”-sized, classical guitar. I am also experimenting with laminated sides and sound ports this year. In addition, I will be adding laùds and bandurrias to the line. These are traditional Spanish instruments, generally with twelve strings, in unison rather than octave tuning. They are used in Spanish folk music and street bands. For many years I have built occasional 12-string guitars.  It has always seemed to me that there is much similarity in sound quality between good 12-string and flamenco guitars, so I build accordingly.  I have a ‘jumbo’ 12-string–essentially a sizeable classic shape–and a “laùd grandé” that is a full-sized guitar tuned in octaves.

In addition to making instruments to order, I have several guitars for sale that were built in the last few years.  These are listed at http://www.brucethompsonguitars.com/guitars

WHY MUSIC? (sponsored by THE HAPPINESS LAB)

WHY MUSIC examines the ingredients of happiness and music’s role in our lives; guitar case stickers, books, and catalogs will be available, including an essay on Why Music (2023) and a catalog on the history of pop and rock music in Philadelphia (2023).

Contact: Eric Zillmer zillmer@drexel.edu