Groundbreaking guitarists to perform at Oakton Festival
Internationally acclaimed musicians will perform and demonstrate string bending sorcery during Guitar Festival Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26, at Studio One, Oakton Community College, 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines.
Highlighting the festival are performances by Roddy Ellias, Gene Bertoncini, Michael Gulezian, Benjamin Verdery, and special guest Billy Dean. Ellias and Bertoncini team up for a concert at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, while Bertoncini, Verdery and Dean join forces for a show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.
Tickets for each concert are $8 for general admission and $5 for students and seniors. To order tickets, visit www.oakton.edu/tickets or call (847) 635-1900.
Ellias is a noted Canadian guitarist, composer and improviser who performs a contemporary new music, jazz and classical repertoire. New York City resident Bertoncini has appeared as an orchestra member on talk shows featuring Merv Griffin, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson.
Gulezian's music combines classical technical guitar, American folk music, jazz, and ethnic harmonies with rock-and-roll inspired energy.
Professor of guitar at the Yale University School of Music, Verdery has released more than 15 CDs and has toured throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Asia.
Dean is a musician, rapper, visual artist and creative entrepreneur. She won the 2009 Naglar Arts Scholarship after producing and writing the score for the documentary "In My Shoes," about teen homelessness in New York City.
In addition to the concerts, individual artists will host the following free seminars:
• Technique workshop, 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, with Benjamin Verdery
• Improvisational workshop, 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, with Roddy Ellias
• Music business discussion, 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, with Michael Gulezian
• Arrangement workshop, 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, with Gene Bertoncini
"These gifted artists do not make it to the Chicago area regularly, so having them assembled together in one place makes this an extraordinary event," said Thomas Clippert, Oakton guitar lecturer.
"The workshops will cover a wide array of topics, providing skills and information essential for any dedicated musician."
• Submit 'Your News' at www.dailyherald.com/share.