Sixth international music festival and international competition of classical guitarists named VI GUITAR OPEN FESTIVAL, with the promotional motto “FEEL LEGATO – EXPERIENCE THE CONNECTION”
REPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL YOUTH MUSIC FESTIVAL and INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF CLASSICAL GUITARISTS
“GUITAR OPEN FESTIVAL”
10/05 – 13/05 2012 – SUBOTICA
The Sixth international music festival and international competition of classical guitarists named VI GUITAR OPEN FESTIVAL, with the promotional motto “FEEL LEGATO – EXPERIENCE THE CONNECTION” took place within the period from 10/05 to 13/05/2012 in Subotica, organised by Balkan Urban Movement from Belgrade and Centre for Sustainable development from Subotica, supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sport of the Republic of Serbia, Austrian FORUM, Parliament of Subotica town, SAVAREZ, Oralent of the representative of Swiss company “Curaprox” and in cooperation with “Kosztolányi Dezső” Theatre and “Lifka” Cinema.
The Festival has been divided into few segments, from morning till late evening, by the following concept:
- Evening concerts – evening program starting from 8 PM
- Master classes – morning program from 10 AM to 1 PM and afternoon program from 3 to 6 PM
- International categorized competition – full-day program from 9 AM to 6 PM
- After-hour Guitar Session program – from 10 PM to 1 AM
Concert program was organized during all three evenings of the Festival, from Thursday to Saturday.
The opening ceremony has been held on the first evening, in the “Kosztolányi Dezső” Theatre in Subotica, where the director of the Festival, Zoran Anić, had officially opened the Sixth international music festival and international competition of classical guitarists “Guitar Open Festival” (http://www.subotica.info/eventview.php?event_id=41255). A large number of visitors had a chance to enjoy music performance of classical guitar virtuoso Gabriel Gullien who currently lives and works in Austria (http://www.subotica.info/eventview.php?event_id=41255). The concert was helped and financially supported by Austrian FORUM. With fascinating interpretations of classic pieces as well as pieces by composers from Latin America, Gullien had given the performance worthy of the opening ceremony and delighted the audience.
The evening was rounded off a superb performance by internationally renowned guitar trio Amicus. With spectacular interpretations of classical hits, direct contact with the audience and the energy that flows only between true friends which these three artists are, they have managed to raise the crowd to their feet.
Gabriel Guillen (VEN/AUT)
Gabriel Guillén was born in Venezuela. At the age of eight he started learning guitar with Uruguay guitarist Mario Vidalino which introduced him to the music of Argentina and Uruguay. He continued his education at “Escuela Superior de Música Jose Angel Lamas” in classes of professors Leopoldo Igarza, Jose Gregorio Guanchez and Alberto Espinosa. From 1984 to 1988 he was performing in most of the cities in Venezuela. He won the first prize at “Antonio Lauro” competition organised by Rotary International in 1987. He also studied in classes of Abel Carlevaro, Luis Zea, Rafael Benatar, Bartolomé Diaz and Franka Verhagen. In 1988 he had won a scholarship for studies in Europe and after that he moved to Wien. There he studied in the classes of professors Walter Würdinger and Konrad Ragossnig. He performed in Europe, South America, USA and Japan. He won many awards among which “Merit” Prize of the Austrian Government, “Amigo de Venezuela”- the award of Venezuela Positiva Foundation, honorary award of the Rotary Club Caracas-Avila, as well as 25 more awards in Mexico, Argentina and Italy. He teaches master courses in more than 34 countries. Gabriel Guillen is one of the most recognised guitarists today.
Programme:
D. Scarlatti: Sonata in E Major, Sonata in A Major
M. Giuliani: Le Rossiniane Op.119 N.1
A. Lauro: Venezuela Suite: Registro, Danza Negra, Cancion, Valse
R. Riera: Preludio Criollo
A. Lauro: El Marabino, Carora, Natalia
I. Figueredo: Los Caujaritos
AMICUS trio
Trio “Amicus” – After many years of friendship, the idea of forming a trio “Amicus” was born in order to give a creative note to that friendship. The trio was established at 2010. They wanted to play by a repertoire somewhat richer than usual guitar repertoire, so they had the partitures of Mozart’s “Little night music” transcripted for guitars from partitures composed for orchestra (arranged by prof. Igor Ivic). They also plan to transcript some other interesting classical pieces. Trio is currently performing across the country.
Ognjen Grcak (1978) graduated at FMU in Belgrade, in class of Srdjan Tosic. He specialised in USA (Indiana State University, Bloomington) in classesof Nuccio D’Angelo, Ernesto Bitteti and Nigel North. He was awarded with a first prize of the Guitarart Festival in 2001. He currently teaches at music school “Josip Slavenski” in Belgrade.
Milos Janjic (1979) graduated and had his MA diploma at FMU in Belgrade, in class of Srdjan Tosic and he had his PhD at Maastricht Conservatory in Netherlands, is class of Carl Machione. He won awards at many competitions at home and abroad such as Mottola, Italy (1998) and Sinaia, Romania (2001). He performed a lot in Serbia, but also in Greece, Netherlands, Italy, Montenegro and Romania. He teaches at the Faculty of Arts in Nis and at music school “Josip Slavenski” in Belgrade.
Slobodan Milivojevic (1980) graduated classical guitar at FMU in Belgrade, in class of Srdjan Tosic. He starts PhD studies at Indiana State University in Bloomington where he gets the prestigious Artist Diploma by working with Professor Ernesto Bitteti and Nigel North. He was awarded with the first prize on the international Latin-America competition and on “Indianapolis Musicale”. He performed in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, USA and Norway. He teaches guitar at music school “Josip Slavenski” in Belgrade.
Programme:
W.A. Mozart: Eine Kleine Nachtmusic k.525: (arr. Igor Ivić)
Allegro, Romanze, Menuetto, Rondo
Georges Bizet: Carmen- Suite: (arr. Miloš Janjić)
Les Tringles Des Sistres Tintanient, Seguidilla, Entr’acte, Intermezzo, Les Toreadors
Paulo Bellinati: Baiao De Gude
The second night of the Festival had brought news to the revue programme. The Artistic Jam Session, which was the theme of the second evening, completely fulfilled the expectations. Amalia Miller, Katarina Maric, Relja Tuduric, Boris Lemajic and many other musicians amazed all music lovers in the Blues Time club. This unusual guitar programme could be shortly characterised as a blend of classical guitar, jazz, blues and a few notes of commercial music. Aside from the exceptional show for the audience, The Artistic Jam Session was an opportunity for young talented musicians to present their virtue in form of improvisation, cooperation and public performance.
The closing ceremony of the Festival was organised in the hall of the Theatre “Dezso Kostolany”. After the announcement of winners and award ceremony, the art director of the Festival has spoken. The sixth international youth guitar festival and competition was officially closed in front of the large audience with performances of Annamaria Szlama, the guest from Hungary and the winner of the last year’s International guitar competition in Szeged, Nikola Begović, the last year’s winner of the GOF and the Sabbatka band. The winner of the Guitar Open Festival 2012 is Marcin Koziol, the young guitarist from Poland, whose performance gained the most points in the pro category. Winners of other categories are: Luka Radovanović (V1), Lijora Šijački (IV1), Ema Kapor (III1), Jaka Škoberne (II1) and Dominik Elek (I1).]
Annamária Szlama (HUN)
Annamaria Szlama was born in Budapest. She started playing guitar when she was ten. She continues her education on the Béla Bartók Conservatory in Budapest in class of Professor Sándor Szilvágyi. She is a winner of the Hungarian National Competition Andres Segovija 2007. She currently studies at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, in the class of Professor András Csáki. Last year she won the first prize of the competition in Szeged. She participated in many festivals and master classes. Her plan for the next year is to visit Italy within the Erasmus Programme.
Programme:
J.S.Bach: Suite in c-minor(BWV 997): Prelude, Sarabande, Gigue, Double
Joaquin Rodrigo: Junto al Generalife, En los Trigales
J.K.Mertz: Elegie
Nikola Begović
Nikola Begović was born in 1991in Bačka Topola and he lives in Subotica since 1992.He got his first musical education in Music School in Subotica, at the Department of Classical Guitar in class of Professors Petar Milović and Marko Srdjević. This was the period of his first achievements on republic, regional and other competitions where he won many awards, along with other prizes and diplomas. He continued his education at master classes of the well-known classical guitar players: Marco Tamayo (Cuba), Jean-Marc Zvellenreuther (France), Sante Tursi (Italy), Gerhard Richenbach (Germany), Goran Krivokapić (Montenegro). At 2010 he continues his education at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad at the Department of Classical Guitar in class of Professor Zoran Krajišnik. Within that period he performs in many countries in the region. He is a winner of the international competition within Guitar Open Festival in Subotica in Pro category up to 35 years of age. He is currentlyat the second year of the Academy. Beside the education and guitar, this young man is also engaged in education of young generations of guitar players. Aside from classic, he also plays other genres as well as electric guitar: rock band „Sabbatka“and ethno band „Paniks“, whith whom he has been performing in ex-YU and other European countries.
Programme:
J.S.Bach: Lute Suite (BWV 996)
A.Piazzolla: Invierno Porteno
M.Llobet: Variaciones Sobre un tema de Sor op. 15 (folia)
Sabbatka bend
The band was formed in May 2006 in Subotica and it was originally named Black Sabbatka. They were performing in local clubs and released the first demo named White Maiden during 2007. Sabbatka performed at many festivals across the country, including Tribute Hits, GBOB Challenge 08, Hit Radija 202 and CMOK fest where they had been awarded a first prize. In 2009 they participated in the first season of Battle of Bands on OBN television and they also performed a lot. The Band’s name has been made of name for Subotica in Hungarian language – Szabatka. Band members: Mihaly Szucs – vocals, faggot; Nikola Begović Johnny – guitar, vocals; Arpad Tomo – guitar; David Szucs – bass guitar, vocals; Neven Tili – drums, vocal.
2. MASTER CLASSES
Master classes had been held during four days by top national and world renowned educators and performers. They were scheduled from 10to 13 AM and from 03 to 06 PM in Villa Modena and Hotel Aleksander A. Participants had a chance to improve their knowledge and virtue related to interpretation and technique through the direct contact with educators, and they could also gather useful information about continuance of their education abroad. They have been individually advised about their choices related to programmes for future competitions and performances, about their self-promotion through the adequately composed curriculum vitae, stage appearance etc.
3. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
One-phase categorised competition for elementary and high music school students was organised for five (5) categories based on years of musical education with specified programmes and duration determined based on categories.
I category – first and second year students of elementary music school: 5 minutes of free programme – between two and three different parts;
II category – third and fourth year students of elementary music school: 5–8 minutesof free programme – between two and three different parts;
III category – fifth and sixth year elementary music school students: 8–10 minutes of free programme – between two and three different parts;
IV category – first and second year students of high music school: 10–15 minutes of free programme – a few different parts;
V category – first and second year students of high music school: 15–20 minutes of free programme – a few different parts;
PRO category (35 and younger) –a predetermined part from the twentieth century (a modern composer of choice) and free programme. Overall time: up to 25 minutes.
1st CATEGORY
1. Dominik Elek I 1 – 98 points
2. Filip Babić I 2 – 95 points
3. Andrija Simeunović I 3 – 92 points
4. Nikša Trivić II 1 – 88 points
5. Baranyi Balint II 2 – 85 points
2nd CATEGORY
1. Jaka Škoberne I 1 – 98 points
2. Andrija Djordjević I 2 – 93 points
3. Aleksandar Žarak I 3 – 91 points
4. Tarik Mešanović II 1 – 88 points
5. Ivan Radović II 2 – 86 points
6. Jurišević Marko II 3 – 84 points
7. Danica Mrkić II 4 – 82 points
8. Boglarka Božoki II 5 – 80 points
3rd CATEGORY
1. Ema Kapor I 1 – 99 points
2. David Štrbac I 2 – 97 points
3. Nadja Janjić I 3 – 92 points
4. Tijana Stojanović II 1 – 88 points
5. Miloš Arsenijević II 2 – 87 points
4th CATEGORY
1. Lijora Šijački I 1 – 99 points
2. Vuk Dragičević I 2 – 98 points
3. Nikola Korovljev I 3 – 95 points
4. Danijel Jovanović I 4 – 93 points
5. Miloš Vuković I 5 – 91 points
6. Gábor Hart II 1 – 88 points
7. Jelena Lukić II 2 – 85 points
8. Andrija Božovič II 3 – 83 points
9. Krisztián Dudás II 4 – 82 points
10. Miodrag Rendulić II 5 – 80 points
11. Jovan Radaković III 1 – 78 points
12. Stefan Milenković III 2 – 76 points
13. Jozsef Raffai III 3 – 72 points
5th CATEGORY
1. Luka Radovanović I 1 – 95 points
2. Katarina Marić II 1 – 88 points
3. Filip Mićković II 2 – 85 points
4. István Gaál III 1 – 75 points
5. Katarina Petrić III 1 – 75 points
PRO CATEGORY
1. Marcin Koziol I 1 – 96 points
2. Gleb Musatov I 2 – 95 points
3. Csaba Németh I 3 – 91 points
4. Gábor Pokol II 1 – 88 points
5. Dora Cserenyec II 2 – 87 points
6. Uroš Janjićijević II 3 – 83 points
7. Stefan Šalarević II 4 – 82 points
8. Amalia Miler II 5 – 81 points
9. Attila Huszár III 1 – 70 points
