Eighth annual festival draws guitar greats

Since its conception in an Austrian bar by UTD Guitar Studies Director Enric Madriguera and Arts & Performance Associate Dean Kathryn Evans, the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival has grown beyond either of their expectations.

The 8th annual festival brought in competitors from around the globe for a weekend of master classes, performances by award-winning classical guitarists and demanding competition.

"One of the guys who didn't get into the finals is playing in Carnegie Hall next month," Madriguera said. "This is at the international level of competition."

The three day festival featured performances by Grammy-winner David Russell, the Collin College Guitar Ensemble and the UTD Guitar Ensemble, which will perform in Mexico in April. Russell and two of the judges offered master classes throughout the weekend, but only the competition finals were open to the public.

"A lot of these festivals are a week long. This is three nights and four days. We get a lot done," Madriguera said.

The four finalists were all Americans, a first for the competition. The fact that three of them were from Texas, including a sophomore from Austin High School, was also unprecedented. After a grueling final round, starting with impeccable classical style and ending with gypsy jazz and guitar fireworks, UT doctorate student Joseph Williams II took first prize.

"Competitions are very much like roulette. You have no idea what the judges will think," Williams said. "I enjoyed how I played, and if you can do that, (winning) doesn't really matter."

Columbian programmer, teacher and part-time pilot Gonzalo Molano, winner of the first Texas Guitar Competition, returned to be a judge and perform for festival-goers. This is the first time a winner has been invited back to participate.

"I don't agree completely that art has to be measured by quantitative methods (such as competitions)," Molano said. "However, it gives you a reason to get better, and if you get lucky and win, then hey, that feels good too."

The event encourages the development of UTD's fledgling guitar studies program. Madriguera said the festival has helped it evolve much faster than it would have otherwise, and he hopes to continue expanding the program.

"The essence of the competition is about the students growing, it's not about showcasing somebody's ego." Molano said.