23 Junior Guitar Academy

Günter M. Schillings
Russell Poyner

This not only includes receiving guidance from qualified and experienced teachers but also by having close contact with their peers and attending the concerts of internationally renowned guitarists.

The 23rd Koblenz International Guitar Festival & Academy – unique in the world – which will be held during Pentecost 2015, will again offer these ideal musical experiences for young guitarists, as it has done now for the past 11 years.

The young players will receive daily tutoring and group classes in technique from Friday through until Monday. Age is not important – players of 6 or 7 years of age have participated before without difficulty!

Listening to concerts and visiting the masterclasses of internationally renowned artists are part of their agenda. A special kids’ nail workshop, which also deals with the question of artificial nails, is being offered as well.

As far as ensembles are concerned, we’ll focus on Heilig, heilig from the Deutsche Messe D. 872 by Franz Schubert and the Venetianische Gondellied from Lieder ohne Worte, Op. 19 by Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy this year. In addition we will work on Vitoria from Impressionen by Jaime Zenamon. I have arranged these pieces in a way that even very young players can participate. After the successful performances of last year, the ensemble will again play in ensemble during the Pentecost Service and also for the concert of the Koblenz Guitar Competition 2015 prizewinners on Monday 25 May 2015. I will mail the score early enough to enable every student to pick out the part which suits him best.

In addition to individual participants, groups (duos, trios) are always welcome. Each participant will receive a participation diploma at the end of the festival.

Entry to all events (including all the Festival concerts) for the young guitarist and one escort is included in the participation fee.

Since the establishment of the Junior Guitar Academy in 2004, this event has often been used as an advanced training course for teachers too. These teachers will receive the relevant training certificate at the end of the course. The cost for teachers is 150 euro for passive participation. If a teacher is at the same time the companion of an actively registered student, there is no fee for passive participation.

The Junior Guitar Academy begins on Friday 22 May 2015 at 15.00 and ends on Monday 25 May 2015, following the final concert.

(Günter M. Schillings)