Many Splendored Strings: Guitar Event Returns

UT Dallas will host the 7th Annual Texas Guitar Competition on March 6-8 in the Conference Center. The prizes for first, second and third place are $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 respectively.

Concert Rescheduled The Marco Sartor guitar concert that was canceled because of Thursday night’s weather interruption has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 8, at 4 p.m. in the UTD Conference Center. All other events will continue as scheduled.

The competitors for this year come from across the United States as well as Switzerland, Romania, Turkey, Serbia, Malaysia and France. Many have been awarded prizes in international competitions.

Previous winners of the Texas Guitar Competition have come from Uruguay, Brazil, Nicaragua, France, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Australia and the United States.

In addition to competing, students can attend master classes and concerts. During the three days of competition, the public is invited to attend a festival of events.

Marco Sartor’s laureate concert, which was to begin the festivities on March 6, has been rescheduled for Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets for Sartor’s concert are $15. Finalists will be announced during this concert.

Sartor has performed at concerts and festivals, conducted master classes and appeared in radio and television broadcasts throughout the U.S., Mexico, Spain, Argentina and Uruguay. He has won top prizes in more than 10 competitions in North and South America, including first prize in the 2006 Texas Guitar Competition.

The four finalists will compete before local and international judges on March 7 at 8 p.m. The finals are free and open to the public.

Michael Chapdelaine’s concert on March 8 at 8 p.m. will conclude the festival. The competition winners will be announced during his concert. Tickets for Chapdelaine’s concert are $20.

Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win first prize in the world’s top competitions in both the classical and fingerstyle genres. A critic for Acoustic Guitar Magazine wrote, “I have seldom heard a more beautiful album. …Chapdelaine’s beautiful tone is the nearest to Segovia’s that I can recall.” He has released 11 albums, with tunes ranging from Bach to the Beatles.

More information about this event may be found at http://ah.utdallas.edu/news_events/annual_guitar_competition.html.

Tickets for Sartor’s and Chapdeliane’s concerts are free at the door to UT Dallas students with valid Comet Cards. UT Dallas ticket office hours are from 2 to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and at the door one hour before concert time. For advance ticket purchases using Visa, MasterCard or Discover, please call 972-883-2552.

For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UT Dallas, please call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787) or e-mail utdarts@utdallas.edu. People with disabilities in need of special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.

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