Renowned Guitarist/Composer comes to Stetson

Music-Benjamin VerderyStetson University’s Guitar Program, under the direction of Stephen Robinson, D.M., professor of music, will present internationally renowned guitarist/composer Benjamin Verdery in concert (photo by mitsukoverdery) on Saturday, March 29, at 7:30 p.m. Verdery will perform his own works for solo guitar, his arrangements of works by J.S. Bach, Prince and Elvis Presley, and Ezra Laderman’s On Vineyard Sound, composed for Verdery. The concert will take place in Lee Chapel inside Elizabeth Hall, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand. Verdery will also present a master class on Sunday, March 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. in Lee Chapel. Funded by the Stetson University Artists and Lecturers Committee, both events are open to the public, free of charge.

Described as “iconoclastic” and “inventive” by The New York Times and “one of the classical guitar world’s most foremost personalities,” by Classical Guitar Magazine, Verdery enjoys an innovative and eclectic musical career. He has performed worldwide in theatres and at festivals, including Theatre Carré (Amsterdam); the International Guitar Festival (Havana, Cuba); Wigmore Hall (England); the 92nd Street Y, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera (NYC). His tours regularly take him to Canada, Europe, and Asia and throughout the United States. Benjamin has recorded and performed with such diverse artists as Andy Summers, Frederic Hand, William Coulter, Leo Kottke, Anthony Newman, Jessye Norman, Paco Peña, Hermann Prey and John Williams. Several composers have written music for him including Ezra Laderman, Martin Bresnick, Daniel Asia, John Anthony Lennon, Ingram Marshall, Anthony Newman, Roberto Sierra, Van Stiefel and Jack Vees.

A prolific recording artist, Verdery has released over 15 albums, his most recent being: Happy Here with William Coulter (Mushkatweek) and Branches with works by J.S. Bach, Strauss, Jimi Hendrix, Mozart and the traditional Amazing Grace (Mushkatweek). His recording, Start Now (Mushkatweek), won the 2005 Classical Recording Foundation Award. Other recordings of note include Some Towns & Cities which won the 1992 Guitar Player Magazine Best Classical Guitar Recording and his collaborations with John Williams (John Williams Plays Vivaldi) and Andy Summers (First you Build A Cloud). Also a prolific composer, many of Verdery’s compositions have been performed, recorded and published over the years.

In addition to his performance tours and recording, Verdery is chair of the guitar department at the Yale University School of Music (since 1985) and artistic director of the bi-annual Yale Guitar Extravaganza. He is also artistic director of Art of the Guitar at New York City’s 92nd St Y. Each summer Verdery holds his Annual International Master Class on the Island of Maui (Hawaii).

For more information on the March 29 performance or the March 30 master class, please call the School of Music Concert Line at (386) 822-8947 or the School of Music at (386) 822-8950. For a full music concert schedule, visit Stetson’s School of Music and click on Upcoming Events.