2024 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book®
Featuring: Grammy Award Winner Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar; Mari Sato (USA), violin: Jonathan Leathwood (England), guitar and lecturer; Lorenzo Micheli (Italy), guitar; CICGF Artist in Residence Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), romantic and modern classical guitars; Andy Poxon (USA), classical guitar; Nicolò Spera (Italy), 10-string classical guitar; Hao Yang (China), classical guitar; and the 2024 James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition Semi-Finalists.
2023 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book®
Featuring: Grammy Award Winner Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar; Mari Sato (USA), violin: CICGF Artist in Residence Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar; SoloDuo (Italy), classical guitars; Patterson-Sutton Duo (USA), cello and classical guitar; Hao Yang (China), classical guitar. Jonathan Leathwood (England), classical guitarist and lecturer; and the 2023 James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition Semi-Finalists.
2022 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book®
Featuring: Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar; Emily Levin (USA), harp; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar and CICGF Artist in Residence; Duo Melis (Spain and Greece), classical guitars; Patterson-Sutton Duo (USA), cello and classical guitar; Drew Henderson (Canada), classical guitar; Dieter Hennings (USA), classical guitar; Molly Barth (USA), flute; Jordan Chase (USA), composer lecturer; and the 2022 James Stroud Classical Guitar Competition Semi-Finalists.
Petra Polácková wows at Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival (June 5) June 19, 2022 by Mike Telin, ClevelandClassical
Duo Damiana mesmerize at Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival (June 5) June 17, 2022 by Mike Telin, ClevelandClassical
Cleveland International Guitar Festival: Duo Melis (June 4) June 14, 2022 by Peter Feher, ClevelandClassical
Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival: Davin-Levin guitar & harp duo (June 3) June 22, 2022 by Daniel Hathaway. ClevelandClassical
Cleveland Classical Guitar Festival: Drew Henderson, joined later by Petra Polácková (June 2) June 11, 2022 by Jacob Strauss, ClevelandClassical
Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival: a guitarist, a harpist, two dogs & a composer May 31, 2022 by Jarrett Hoffman, ClevelandClassical
Classical Guitar Festival returns coupled with Stroud Competition: a conversation with Armin Kelly May 25, 2022 by Daniel Hathaway, ClevelandClassical
About the Classical Guitar
An annotated bibliography of books and other resources pertaining to classical guitars, classical guitar history, classical guitar making, recordings of vintage classical guitars, classical guitar composers, early music of interest to the classical guitarist, classical guitarists, performance preparation and performance related medical problems...
How To Tell The Differences Between Factory Made and Individually Handmade Classical Guitars.
By Ervin Somogyi
It may seem strange to some readers to find an article touching on metaphysics in a magazine on guitar making; it will also seem perfectly appropriate to others that such a topic be included. The metaphysics of the guitar has to do with "that extra something" that's intangible and possibly even indefinable. Some guitars have it. Some don't. It is variously called "the magic," "the soul," "the allure," and so on...
Listening and Re-listening: Opening Your Ears to New Sounds
by Jonathan Fitzgerald
You and I grew up listening to tonal music. Tonality is our first language, our “native tongue.” When we hear music that is of a different language—be it twelve-tone, modal, micro-tonal, etc.—we often don’t know how to make sense of it, and as a result are unable to appreciate it. In fact, sometimes we may find it downright unpleasant...
Classical Guitar Care and Maintenance
By Armin Kelly
The following essay contains information vital to the protection and maintenance of a classical guitar. Generally, a constant humidity level between 45% and 55% and a temperature level between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit is essential for the safe maintenance of a fine classical guitar. If a guitar is subjected to either a humidity level below 40% or to a large, quick drop in humidity, it is highly at risk of cracking or having its seams open. A dried out guitar will sound...
This Is Your Brain On Art
By Sarah L. Kaufman, Dani Player, Jayne Orenstein, May-Ying Lam, Elizabeth Hart and Shelly Tan - Published in the Washington Post online, Sept. 18, 2017.
When we experience art, we feel connected to something larger. Why? If you think about it, having a great time at the theater defies logic in many ways. We’re surrounded by strangers, bombarded with unusual images and often faced with a wordless language of symbols. Yet, on a good night, we generally laugh more, cry more and enjoy ourselves more at a live performance than when we’re watching TV at home. We may even lose ourselves and feel connected to something larger. How does this happen?
An Interview with Armin Kelly, Founder of Guitars International
by Cyndy Burton
"I am a seeker, admirer, and promoter of unique, moving, musical sounds. Guitars International is a very personal business both in the selection of the fine individually handmade classical guitars we carry and how we relate to our guitar makers and customers. We have been in business now for over twenty-four years. And still, this business reflects my taste in fine classical guitars (albeit a broad-based taste) and my commitment to serve our makers and our discriminating customer base in a clear, direct, sincere manner..."
Multitasking, Mompou and the Means-Whereby: A Note on Coordinating the Hands
By Jonathan Leathwood
One of the challenges - and fascinations - of playing the guitar is the very different set of skills demanded of our two hands. Certainly, there is ample literature to help us address a difficulty with any one of these skills. There is also a steadily growing discussion of the more intangible aspects of learning: psychological preparation, visualization, study habits, and so on. Yet I have often been struck by how little we discuss one of the most fundamental difficulties of all: making the two hands work at the same time...
Jason Vieaux Picks Out a New Classical Guitar
By Debbie Elliott, NPR All Things Considered, April 8, 2006 3:29 PM ET
Framed by a stained-glass window at the Shrine Church of St. Stanislaus — a Gothic cathedral in Cleveland — classical guitarist Jason Vieaux recently made a big decision. He chose a new guitar. He was introduced to the instrument by Armin Kelly of Guitars International, one of the major classical guitar dealers in the country. Kelly is based in Cleveland, where Vieaux does most of his recording, so the musician gets to try out a lot of guitars...
An Interview with Master Classical Guitar Maker Jeffrey R. Elliott
by Joseph Bacon
I
have always loved the sound of the guitar, ever since I was sixteen and
a friend taught me a few chords. My friend advanced until he required a
better instrument, and I went with him to visit a handmaker's workshop.
I was twenty then, and the sights, sounds, and smells of that workshop
are with me still. I was hooked from the beginning. The lure of
making the instrument whose sound held so much appeal for me proved
irresistible...
An Interview with Classical Guitarist Raphaella Smits
By Brad DeRoche, Ph.D.
I first became aware of Raphaella Smits through her recordings. I remember thinking that she had an extraordinary sound and her playing had great depth and artistry. After buying (and nearly wearing out) all of her recordings, I decided it was time to bring her over from Belgium for a concert. I remember the unique sight I had at the airport when she came in: One petite lady and two very large guitar cases! It was to be the first of many meetings I have had with her...
José Tomás: Memory and Legacy
By Howard Bass
The seeds of interest and enthusiasm that Segovia, Bream, and Williams sowed in the middle of the 20th century have borne an amazing harvest. Among those who helped foster this interest was José Tomás, a guitarist of great skill and discernment whose name and reputation may not resonate with the general public, but whose legacy as a teacher is firmly fixed among a generation of guitarists, and not a few lutenists...
How To French Polish Classical Guitars
By Orville and Robert Milburn
In past decades the increasing popularity of classical guitars has prompted an unprecedented demand for this most beautiful instrument. Many small shops converted to mass production techniques to supply consumers with affordable instruments. Since the classical guitar's finish is one of the most time consuming steps in the construction of the guitar, age old finishing techniques were discarded in favor of finishes that were faster to apply. Economic considerations had to be taken into account...
Rodgers Tuning Machines: An Overview
By David and Robert Rodgers
Good quality Machine Heads are more than just accessories to your instrument. They are an integral part of the instrument's overall performance and beauty. Rodgers Machine Heads are hand built to a high degree of engineering precision, great attention is paid to every aspect of both the design and the manufacture. We pride ourselves on ensuring that the finished Machine Head is both mechanically and artistically of the highest possible quality...
A Classical Guitar Maker's Art
By Gregory Byers
For the past few years I have been working with a lattice bracing system for the lower bout of the soundboard. My own approach has been to exploit this potential for overlap and try to duplicate and extend the sound I get with more traditional fan-bracing. To do this I have, in essence, taken two sets of 7 fans and rotated them with respect to each other to form a lattice, one tall set riding over a low set. This approach mimics the increased support...
Meet the Maker: An Interview with Classical Guitar Maker Hermann Hauser III
By Armin Kelly
I first started guitar making when I was sixteen. My father said, "Hermann, you must go to another workshop to see how to make an instrument." I went to a workshop of one of his friends for about two and one-half years. I was attending a vocational school studying carpentry at that time. After that I attended Mittenwald, the department for string instruments, which includes guitar, lute, violin, and so on...
Air Travel With Classical Guitars
The U.S. Department
of Transportation's final ruling regarding the carriage of musical instruments
(including classical guitars) as carry-on baggage or checked baggage on commercial passenger flights operated
by air carriers. Available for download.
2019 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Flyer
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner and CIM Guitar Department Co-Head; Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar - CIM Guitar Department Co-Head; Xuefei Yang (China), classical guitar; Elizabeth Kenny (England), lute; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar - CICGF Artist in Residence; Alfredo Velazquez (USA), master guitar maker; Drew Henderson (Canada), guitar and video; Lynn McGrath (USA), guitar with spoken word; Cleveland Bella Corda Ensemble (USA), classical guitars; The Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble (USA), classical guitars.
2018 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner and CIM Guitar Department Head; Ricardo Gallén (Spain), classical guitar; Duo Melis (Spain & Greece), classical guitars; Antonis Hatzinikolaou (Greece), classical guitar - Julian Bream Prize Winner; Nigel North (England), lute - Gramophone Award Winner and CICGF Artist in Residence; Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar; Estelí Gomez (USA), soprano - Grammy Award Winner; Julien Labro (France), bandoneon; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar - CICGF Artist in Residence, Joshia de Jonge (Canada) master guitar maker; Cleveland Bella Corda Ensemble (USA), classical guitars; The Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble (USA), classical guitars.
2018 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Flyer
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner and CIM Guitar Department Head; Ricardo Gallén (Spain), classical guitar; Duo Melis (Spain & Greece), classical guitars; Antonis Hatzinikolaou (Greece), classical guitar - Julian Bream Prize Winner; Nigel North (England), lute - Gramophone Award Winner and CICGF Artist in Residence; Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar; Estelí Gomez (USA), soprano - Grammy Award Winner; Julien Labro (France), bandoneon; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar - CICGF Artist in Residence, Joshia de Jonge (Canada) master guitar maker; Cleveland Bella Corda Ensemble (USA), classical guitars; The Cleveland Suzuki Guitar Ensemble (USA), classical guitars.
June 2017 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book
Featured Artists: Jason
Vieaux (USA), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner and CIM Guitar
Department Head; David Russell (Scotland), classical guitar - Grammy
Award Winner; Nigel North (England), Baroque lute - Gramophone Award
Winner; Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar; Emily Levin (USA),
Principal Harpist Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Hao Yang (China), classical
guitar; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar; Jeffrey R.
Elliott (USA) master guitar maker, Alan Bise (USA), recording engineer
and producer - Grammy Award Winner.
June 2017 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Mailer
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux (USA), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner and CIM Guitar Department Head; David Russell (Scotland), classical guitar - Grammy Award Winner; Nigel North (England), Baroque lute - Gramophone Award Winner; Colin Davin (USA), classical guitar; Emily Levin (USA), Principal Harpist Dallas Symphony Orchestra; Hao Yang (China), classical guitar; Petra Polácková (Czech Republic), classical guitar; Jeffrey R. Elliott (USA) master guitar maker, Alan Bise (USA), recording engineer and producer - Grammy Award Winner.
June 2016 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux, guitar (USA) - CIM Guitar Department Head (2015 Grammy Award Winner); Petra Polácková, classical guitar (Czech Republic); SoloDuo (Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli), classical guitars (Italy); Ricardo Gallén, classical guitar (Spain); Colin Davin, classical guitar (USA); Tim Beattie, classical guitar (Canada); Nigel North, lute (England); Joshia de Jonge, master guitar maker (Canada); Simon Powis, classical guitar (Australia) .
May 2015 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux, guitar (USA) - CIM Guitar Department Head (2015 Grammy Award Winner) with Yolanda Kondonassis, harp (USA); Paul Galbraith, guitar (Scotland); Ricardo Gallén, guitar (Spain); Antonis Hatzinikolaou, guitar (Greece); Duo Melis (Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis), guitars (Spain & Greece); Pavel Steidl, guitar (Czech Republic); Jeremy Collins, guitar (USA); Nigel North, lute (England); Colin Davin, guitar (USA); Joshia de Jonge, master guitar maker (Canada).
May 2014 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Program Book
Featured Artists:
Jason Vieaux, guitar (USA - CIM Guitar Department Head) with Julien Labro,
bandoneon (France); Petra Polácková, guitar (Czech Republic); Nigel North, lute
(England) with Carrie Henneman Shaw,
soprano (USA); SoloDuo (Lorenzo Micheli & Mateo Mela), guitars (Italy); Robert
Gruca, guitar (USA); Krystin O'Mara, guitar (USA); Brad DeRoche, lecturer (USA);
Jeffrey R. Elliott, master guitar maker (USA) and Cyndy Burton, master guitar
maker (USA).
May 2014 Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival Postcard
The fourteenth annual Cleveland International Classical Guitar Festival - one of North America’s oldest, most respected classical guitar events - will take place at the Cleveland Institute of Music on Friday, May 30 through Sunday, June 1, 2014. All recitals will take place in Mixon Hall, CIM's award winning new concert hall. Please join us in welcoming this spring’s roster of internationally acclaimed artists in a concentrated series of recitals, debut performances, world premieres, master classes, lectures, and exhibits celebrating the classical guitar and art music - solo and ensemble, old and new.
May 2013 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured Artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (USA, CIM Guitar Department Head), Colin Davin (USA), Jiyeon (Jiji) Kim (Republic of Korea), Jonathan Leathwood (England), and Raphaella Smits (Belgium); composers Stephen Goss (England), Riho Esko Maimets (Canada), and Erin Rogers (Canada); assisting artists Jinjoo Cho, violin (Republic of Korea), Jeffrey Irvine, viola (USA), and Melissa Kraut, cello (USA), distance learning guest instructor Jesper Sivebak (Denmark); lecturer Brad DeRoche (USA); and master guitar maker German Vazquez Rubio (USA).
May 2013 Classical Guitar Weekend Brochure
Featured Artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (USA, CIM Guitar Department Head), Colin Davin (USA), Jiyeon Kim (Republic of Korea), Jonathan Leathwood (England), and Raphaella Smits (Belgium); composers Stephen Goss (England), Riho Esko Maimets (Canada), and Erin Rogers (Canada); assisting artists Jinjoo Cho, violin (Republic of Korea), Jeffrey Irvine, viola (USA), and Melissa Kraut, cello (USA), distance learning guest instructor Jesper Sivebak (Denmark); lecturer Brad DeRoche (USA); and master guitar maker German Vazquez Rubio (USA).
June 2012 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux CIM Guitar Department Head (U.S.A.), Alan Bise lecturer (U.S.A.), Jonathan Fitzgerald lecturer (U.S.A.), Bernhard Kresse guitar maker (Germany), Matteo Mela guitar (Italy), Lorenzo Micheli guitar (Italy), Jung Eun Oh soprano (U.S.A.), Gaëlle Solal guitar (France), SoloDuo guitars (Italy), Pavel Steidl guitar (Czech Republic), Anne Waller guitar (U.S.A.). Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
June 2012 Classical Guitar Weekend Brochure
Featured Artists: Jason Vieaux CIM Guitar Department Head (U.S.A.), Alan Bise lecturer (U.S.A.), Jonathan Fitzgerald lecturer (U.S.A.), Bernhard Kresse guitar maker (Germany), Matteo Mela guitar (Italy), Lorenzo Micheli guitar (Italy), Jung Eun Oh soprano (U.S.A.), Gaëlle Solal guitar (France), SoloDuo guitars (Italy), Pavel Steidl guitar (Czech Republic), Anne Waller guitar (U.S.A.). Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
May 2011 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (CIM Guitar Department Head), Irina Kulikova, Meng Su and Yameng Wang of the Beijing Guitar Duo, Zoran Dukic, harpist Yolanda Kondonassis, violinist Joan Kwuon, and master guitar maker Geza Burghardt. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
May 2010 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Classical guitarists Jason Vieaux (CIM Guitar Department Head), Daniel Lippel, Susan Prieto and Alexis Musurakis of Duo Melis, lutenist Nigel North, soprano Tony Arnold, composers Judah Adashi and Vineet Shende. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
September 2009 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Colin Davin, guitar; Ellen Hargis, soprano, and Paul O'Dette, lute (chitarrone); Ricardo Gallen, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar, with Jung Eun Oh, soprano, and Regina Mushabac, cello. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
March 2008 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Jonathan Leathwood, six and ten string guitars, Rohan de Saram, cello, and Stephen Goss, composer; Nigel North, renaissance and baroque lutes; SoloDuo, Lorenzo Micheli and Matteo Mela, guitars; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
March 2007 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Duo Melis, Susana Prieto and Alexis Muzurakis, guitars; Paul O'Dette, baroque lute; Xuefei Yang, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
March 2006 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Jorge Cardoso, guitar; Erik Mann, guitar; Liliana Rodriguez, soprano; Raphaëlla Smits, guitar; Manuel Barrueco, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.
March 2005 Classical Guitar Weekend Program Book
Featured artists: Cavani String Quartet, Annie Fullard, violin, Mari Sato, violin, Kirsten Doctor, viola, and Merry Peckham, cello; David Russell, guitar; Ana Vidovic, guitar; Jason Vieaux, guitar. Classical Guitar Weekend is presented by Guitars International in cooperation with the Cleveland Institute of Music.