Fresno State Guitar Fest to feature public masterclasses and recitals

The Fresno State Guitar Festival features two recitals on Friday, Feb 15.

The first, features George Sakellariou at 3 p.m. followed by Thomas Patterson at 8 p.m. in the Wahlberg Recital Hall. Tickets for the Sakellariou and Patterson recitals are $15 general, $10 seniors, $5 students, faculty and staff.

The festival will also include two free master classes starting with Patterson at 7 p.m., Feb. 14 in the Old Music Building M181 and Sakellariou at 10 a.m., Feb 16 in the New Music Building M127.

Patterson leads the Bolton Guitar Studies Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson which is known for being among the top guitar programs in the nation.

Thomas Patterson: Led by Professor Tom Patterson, the Bolton Guitar Studies Program at the University of Arizona in Tucson is known for being of the top guitar programs in the nation. It is host to many successful students who have placed in some of the top competitions in the U.S including the Guitar Foundation of America competition and abroad, like the Tarrega and Alhambra Competitions.

The University of Arizona Guitar Department is proud to host internationally acclaimed artists Sergio and Odair Assad and David Russell as artists in residence who are able to provide concerts and master classes to our talented guitar majors.

George Sakalleriou: George Sakellariou began playing the guitar at an early age in Athens, Greece, and went on to receive formal training at the esteemed Conservatory of Music in Athens, where he graduated with honors, and ultimately studied with the great master Andrés Segovia. Upon completion of his studies at the age of twenty, George joined the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where he became Chairman of the Guitar Department. Several extensive and impressive articles about Mr. Sakellariou have been published in internationally renowned Guitar Player magazine and one quote states: “George Sakellariou is one of the best players in the world.”

Sakellariou is the former chairman of the Guitar Department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and has performed in concert halls around the world.