Community Weblog

2008 Guitar Festival Workshop August 21 - 23, 2008

Andy McKee and Pierre Bensusan are being featured in concerts and classes at this year's Interlochen Guitar Festival Workshop.  It will be held August 21-23 on the beautiful campus of the world renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts in northern Michigan.  The festival offers a wide variety of concurrent sessions covering a broad spectrum of diverse musical styles and topics on all levels, with instruction by guitar masters and concerts each night.

For more information regarding the Festival, please visit Interlochen's website.

Craig D'Andrea & Antoine Dufour in Concert & Workshop

                                              On Saturday, October 11th, Craig D’Andrea and Antoine Dufour

Location TBA

In addition, on Saturday afternoon Craig and Antoine will be conducting a hands-on workshop from 3:00pm (sharp) – 5:00pm.  Space is limited, advanced reservation is required.   The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents its workshop series in a non-competitive environment and welcomes guitarists of all skill levels.   Students can register or request information by contacting the MFGS office at 248-646-4030.  Cost is $40.

Craig and Antoine will perform solo and then some duets for us.  They have toured solo and also opened for, and played with Don Ross and Andy McKee.  We feel these two amazing guitarist are following the career paths of Don and Andy and this will be another remarkable evening of music. 

Ed Gerhard in Concert and Workshop

                                   On Saturday, September 20th, Ed Gerhard will perform at 7:30 p.m. with doors   opening at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church which is located at 22331 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale 3 blocks south of 9 mile on West side of Woodward. 

In addition, on Saturday afternoon Ed will be conducting a hands-on workshop from 3:00pm (sharp) - 5:00pm.  Space is limited, advanced reservation is required.   The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents its workshop series in a non-competitive environment and welcomes guitarists of all skill levels.   Students can register or request information by contacting the MFGS office at 248-646-4030.  Cost is $40.

Ed Gerhard is a Grammy Award winner who is returning to our stage for the third time!  Ed is one of those amazing guitarist who can draw so much emotion from his guitar while displaying such remarkable technical brilliance that he can drop jaws and create tears at the same time. 

Toronto Fingerstyle Guitar Society

Special Event - Mason Williams, Pino Forastiere , and John Doan
Sunday, July 20, 2008 at Hugh's Room - 8:30 p.m.

fingerstyleguitar.ca Members reserve tickets here... ($33.75 available as advance tickets only)
Non-Members - Reserve here or call (416) 531-6604 ($37.50 advance / $40.00 door)

Newsletter - Summer 2008 Edition

As we ramp up for our Fall 2008/Spring 2009 concert series we wanted to keep you up to date with some recent events occurring with MFGS.

First and foremost we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing board members & friends Rick Comiskey, Dan House & Dave Pierson. We are happy to hear that we will see them here for our concerts, workshops & picking parties. And we (speaking for you also) sincerely appreciated their volunteer efforts that have helped make MFGS as successful as we are today and blazed a path for our future.

JB Davies, Mark Hawks, Jeb McIntyre, Craig Porter & Jere Stormer will still remain on our board of directors.  Ron Stavale will assume the role as president and Kevin Tarnas will become the vice-president. This new board will continue to strive to present world class fingerstyle guitarists to you at our local venues, give you the opportunities to hone your guitar skills at the artists workshops & resume our tradition of picking parties to be held at various venues in Southeast Michigan. We also encourage you to consider volunteering your musical skills at our continuing community outreach programs.

We would like you to mark your calendars for our first two concerts upcoming this fall.  On September 20th we will be presenting Grammy Award Winner Ed Gerhard  who is returning to our stage for the third time!  Ed is one of those amazing guitarist who can draw so much emotion from his guitar while displaying such remarkable technical brilliance that he can drop jaws and create tears at the same time. Ed will sponsor a guitar workshop from 3pm-5pm the day of the show and his performance will be @ 7:30pm. 

On October 11th we present two rising stars in the world of fingerstyle guitar. From the stables of Candyrat records we are excited to announce that Craig D’Andrea & Antoine Dufour Craig and Antoine will perform solo and then some duets for us.  Craig & Antoine have toured solo and also  opened for, and played with Don Ross and Andy McKee. We feel these two amazing guitarists are following the career paths of Don & Andy and this  will be another remarkable evening of music. There will also be a workshop from 3-5pm the day of the show. 

Please stay tuned for our November concert to be announced soon and for further information on our upcoming events. We encourage you input and appreciate your support whether it be volunteering to help us at concert events or attending a concert workshop or picking party.  

New Officers for MFGS

William Henry Russell & Kevin Tarnas Opening for Doyle Dykes

Date:                May 5, 2008
Time:                6:30 PM
Location:          Emerald Theatre
                        31 N Walnut St, Mt Clemens, MI
Sponsored By: Taylor Guitars Event.
Presented by Huber & Breese Music.
Tickets $5 avaiable at the door or in advance at
Huber & Breese Music, 33540 Grosebeck Hwy., Fraser MI

JB Davies to Perform

            Public is Welcome to Attend this Event!!!

Andy McKee in Concert

On Saturday, April 12, 2008, Andy McKee will perform at 7:30 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church which is located at 22331 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale 3 blocks south of 9 mile on West side of Woodward. Tickets are available at the door for $20, Seniors/Students $10 or can be purchased online at http://www.fingerstyle.org/tickets.htm.

Please be aware that we've sold more advance tickets for this event than any other in the MFGS history.   Get tickets online to reserve yours in advance.

In addition, on Saturday afternoon Andy will be conducting a hands-on workshop from 3:00pm (sharp) – 5:00pm.   Only 5 seats remain and advanced reservation is required.   The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents its workshop series in a non-competitive environment and welcomes guitarists of all skill levels.   Students can register or request information by contacting the MFGS office at 248-646-4030.  Cost is $40.

One of today's finest new fingerstyle guitarists, Andy McKee is lauded by many critics and  guitarists as the most promising fingerstyle guitarist to arrive on the scene in some time. 

Andy has performed in various parts of the world including Japan, China, Belgium, England, Canada, and will begin performing even more in the States now. In late 2005 Andy joined Candyrat record label alongside one of his biggest inspirations, Don Ross. 

Andys music videos have been some of the most viewed clips on YouTube.  Here's a few samples. 

Videos

Drifting | Africa | Art of Motion | Tight Trite Night

Great Music in Lansing and Saginaw!

Brazilian Guitar Workshop with Rick Udler

When:       Saturday, April 19, 2008
Time:        12:00pm to 2:00pm
Location:  Elderly Instruments
                1100 North Washington 
                Lansing, MI 
                (517) 372-5880
Cost:        $40.00

Brazil has produced some of the most vibrant and exciting guitar music in the instrument's history.  In this 2-hour workshop, critically-acclaimed Brazilian recording artist Rick Udler will discuss styles, techniques and rhythms of some of Brazil's greatest players from the bossa nova, samba and choro traditions.  This is an unique opportunity for guitarists to delve into the beautiful sounds of this musical land.
(An intermediate to advanced level of playing ability is recommended to take full advantage of what the workshop has to offer.  Non-guitarists or beginning players who wish to observe are welcome too.)

"Udler's disc is truly a gem.  On Papaya, Rick Udler opens the window for us to enjoy his world of rich, deep and beautiful music."
Just Jazz Guitar - August 2007

MFGS Presents Pino Forastiere in Concert

Featured on

‘Echoes’ Radio

also in ‘Guitar’ & ‘Classical Guitar’  magazines

Pino Forastiere

Saturday, February 2^nd
First United Methodist Church
 22331 Woodward Ave, Ferndale Michigan

(west side of Woodward, south of 9 mile)

  Doors open at 6:30 pm, Show at 7:30 pm

Tickets are $20 & $10 for Students & Seniors

 
Tickets in advance @  www.fingerstyle.org/tickets.htm or at the door (cash)

*We are also very pleased to announce that Michigan Luthier *

Gary Zimnicki will be on hand to display several of his hand made gems. Gary will be available to talk to you about all aspects of the instrument building process from selection of woods to bracing and caring for your instrument.

There is an art to making not only a beautiful instrument but, an instrument that also sounds and plays beautifully. From steel string to archtop to classical Gary has done it all. Please view his web site @ http://www.zimnicki.com/index.html.  Gary will be on hand from when the doors open @ 6:30 pm until show time @ 7:30 and available during intermission and after the show. 

And also Pino Forastiere will be conducting a guitar workshop on Sunday February 3^rd from 12 noon until 2pm @ the church. Pino will be focusing on 3 of his pieces, Rag Tap Boom and Nordamerica which can be viewed @ http://www.forastiere.it/ENG/mp3andvideos.htm# along with November which is on his CD ‘Rag Tap Boom’.

The cost of the workshop is $40. Tabs will be emailed to you upon registering.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see one of the finest guitarists in the world today!

“He builds on the compositional foundation left by the beloved

architect of sound, Michael Hedges.”       John Stropes

                                                              (Director of Guitar Studies, Peck School of the Arts)

“Forastiere employs a dazzling blend of slapping, tapping, strumming,

altered tunings, and harmonics”     Guitar Magazine

For information or to register for the workshop call the MFGS office @ 248-646-4030

Upcoming Concerts: Michael Chapdelaine on March 1^st & Andy McKee on April 12^th

The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society is a 501(c) (3) Non-Profit Organization

Michael Chapdelaine in Concert & Workshop

On Saturday, March 1st, Michael Chapdelaine will perform at 7:30 p.m. with doors   opening at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church which is located at 22331 Woodward Avenue in Ferndale 3 blocks south of 9 mile on West side of Woodward. Tickets are available at the door for $20, Seniors/Students $10 or can be purchased online at http://www.fingerstyle.org/tickets.htm.

In addition, on Saturday afternoon Michael  will be conducting a hands-on workshop from 3:00pm (sharp) – 5:00pm.  Space is limited, advanced reservation is required.   The Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society presents its workshop series in a non-competitive environment and welcomes guitarists of all skill levels.   Students can register or request information by contacting the MFGS office at 248-646-4030.  Cost is $40.

Michael is the only person to ever win the world's top   competitions in both "fingerstyle" and "classical" guitar, the 1998 National Fingerpicking Champion and the Guitar  Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition.

Prior to winning the Championship, Chapdelaine had also won top honors in four international “classical” guitar    competitions, including First Prize in the Guitar Foundation of America Competition.  He has been awarded two National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Fellowships and holds a Master of Music degree from Florida State University. 

His original works, which he has only recently introduced to the public, bring together a broad variety of musical styles from classical to country to blues.  "I grew up playing pop music in Navy clubs....I needed to find a way to mix the groove and fun of that music with the discipline and expressive beauty of classical music."  “Music is fun, if it's not fun, why bother?”

JB Davies to Perfom at the Ellen Kayrod Gallery

Fingerstyle guitarist, JB Davies, will be performing at the Ellen Kayrod Gallery during the opening reception of World Under the Woods:  New Work by Sandra Cardew and Yoriko Hirose-Cronin.

Date:         Friday, May 9, 2008
Time:         5-8pm
Location:   Ellen Kayrod Gollery
                 at the Hannan House
                 4750 Woodward Avenue
                 Detroit, MI  48201
                 (3 blocks south of the DIA)

This event is free and open to the public.
For more information on the Hannan House and this exhibit, please visit www.hannan.org

Volunteers Needed

Hello there!

My name is Emily Bawol and I am the Program Administrator of complementary Therapies @ Karmanos Cancer Center in Detroit, Michigan.  I have had the pleasure of working with Jere Stormer, as he is one of our volunteers in our visiting musician program, and I was told to contact you all regarding throwing out the idea of potentially having more members of your association volunteer their time and talents here at Karmanos.  I can't even begin to tell you how powerful music is when used here with our patients, and the thought of having more individuals come here, who have the same skill set as Jere, is so very, very exciting.  One of my goals as the Program Admin. Is to really make music available to our patients, once if not twice a week, and the only way I can do that is to try and contact as many musicians as I can to get the word out that music is needed.  If you wouldn't mind, could you pass this information along to your associates to see if there is any interest in coming here to do this?  If you know any musicians who extend beyond the Michigan Fingerstyle Guitar Society who may be interested in donating their time to the patients here at Karmanos, could you pass this along to them as well?  I really appreciate your gifts that you all offer, and if Karmanos Cancer Center could become one of the recipients of the talent you all possess, please feel free to contact me at your earliest convenience.

Thank you so very much and looking forward to being in touch!

Take care,

Emily Bawol

Program Administrator

Complementary Therapies

Karmanos Cancer Center

(313) 576-9284

bawole@karmanos.org