February / March 2010 Update
2010
I have three upcoming shows in the Baltimore / Philadelphia area in February. These are all posted in my calendar section. I'm then heading to Dallas, TX, as a Semi-Finalist in the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival at University of Texas at Dallas.
Directly after that, I will play a few pieces at the Preparatory Faculty Recital, Sunday March 7th at 3 PM in Griswold Hall at Peabody Conservatory. That evening, I take flight from Washington, D.C., to London. From London - it's on to Bangalore, India!!!
I'm very happy to make my first visit to India a musical one. I will be attending the wedding of my guitar student Chetan Tekur (Congrats Chetan!!) and performing at his reception as well. I've heard a lot about Indian weddings so I'm very excited to see and be a part of one. Then, I will be giving concerts and masterclasses with two music organizations in Bangalore - The Bangalore School of Music and The Nathaniel School of Music.
I'm excited because I will present a solo classical program with the Bangalore School of Music with a twist - at the end of the program I will collaborate with Indian classical musicians. I'm also happy because this concert will happen during their East - West Encounter, a cross-cultural International Festival. And I'll do something similar with the Nathaniel School, except since that school is more geared to play popular music, I'll play some solos and then appear with a band and sing some of my songs with them! Below is a press release from the Bangalore School Music about them and my appearance.
The East West Encounters were initiated in 1990 by The Bangalore School of Music, with the support of scholars & musicians of the Caliber of the late Dr. Raja Ramanna, B.V.K Shashtry, Dr. Doraiswamy Iyengar, Prof. H. J. Koellrentter (composer & conductor) and the German Singer Margarita Schack among others. The aim was to bring the best of world cultures, art and artistes together in better understanding and exchange. Over a thousand artistes from the east & west, from 35 countries world-wide have shared the rich panorama of traditional, new & innovative music & dance forms of their respective countries. Bangalore & its cultural environment scene have grown richer through these Encounters.
On March 15th, 2010 – renowned Classical Guitarist Ben Beirs, from Baltimore, USA will perform at the Alliance Francaise auditorium, as part of the 13th East West Multi-Cultural Music Festival. The singer, songwriter, teacher & composer will perform a spectrum of popular classical pieces by famous composers – Roland Dyens, Joaquin Rodrigo, Alexandra Gardner and will also perform a couple of his own compositions, relevant to the East-West Festival, in collaboration with Indian Flute & Tabla musicians.
Mrs. Aruna Sunderlal, Founder & Managing Trustee, The Bangalore School of Music, said, “Bangalore City, known as the Silicon Valley of India & known for its cosmopolitan population, has a small, but focused classical music following. The Bangalore School of Music has over a 100 students for the Western Classical Guitar and one of the strongest Guitar faculty’s in the country. Our audiences, members of the Music School, students & teachers await Ben’s performance eagerly, and we look forward to more such collaborations in the further. We must also thank Ben for agreeing to do Master Classes with our students, who I’m sure, will make maximum use of the learning opportunity”.
Directly after that, I will play a few pieces at the Preparatory Faculty Recital, Sunday March 7th at 3 PM in Griswold Hall at Peabody Conservatory. That evening, I take flight from Washington, D.C., to London. From London - it's on to Bangalore, India!!!
I'm very happy to make my first visit to India a musical one. I will be attending the wedding of my guitar student Chetan Tekur (Congrats Chetan!!) and performing at his reception as well. I've heard a lot about Indian weddings so I'm very excited to see and be a part of one. Then, I will be giving concerts and masterclasses with two music organizations in Bangalore - The Bangalore School of Music and The Nathaniel School of Music.
I'm excited because I will present a solo classical program with the Bangalore School of Music with a twist - at the end of the program I will collaborate with Indian classical musicians. I'm also happy because this concert will happen during their East - West Encounter, a cross-cultural International Festival. And I'll do something similar with the Nathaniel School, except since that school is more geared to play popular music, I'll play some solos and then appear with a band and sing some of my songs with them! Below is a press release from the Bangalore School Music about them and my appearance.
The East West Encounters were initiated in 1990 by The Bangalore School of Music, with the support of scholars & musicians of the Caliber of the late Dr. Raja Ramanna, B.V.K Shashtry, Dr. Doraiswamy Iyengar, Prof. H. J. Koellrentter (composer & conductor) and the German Singer Margarita Schack among others. The aim was to bring the best of world cultures, art and artistes together in better understanding and exchange. Over a thousand artistes from the east & west, from 35 countries world-wide have shared the rich panorama of traditional, new & innovative music & dance forms of their respective countries. Bangalore & its cultural environment scene have grown richer through these Encounters.
On March 15th, 2010 – renowned Classical Guitarist Ben Beirs, from Baltimore, USA will perform at the Alliance Francaise auditorium, as part of the 13th East West Multi-Cultural Music Festival. The singer, songwriter, teacher & composer will perform a spectrum of popular classical pieces by famous composers – Roland Dyens, Joaquin Rodrigo, Alexandra Gardner and will also perform a couple of his own compositions, relevant to the East-West Festival, in collaboration with Indian Flute & Tabla musicians.
Mrs. Aruna Sunderlal, Founder & Managing Trustee, The Bangalore School of Music, said, “Bangalore City, known as the Silicon Valley of India & known for its cosmopolitan population, has a small, but focused classical music following. The Bangalore School of Music has over a 100 students for the Western Classical Guitar and one of the strongest Guitar faculty’s in the country. Our audiences, members of the Music School, students & teachers await Ben’s performance eagerly, and we look forward to more such collaborations in the further. We must also thank Ben for agreeing to do Master Classes with our students, who I’m sure, will make maximum use of the learning opportunity”.
