News Release
April 2006
Bethlehem, Pa., April 26, 2006—The Moravian College Music Institute will host
the Sixth Annual Bethlehem Guitar Festival on Saturday, June 3, at the Priscilla Payne
Hurd Campus in historic Bethlehem. The program for the day will offer recitals, workshops
(bring your guitar), guitar expo, master classes, ensemble groups, and will be highlighted
by the final concert at 8:00 p.m. featuring guest artist, Ana Vidovic. The Festival provides
a unique and exciting experience of guitar performance and exceptional artists. The theme
of this year’s event is “Women and the Guitar.”
The program includes registration and a coffee reception from 8:45
a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; a guitar exposition to 6 p.m., and features recitals by Candice
Mowbray, Kathrin Murray, and Judith Kay during the course of the day, with an early
evening concert by Rosa Hyewon Lee, followed by dinner and the finale concert. After
lunch, participants will be treated to a master class by featured artist Ana Vidovic,
to be followed by “Female Figures
in the Guitar World,” a lecture by Mowbray. The workshop will afford attendees
an opportunity to play with ensemble groups.
Classical guitarist Mowbray currently teaches on the music faculties
of Mount Saint Mary's University, Hagerstown Community College, Frederick Community
College, and the National Music Workshop. In 2004, she was one of the two people selected
to perform in Sharon Isbin's master class at the First World Guitar Congress. Mowbray
has performed in musicals such as "Evita, Little Shop of Horrors, Anything Goes, Hello Dolly," and
many other productions.
The Hawaiian-born Murray began her musical career as ukulele soloist before dedicating
herself to the guitar. In addition to teaching at the Levine School of Music in Washington,
DC and the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Md. Murray has performed as solo guest artist
both in the United States and abroad.
Composer, lyricist and arranger Judith Kay is cofounder of the Arden Jazz Gild devoted
to the preservation of American jazz. She performs Brazilian bossa nova, swing-era jazz,
and original and eclectic songs throughout the United States and Europe. Kay is listed
in Who's Who in Entertainment and 2000 Outstanding Musicians of the 20th Century.
Korean born guitarist Rosa Hyewon Lee 's primary educational focus
was a master's degree in oboe performance, but after graduate school she discovered
her true passion was to continue mastering the guitar. Lee's accomplishments and brilliant
playing have garnered international recognition and honors. Lee's first solo guitar
CD, The Memory of 20th Century Guitar Music, was released last year by Centaur Records,
Inc. The disc features the world premier recording of the late John W. Duarte’s “Variations
on an Italian Folk Song, op. 139.”
The extraordinary talents of the young Croatian born, Ana Vidovic, have earned her prestigious
international prizes and awards, 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. Vidovic began playing the guitar when she was
five years old, performed internationally at 11 years old and at 13 was the youngest
student to be accepted at the renowned National Music Academy in Zagreb. Her sixth CD,
Guitar Virtuoso released this year, showcases works by Bach, Torroba, Paganini, and Walton.
The Bethlehem Guitar Festival is directed by John Arnold, artist-lecturer
in guitar at Moravian College. Participants have the option to register for the full
day; day sessions; Lee’s concert; or the guest artist concert. Fees vary and registrants before May
31 will receive a $10 discount. The registration form is accessible on the Moravian College
music department’s website at http://home.moravian.edu/public/music/index.htm.
For additional information please call 610-861-1650 or e-mail music@moravian.edu.
