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February 15, 2013

ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts presents 2013 Guitar Festival Feb. 18-22

The University of Louisiana at Monroe’s School of Visual and Performing Arts will present the 2013 Guitar Festival, Feb.18 – Feb. 22. All events are free and open to the public.

Various concerts and master classes will take place in Brown Auditorium and Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall.

At 7:30 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 18, the Louisiana Community Guitar Orchestra will perform in ULM’s Brown Auditorium. The coordinators of this event ask any and all local guitarists to bring their guitars to this fun event where players of all levels (including beginners) play guitar together in a guitar orchestra.

This year’s featured guest is Gene Bertoncini, a jazz guitarist who will perform in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, at 7:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Bertoncini is known worldwide for his fluid technique and lyricism. He has appeared on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and in 1999, The Washington Post named his performance in New York City “the best jazz concert of the year.” Bertoncini will be accompanied by bassist Ron Kadish.

Steve Masakowski, recognized as one of the top jazz artists from New Orleans, will perform in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, at 7:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Masakowski has been voted “Best Guitarist” and has won “Best Contemporary Jazz Group” in multiple New Orleans publications. He is currently a faculty member at the University of New Orleans, where he retains the position of Coca-Cola Endowed Chair of Jazz Studies. Masakowski will be accompanied by bassist Martin Masakowski, and drummer Louis Ramanos.

Cain Budds, guitar professor from Louisiana Tech University, will perform at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. Budds will also teach a master class with ULM guitar students.

At 7:30 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 21, in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, Daniel Sumner, assistant professor of guitar at ULM, will be in concert with Carvel Avis and friends.

ULM guitar students, with special guest guitarists from Louisiana Tech and the Monroe-area community will be in concert at 7:30 p.m., in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall, Friday, Feb. 22.

For more information, please contact Dan Sumner at 318-342-1577 or Debra Lindley at 318-342-3248.

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