Hundreds of guitar students from Redland schools will gather at Ormiston College on September 3 and 4 for an inaugural GuitarFest.
Coordinated by guitar teacher and festival director Campbell Ross, the festival is designed to bring together budding guitarists and expose them to group playing and professional players. The festival will feature flamenco guitarist Andrew Vievers, Riverside Guitar Ensemble, St Laurence’s College Senior Guitar Ensemble and Brisbane Guitar Quartet. Local schools include Star of the Sea, Redland College, Ormiston College and Ormiston State School.
Mr Ross said the festival would run from 12.45pm to 5pm on September 3 and 2.45pm to 5pm on September 4 and would culminate in a free concert from 6pm to 8pm on September 4 featuring pieces learned during the weekend and solos from the guest workshop facilitators. A feature will be a composition by Mr Ross written especially for the festival and inspired by St Helena Island on Moreton Bay.
“Often students get to compete against each other in a competition, but I thought how much nicer it would be for students to work and perform with one another for a common goal. A guitar is a solo instrument and it is rare to play as a group. A guitar has a sharp attack so you need good control over your own part to be able to play together and on time,” Mr Ross said.
Dean of Music at Ormiston College Emma Dron said the goal was for the event to become an annual Redland City Music Festival.
“We want to inspire and create an environment where, for one weekend each year, the love of music will be looked-forward to, shared and enjoyed,” she said.
Ms Dron said the festival would suit guitar students from Years 3 to 12 and staff. Participating students will combine to a massed guitar ensemble, giving them an opportunity to work alongside students of similar and higher ability and broadening their ensemble skills.
For information, see www.ormistoncollege.com.au/guitarfest or phone 3821 8999.