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SIU International Guitar Festival
Dr. Dick Kelley – Director of the School of Music Artistic Director of the Festival – Dr. Isaac Lausell
September 22nd & 23rd, October 27th & 28th Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Message from Dr. Lausell In the fall of 2020 we would have hosted the 7th edition of the SIU Guitar Festival but our plans had to be postponed due to the pandemic. It was a very difficult year. We lost dear friends, our local businesses went through the roughest patch in their history and as a community we are still experiencing the aftermath of such an experience. In the midst of it all we pressed forward. The students worked hard and thrived whether it was by observing social distancing or through online instruction. We found ways to connect with the world and learn from each other thanks to remote learning resources and the various Zoom lectures and master classes.
As we slowly start to regain normalcy and resume our activities it seems fitting that the guitar festival this year should be a homecoming festivity, something that also celebrates the connections our program has made with guitarists and musicians from all over the world. In honor to this we take on a new name and make our debut as the SIU International Guitar Festival. Thanks to the support of the SIU Foundation Grant and our visiting faculty from various institutions from domestic and abroad we will be enjoying concerts, lectures and master classes that explore the guitar from different perspectives and traditions. Who is this festival for? Anyone who loves guitar music! We have activities suitable for professional musicians, aspiring guitar students, weekend warriors or anybody that enjoys good music. Stay healthy, stay safe and see you soon, Dr. Isaac Lausell Artists Prof. Freddie Burgos – Drum set, Ensembles Dr. George Brozak – Director of Athletic Bands, History of Rock and Roll Dr. Dick Kelley – Director of the SIU School of Music (Saxophone, Jazz & Composition) Dr. Isaac Lausell – Artistic Director (Classical & Jazz Guitar, Composition) Prof. Moacyr Teixeira Neto – Classical Guitar & Arranging Prof. Aldemar Valentín – Bass Guitar & Jazz Composition Dr. Christopher Walczak – Theory & Composition Dr. Zvonimir Tot – Jazz Guitar, Theory & Composition Costs & Registration
• 4-day pass plus opening Gala – Includes admission to all the concerts, lectures and master classes
during the entire festival - $50
• 1-day pass - Includes admission to all the concerts, lectures and master classes for the festival on
either 9/28/2018 or 9/29/2018 - $20.00
• Single event pass – This is good for a single admission to a master class, a lecture or a recital. $12.00
- general audience/ $6 students.
• ALL EVENTS are free to students, faculty and staff of the SIU School of Music.
• If you have a high school or middle school music program and would like to be sponsored to attend
the festival contact Dr. Lausell for more information at [email protected]
Register (cash or check) at the door or send us a check and make it to “Southern Illinois University”.
Specify in the memo line at the bottom that it is for the “SIU International Guitar Festival” and fill up
the provided form specifying the event you are registering for. Send it to:
Betty Johnson
Southern Illinois University — School of Music
1000 South Normal Avenue
Carbondale, IL 62901
Contact For questions regarding the festival and the guitar program at Southern Illinois University Carbondale send us an email at: [email protected] For other inquiries: Southern Illinois University Carbondale 1000 South Normal Ave Carbondale, Illinois, 62901 Phone: 618-536-8742 Website: http://cola.siu.edu/music/ Donations and sponsorship We have opportunities for local and national business and enterprises interested in sponsoring the guitar festival. More detailed information of the levels of sponsorship contact Dr. Isaac Lausell at [email protected] Schedule Wednesday – September 22nd, 2021
• 9:00 am – 11:00 pm – Classical guitar master class - Prof. Moacyr Teixeira Neto – Altgeld Hall room -117
• 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. – Composing for guitar – Dr. Chris Walczak – Altgeld Hall, Room 117
• 7:30p.m. – Classical guitar recital – Prof. Marcus DeJesus – Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall
Thursday – September 23rd, 2021
• 10:00 am – 11:00 am – Starting a career in music – Prof. Marcus DeJesus –Altgeld Hall, Room -114
• 11:10 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. – History of Rock – Dr. George Brozak – Altgeld Hall, Room 114
• 7:30 p.m. - Classical Guitar Recital – Prof. Moaxyr Teixeira Neto – Old Baptist Foundation Recital Hall
Wednesday – October 27th, 2021
• 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 am – Jazz Composition – Prof. Aldemar Valentín – Altgeld Hall, Room 117
• 11:10 a.m. – 12:10 pm – The study of rhythm for guitarists – Prof. Freddie Burgos – Altgeld Hall, Room 117
• 7:30 p.m. – Jazz Recital – Prof. Aldemar Valentín & Prof. Freddie Burgos featuring Dr. Dick Kelley & Dr. Isaac Lausell – Shryock Auditorium
Thursday – October 28th, 2021
• 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Voicing chords for Jazz Guitar – Dr. Zvonimir Tot • 7:30 p.m. – Jazz Guitar Recital – Dr. Zvonimir Tot & Dr. Isaac Lausell - featuring
prof. Freddie Burgos & prof. Aldemar Valentín. *note: OBF is the Old Baptist Foundation also known as Doyle Hall. Master classes Our master classes are open to all our festival audience members regardless if they play or not nor regarding their level of experitse. We will have master classes in composition for guitar, voicing jazz chords and more. To play in Moacyr Teixeira Neto’s classical guitar master class we will be conducting auditions since the amount of spaces to perform is limited. The students selected to play in the master class will receive a tuition waver for the festival. To apply summit a video recording of 2 contrasting pieces. To summit simply upload an unlisted video to youtube.com and send the link to [email protected]. We encourage the presentation of advanced works such as J.S. Bach’s lute suites, works by Heitor Villalobos and Leo Brower. This being said we will feature players from different levels. The level pieces of presented should not be beneath the level of the following: • El testament d’Amelia – Miguel LLobet • El sueño de la muñeca – Agustin Barrios
• Lágrima – Francisco Tárrega • Capricho Arabe – Francisco Tarrega • Canarios – Gaspar Sanz • Tarleton’s Resurrection – John Dowland Bios Dr. George Brozak – Director of Athletic Bands, History of Rock and Roll Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Since 2009, George Brozak has served as Director of Athletic Bands for the School of Music at Southern Illinois University. A native of Ohio, Brozak received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Music Education Degrees from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and an Ed.D. in Music Education from the University of Illinois. Most recently, he served as Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. Prior to his tenure at SIU, Brozak served as Visiting Assistant Director of Bands at Tennessee Technological
University in Cookeville, Tennessee and Lecturer in Music Education and Assistant Conductor for the renowned University of Illinois Bands, where he assisted both the Marching Illini and conducted Concert Band IIB.
Prior to his collegiate appointments, Brozak served as Director of Bands at Tiffin Columbian High School. There he directed marching, symphonic, concert, pep and jazz bands, and taught music composition/theory. The Symphonic Band took part in State Band Contest each year during his tenure. Additionally, Brozak taught beginning lessons on all instruments throughout the district. While at Tiffin, Brozak was the recipient of five Martha Holden Jennings Grants to further music education throughout the district. He was also Director of Bands at Federal-Hocking High School in Stewart, Ohio, where he taught instrumental music, 7-12. While at Federal-Hocking, the marching band was consistently awarded top-honors in their class at OMEA Adjudicated Events.
Brozak has authored articles in the prestigious Journal of Band Research and Visions of Research in Music Education. Most recently, his dissertation, A History of the Bands at Ohio University was published by Diamond Ohio Publications. He has presented numerous lectures at both Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA) and Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) Conferences, and served as percussion adjudicator for OMEA Marching Band Adjudicated Events.
Brozak is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, national honorary band fraternity and the Alpha Omega Chapter (Ohio University) of Lambda Chi Alpha. He is an honorary member of the Epsilon Alpha Chapter (South Carolina) of Tau Beta Sigma (national honorary band sorority), the Delta Sigma Chapter (South Carolina) of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the Lambda Rho Chapter (Tennessee Tech) of Kappa Kappa Psi.
In addition to his scholarly writings, Brozak has written production material for Paramount Studios. His story premise for "Birthright" (Episode 142) was produced by Star Trek: The Next Generation. His story for "False Profits" was produced by Star Trek: Voyager (Episode 44), and his story for "Broken Link" (Episode 98) was the Season Four cliffhanger for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Brozak has served as staff arranger for the Ohio University Marching Band; a position he has held since 1988. Additionally, he has written hundreds of marching band arrangements for high schools and college bands. He is a member of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), National Band Association (NBA), Music Educators National Conference (MENC), the International Percy Grainger Society, and the Writers Guild of America (WGA). In 1998, Brozak was a finalist in the Ashland Oil Teacher of the Year Award, and has been named to Who's Who in America's Teachers.
Prof. Freddie Burgos – Drums, Jazz Ensembles Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Inter American University of Puerto Rico
Professor Freddie Burgos was born in 1979, in Humacao Puerto Rico. From a very early age he was already experimenting with rhythm, even before owning a musical instrument. His mother bought him his first percussion instrument at the age of six and since then Freddie has not stopped playing. Freddie is a drummer, arranger, composer and music professor with an established track of recordings, touring and teaching experience in the US, Europe and Latin America. Freddie had his first drum set lesson in 1988 at a church in his hometown.
At the age of 13 he decided to attend Escuela Libre de Música, a public school for the performing arts. During that time Freddie honed his skills under the tutelage of professor Arnaldo Rivera, which led him to perform with several groups such as Cristal Jazz. In 1998 he went to the Berklee College of Music workshop in Puerto Rico where he won a scholarship to study in their main campus in Boston, Massachusetts. While at Berklee Freddie had the privilege of working with different teachers such as Kenwood Dennard, Larry Finn, Jon Hazilla, Casey Scheuerell, Larry Finn, Jon Hazilla, Casey Scheuerell, Dave Dicenso, Oscar Stagnaro, Mark Walker, Jon Hunt, Victor Mendoza, Victor Mendoza, Mark Walker, Jon Hunt, Victor Mendoza, Eguie Castillo, Bob Gulfman, Dan Morreti, Rob Yaco, Kim Plainfield and Rod Morgenstein. After graduating from Berklee Freddie relocated to New York. In 2013 Freddie graduated with a masters degree in Jazz Studies from the Aaron Copeland School of Music (Queens College) and returned to Puerto Rico where he is a professor of music at Conservatorio de Música de Puerto Rico and at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico (Metro Campus). Freddie known for his great sound, feel and mastery of polyrhythms. He has had the privilege to perform with artists such as Latin Grammy Award winning, contemporary Juan Luis Guerra, Manuel E. Castillo, Hiromi Uhera, Bobby Brown, Blacksole, Paoli Mejías, Michael Phillip Mossman, Antonio Hart, Proyecto EVIF, Jorge Vizcarrondo, Tercer Cielo, Rene Gonzalez, Richi Ray, Marco Pignataro, Isaac Lausell, Angel David Matos, Richie Flores, Alex Acuña, Giovanni Hidalgo, Oskar Cartaya, Luis Marín, Richie Flores, Abraham Laboriel, Justo Almario, Norbert Stachel, Diego Torres and Ricky Encarnacion, among others. Freddie has recorded with a number of artists such as; Barry D (Born to Play), Fikira Music, Piotr Kowalczyk, Andrés Espinosa (Songos Jalapeños), Berklee Jazz Revelation CD 2004, Jorge Vizcarrondo (A Cristo Vizcarrondo (A Cristo, Siempre Estas, Es Navidad), Proyecto EVIF, Ermec Gonzáles, Heaven Report Live DVD featuring Norbert Stachel (Tower of Power Horn Player), David Martinez (By Hand). His record “Inspiración” mark his debut as a bandleader featuring his arrangements and original compositions. Upcoming projects include the release of The Search Band, a super group featuring Jorge Vizcarrondo on Sax, Kenneth Morales on guitar and Eggie Sierra on bass. In the meantime Freddie's future plans are to continue composing, recording, performing and making contributions to the performing arts in Puerto Rico and abroad. For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/freddieburgosmusic Prof. Marcus DeJesus – Classical Guitar, Brazilian Jazz Clarke University, Loras College
Marcus DeJesus is a young guitarist originally from Brazil that currently lives in the Dubuque Tri State Area. He is a professor of guitar and general music at Clarke University and Loras College in Dubuque, IA. In addition Marcus is the music director at Chavez elementary school in Madison, WI. In the spring of 2016 he finished a master’s degree in guitar performance from Southern Illinois University (Carbonale, Illinois) and the in the spring of 2014 a bachellor’s of arts in music performance from Clarke University. Living in the U.S. for 11 years Marcus has studied the guitar with Dr. Zane Merritt, Dr. Isaac Lausell, Dr. Miles McConnell, composition with Dr. Amy Dunker and voice with master John Lease. In Brazil he has collaborated with master Moacyr Teixeira Neto who teaches at the FAMES Music Conservatory located in Vitoria, ES. That is where he studied in the summer of 2012 and has returned regularly to perform and lecture at the service of the school. He plays a guitar made by Brazilian luthier Luis Antonio Miranda. DeJesus began his studies on the instrument at the age of ten, having his father as one of his first teachers. Marcus has strong roots in classical guitar, Brazilian jazz and a variety of other styles. He was a soloist with the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra and the SIU Symphony Orchestra and has performed in a variety of jazz ensembles such as Larry Busch Big Band, Hunter Fuerste Vintage Jazz Group and the Misletones. In addition Marcus regularly performs with his own group the Blue Flame Duo, which features him on guitar and Brian Eiffes on vocals. The two musicians met during the time they attended Clarke University. Their music gives a modern approach to Bossa Nova and American Jazz standards.
As a solo performer he has toured the US and Brazil. Marcus has collaborated with local artists such as Brian Eiffes, Megan Gloss, Jim Sherry, Jill Klinebriel, David Resnick, Larry Busch, Ben Drury, Cameron Shoutes and others. During his free time he enjoys running, hiking, watching movies, attending art events, cooking and spending time with family and friends. His philosophy of teaching and is life is that it is important to “be yourself because everybody else is already taken”. Music allows humans what is between sentiments and words cannot express. For more information visit: http://www.marcusdejesus.com/home-1.html Dr. Dick Kelley – Director of the SIU School of Music, Saxophone Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Richard Kelley has been Associate Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Studies at Southern Illinois University Carbondale since 2008, performing numerous engagements across the United States, Mexico, Canada, much of Europe and several Caribbean countries. Active in all genres that welcome the saxophone, he has been featured as concerto soloist with several orchestras and bands, served as guest soloist with numerous jazz ensembles, and is often called upon to perform with touring groups throughout the United States.
Described as “exciting and engaging” and “having beautiful lyricism,” Dr. Kelley’s playing has been featured on a variety of recordings; from SIU Professor Emeritus Philip Brown’s Arkadia, to the multi-artist Liquid Architecture Project, where he collaborated with Douglas Quin to create Vostok Ice Memories. He has enjoyed several performances
at the World Saxophone Congress, the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, the United States Navy Band Symposium, International Association of Jazz Educators Conference, and the Jazz Education Network Conference. This October, he will be an invited speaker at the inaugural Jazz UV Conference in Veracruz, Mexico.
As an improviser and working jazz musician, Dr. Kelley often times “very nicely gets out of hand” with his own groups and his long-term membership in the New Arts Jazztet. He also composes and arranges for his own groups in addition to creating works for Jazz Ensembles, Chamber Groups, Saxophone Quartets, Saxophone Soloists and occasionally for Symphony Orchestras. Housed in his own RiPaRuKe Publishing, Dr. Kelley’s pedagogical materials and arrangements are easily accessible and favored by many.
Currently Dr. Kelley is pursuing research on multiple fronts. As a proponent for the development and implementation of the Electronic Wind Instrument, he is designing easy to use frameworks within several DAW’s that allow for straight forward EWI manipulation through MIDI foot pedals, in addition to creating a simple software interface to use the EWI as a vocoder in recorded and live performance. In the Spring of 2019, Dr. Kelley will take a sabbatical to investigate song writing practices over the past 200 years, in an effort to learn more about melodic traits that could be used in improvisation and arranging, in addition to developing a Survey of Song Writing Course to better serve students at Southern Illinois University.
Dr. Kelley’s education has in part developed from sharing the stage with artists such as Jon Faddis, Dick Oatts, Stefon Harris, Doc Severinsen, Charles McPherson and many others. Likewise, his numerous lessons and masterclasses with Jean Marie Londeix, Jean Yves Formeau, Nobuya Sugawa, Kenny Garrett, and Glenn Wilson to name a few have been instrumental in his development. However, most significant has been the enduring guidance of his primary teachers; Perry Rask, Debra Richtmeyer, Paul Bro, and Chip McNeill.
Dr. Isaac Lausell – Classical & Jazz Guitar, coordinator of the guitar program
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Isaac Lausell leads the guitar program at SIUC School of Music where he joined the faculty in the Fall 2012. At SIUC Lausell teaches courses in classical and jazz guitar, overseas the guitar area and performs with the Jazz Ensemble in residence the New Arts Jazztet.
Prior to his appointment at SIU Dr. Lausell taught at the Inter American University of Puerto Rico, Consevatorio de Música de Puerto Rico, Escuela Especializada Ernesto Ramos Antonini (public music school, grades 7-12), State University of New York at Stony Brook, University of North Texas (Community Music Program), Ridgecrest Elementary School in Houston, Texas, Escuela Libre de Música de Humacao (public music school, grades 7-12) and Academia de Música Peña in Puerto Rico.
Dr. Lausell holds a Doctorate in Musical Arts with focus in Performance (classical guitar, studies in Early Music & Jazz) from State University of New York at Stony Brook, a master’s degree in Jazz studies from University of North Texas and a Bachelors Degree in Music Performance (Classical Guitar) with a teacher’s certification from Conservatorio de Musica de Puerto Rico.
As a writer Dr. Lausell has developed methods for Jazz improvisation and guitar blending lute, classical and jazz guitar technique. As a recording artist Dr. Lausell has led several successful projects both as headliner, sideman and producer.
Dr. Lausell has played with artists such as Ray Anderson, C.W. Askew, Ignacio Berroa, Coco Freeman, Kenwood Dennard, Ricky Encarnación, Jon Faddis, Frank Gambale, Eddie
Gómez, Heaven Report, Keith Javors, Rick Latham, Matt Margvulio, Charles McPherson, Paoli Mejias, Fidel Morales, Marcello Pellitteri, Marco Pignataro, Proyecto EVIF, Luis "Perico" Ortiz, Jorge Vizcarrondo, Bill Smith, Oscar Stagnaro, Norbert Stachel and the Stony Brook Baroque Players.
For more info visit: https://www.isaaclausell.com/
Dr. Zvonimir Tot – Jazz Guitar, Theory & Composition
University of Illinois Chicago
Zvonimir Tot (z-VON-e-mere TOTE) is a Chicago-based jazz guitarist, composer and arranger with a style deeply rooted in the jazz tradition but flavored by his European origin. He holds too many university degrees. Tot has performed in the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, Serbia, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Croatia. He has performed and/or recorded with many world-renowned musicians, including: - Saxophonists Scott Hamilton, Billy Harper, Jamey Aebersold and Peter King - Violinists Johnny Frigo and Stefan Milenkovich - Drummers Ernie Adams, Paul Wertico and Byron Landham - Bassists Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, John Clayton and Hein Van de Geyn - Pianists Larry Novak and Larry Vuckovich - Harmonica virtuoso Howard Levy - Guitarists Philip Catherine, Henry Johnson and Paulinho Garcia - Organist Joey DeFrancesco - Vocalists Patricia Barber, Jackie Allen and Carmen Lundy Zvonimir Tot is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music at University of Illinois at Chicago and currently teaches jazz guitar, harmony, ear training, counterpoint and ensembles. He is the founder and owner of Groove Art Records, as well as full member of
ASCAP, GRAMMY, Jazz Education Network (JEN), and American Composers Forum. Tot has recorded four CDs as a leader: Eloquent Silence (Chicago Sessions, 2009), Unspoken Desire (Groove Art Records, 2007), Blue Quest (Groove Art Records, 2007), and Travels and Dreams (Groove Art Records, 2004), as well as numerous CDs as a sideman for various labels. Tot has composed over fifty jazz compositions for ensembles ranging from duo to sextet. Since 2005, Zvonimir Tot’s biography has been included in Who's Who In America, published by Marquis Publishing. He is an endorsing artist for Godin electric/MIDI guitars, Taylor acoustic guitars, D'Addario strings, Acoustic Image amplifiers and Raezer's Edge speakers. Website: www.zt-music.com
Prof. Moacyr Teixeira Neto – Classical Guitar
Faculdade Mauricio de Oliveira, Acordes – Centro de Música e Artes (Vitoria, ES, Brazil)
Award winning guitarist Moacyr Teixeira Neto is one of Brazil’s most prized guitarists. Winner of the “Best interpretation Prize” in the Heitor Villalobos Guitar Competition, the Souza Lima Guitar Competition and a finalist in the Agustín Barrios International Guitar Competition Teixeira Neto has earned many accolades in Brazil and abroad. Teixeira Neto has delighted audiences from all over the world including Santiago de Compostela (Spain), Asuncion (Paraguay), Lima (Peru), Montevideo (Uruguay) and Milan (Italy). Professor Teixeira Neto has taught master classes and workshops for events such
as the International Festival of Domingos Martins, Souza Lima Festival, Fred Schneiter Competition, Vital Medeiros Seminary (Brazil), Eduardo Fabini Festival (Uruguay) and International Festival of Contemporary Music of Lima (Peru). Prox Teixiera Neto has also served as visiting professor for events such as the International Festival of Inverno Domingos Martins, Souza Lima Festival, Fred Schneiter Competition, Vital Medeiros Seminary (Brazil), Eduardo Fabini Festival (Uruguay) and International Festival of Contemporary Music of Lima (Peru). He is also the artistic director of the Maurício de Oliveira Latin American Festival and Competition. Professor Teixeira Neto currently serves as the artistic director of Centro de Música e Artes and guitar professor at Faculdade de Música do Éspirito Santo (FAMES).
Several respected composers have written works for Teixeira Neto including Carlos Cruz, Maurício de Oliveira, Ricardo Tacuchian, Marcos Vinícius, Luis Carlos Barbieri, Marcos Zanandréa among others. Prof. Teixeira’s has released 4 recordings focused on Brazilian guitar music and other 4 focused on international music for classical guitar. Teixeira Neto’s first CD release “Gravuras do Violão” received and award from Ministry of Culture in Espirito Santo, Brazil (Secretaria de Cultura – SECULT – ES). His records “Serenete” e “Bande de Congos” are distributed worldwide through amazon.com. Moacyr celebrated his 25 years as a performing artist with the release of his DVD/concert “Meu Violão…Minha Vida” (My guitar, my life). Professor Teixeira Neto will be closing the 4th edition of the SIU Guitar Festival with a concert and North American release of his latest CD “Over the Time” featuring works by famed Italian-Brazilian composer Marcos Vinícius. For more info visit: https://moacyrteixeiraneto.com.br/
Prof. Aldemar Valentín – Bass guitar & Music Theory Centro de Estudios de Jazz Universidad Veracruzana (Xalapa, México)
Bass guitarist and composer from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico Aldemar Valentin was born and raised in Mayagüez Puerto Rico. He studied for two years in the Escuela de Bellas Artes in Ponce, Puerto Rico under professor Irvin Cancel. In 1999 he earned a performance Diploma from Berklee College of Music and in 2003, his Bachelor of Music Degree. While attending Berklee, he studied under renowned jazz mentors: Oscar Stagnaro, Bruce Gertz, Hall Crook and Greg Hopkins. In May 2006, Aldemar obtained a Master’s of Music degree in Jazz performance from the New England Conservatory of Music. As a soloist and composer Valentin has published three recordings titled “Finding my path” (2009), “Ficciones” (2011) and “Nueva Vision” (2015). As a bass guitarist maestro Valentin has performed in the following recordings: “Oye” por Miguel Zenon & The Rhythm Collective (2013), “Introspection” por Ermesc Gonzalez (2010),
“Traditions”/Angel David Mattos 2007 (junto a Bob Mintzer y Paquito D’ Rivera), “The Panamá Suite”/Danilo Pérez Big Band (2006), “Sentido Tropical”/Rique Colón (2006) and “Mi Tambor”/Paoli Mejías (2005) which was nominated for a Grammy award. International performances: Miguel Zenon & The Rhythm Collective (The Jazz Showcase/Chicago, The Jazz Standard/ NYC, 2013), Ángel David Mattos (Berklee Performance Center, Boston Ma, 2009), Alejandro Aviles-Hologramª (National tour in Perú, 2008) Roberto Zayas (Pekín China (2007), Nestor Torres (Japan-Taiwan tour, 2006), Panamá Jazz Festival (2006 NEC Jazz Ensemble/ Independiente 2009) Miguel Zenón (países del África Occidental, 2003), Paoli Mejías (The Triple Door, Seattle, WA. 2003), Manuel Larrea (Guayaquil, Ecuador 2001-1998). As an educator professor Valentin teached at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico in the popular music program. From 2007-2012. He was also a professor in the Jazz and Caribeann Music program at the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he was also the jazz chamber music coordinator (2009- 2013). Valentin joined the faculty of the Jazz Studies Center of Universidad Veracruzana in Xalapa in January 2014 where he teaches music theory and bass guitar. For more information visit: https://aldemarvalentin.bandcamp.com/
Christopher Walczak – Theory and Composition
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and provoked by a family of passionate and latitudinous overachievers, creating music has been a part of everyday life for Christopher Walczak from kindergarten afternoons until the present. Many years and three degrees later, Christopher finds himself reconciling the kaleidoscopic array of sound and thought absorbed along the way. His repertoire includes works for solo instruments, chamber ensembles of various sizes, full symphony as well as chamber orchestra, music for computer, and interactive electro-acoustic music.
Dr. Walczak holds both bachelor's and master's degrees in Music Composition from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and a doctorate from Rice University. He has studied with composers Stephen Dembski, Joel Naumann, Laura Schwendinger, Shih-Hui Chen, Richard Lavenda, Pierre Jalbert, and Arthur Gottschalk. Christopher's music, which New York's cityArts hailed as "singing with lucid and unexpected harmonies," has been commissioned, performed, and recorded by various orchestras and ensembles including the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin - Madison Symphony Orchestra, the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee Wind Ensemble, the
Wisconsin Alliance for Composers, Symphonic Brass of Houston, Flutes Quatre, Zeitgeist New Music Ensemble, Brightmusic Chamber Ensemble, Ensemble Laboratorium, Relache, and members of Grammy Award winning eighth blackbird.
Christopher has been admitted as a fellow to many renowned composition conferences and festivals, including June in Buffalo, the Wellesley Composers Conference, MusicX, and the Czech-American Summer Music Institute. In April of 2012, Christopher's solo piano work, Dark Blue Etude received its Carnegie Hall debut by pianist Andrew Staupe in New York City and was later broadcast on National Public Radio's Performance Today with Fred Child. His orchestral tone poem, The Evening Shadow, was the winner of the 2013 Paul and Christiane Cooper Prize in Composition. In 2013 the composer was nominated for a Charles Ives Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was the winner of the 2011 Robert Avalon Composition Competition, the recipient of the 2010 Presser Music Award, and the winner of the 2008 Chasm New Music Festival Composition Competition among other awards and honors.
On the frontier of music technology, Christopher is currently exploring ‘spatially activated musical improvisation’ while working with the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on the VIDI Project: an interactive experience in which infrared cameras track the motion of human beings and then map those movements onto generative musical data. As a music theorist, Dr. Walczak specializes in innovative analytical approaches, transformational networks, and rational reconstructions of the tonal system.
Christopher is forever indebted to the many great teachers who have shaped his worldview and life. He has great devotion to his students and offers that knowledge gladly, working closely with them toward achieving their artistic and professional goals.
For more info visit: www.christoperwalczak.com
