Music and Performing Arts
18th Annual Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival
March 19-21, 2010
Guest Artists
- The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
- Student Ensemble Recitals
- Master Classes
- Festival Guitar Orchestra
Hosted by Grand Rapids Community College at St. Cecilia Music Center Grand Rapids, Michigan
You are invited to attend the 18th Annual Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival sponsored by Grand Rapids Community College in Grand Rapids, Michigan on March 19-21, 2010.
All Festival concerts and classes will take place in the beautiful Royce auditorium at St. Cecilia Music Center, 24 Ransom Avenue NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3217, (see map enclosed).
I am very pleased to announce that this year's guest artists will be the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. They will present a concert on Saturday evening and members of the LAGQ will give a master class on Saturday afternoon. The concert and class are jointly sponsored by Grand Rapids Community College and St. Cecilia Music Center.
The weekend will be filled with concerts, rehearsals, master classes and more. You will have the opportunity to hear ensembles from the finest schools of music in the mid-west, perform in the festival orchestra and enjoy the camaraderie of others who are passionate about the guitar. I hope you can join us!
Professor Brian Morris
2010 MAGEF Director
Questions? Please contact me at bmorris@grcc.edu or (616) 234-4095.
This year's festival is focusing on new american music. We are requesting that ensembles include one or more compositions by a contemporary American composer.
Download the Festival Brochure 
About the Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival
The Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival (MAGEF) is an annual event hosted by different colleges and universities throughout the region. Ensembles have come from as far away as New Mexico, North Carolina, Kentucky and Ohio.
The festival was established with the following goals in mind: to foster camaraderie and pedagogical exchanges between classical guitar teachers and students, to provide performance and learning opportunities for student ensembles, and to contribute to the over-all artistic and cultural enrichment of its audiences. The festival has also worked to increase the ensemble repertoire through the commissioning of pieces for the festival orchestra.
The first festival took place in 1991 at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and has since been hosted by schools in Illinois and surrounding states, such as Bradley University, Elmhurst College, Illinois State University, Indiana University/Purdue University at Fort Wayne, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, and Webster University.
Festival Schedule
Unless otherwise stated, all events will take place in Royce Auditorium at St. Cecilia Music Center.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Registration: 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Opening Concert: Ensembles from participating schools 8:00 pm
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Registration: 9:00 am
Guitar Orchestra Rehearsal: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Master Class: Members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: 1:30 - 3:30 pm
Guest Artist Concert: Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: 7:30 pm
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Individual Ensemble Rehearsals: 8:30 - 9:45 am
Guitar Orchestra Rehearsal: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Closing Concert: Ensembles from participating schools 1:30 pm
Festival Guitar Festival Orchestra World Premiere
Festival Guitar Orchestra
We have commissioned James McGuire to write a piece for the Festival Guitar Orchestra. Beginning in January of 2010, I will send PDF's of the music to ensembles who have registered for the 2010 MAGEF. For further information contact Brian Morris by e-mail at bmorris@grcc.edu or (616) 234-4095.
Registration
Participating Ensembles/Individual
Festival Orchestra Participants
All ensembles will perform in one recital and in the guitar orchestra performance.
This fee includes admission to all festival events.
Your payment must be postmarked by the following dates:
$40.00 per participant for Early registration before February 15, 2010
$50.00 per participant for Late registration by March 1, 2010
To register for the event, please visit our Registration Form
Payment Method
Please make checks payable to:
Grand Rapids Community College Music
Please e-mail or enclose a complete list of your ensemble personnel and the repertoire you
plan to perform (maximum 10 minutes). We are requesting that ensembles include one or more
compositions by a contemporary American composer. Send completed registration form, payment, and other
information by February 15, 2010 (for early registration) or March 1, 2010 (for late registration) to:
Brian Morris
Grand Rapids Community College
143 Bostwick Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503-3295
Auditors
Not playing in an ensemble? No problem, individual event tickets are available. For the Friday evening and
Sunday afternoon concerts, admissions are available at the door beginning ½ hour before the start time.
Contact St. Cecilia Music Center to purchase tickets for the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet Concert and
Master Class online at www.scmc-online.org or call (616) 459-2224.
Directions to St. Cecilia Music Center
St. Cecilia Music Center
24 Ransom NE
Grand Rapids MI 49503
www.scmc-online.org
(616) 459-2224
St. Cecilia Music Center is located in downtown Grand Rapids at 24 Ransom NE, at the northeast corner of Ransom Avenue NE and Fulton Street NE, one block south of the Grand Rapids Community College Campus.
From US 131 North
- Exit at Pearl St. and turn left (east)
- Pearl St. ends at Division Avenue, turn right (south)
- Second light is Library Street (Civic Theatre), turn left (east)
- At two blocks, Library Street ends at Ransom Avenue, turn right (south)
- St. Cecilia Music Center and parking lot are directly on the left
From US 131 South
- Exit at Pearl Street and turn right (east)
- Pearl Street ends at Division Avenue, turn right (south)
- Second light is Library Street (Civic Theatre), turn left (east)
- At two blocks, Library Street ends at Ransom Avenue, turn right (south)
- St. Cecilia Music Center and parking lot are directly on the left
From US 96/196 East
- Exit at College Avenue, turning left (south)
- Fourth light is Fulton Street, turn right (west)
- Third light is Ransom Avenue, turn right (north)
- St. Cecilia Music Center and parking lot are directly on the right
From 196 West
- Exit at College Avenue, and turn right (south)
- Fourth light is Fulton Street, turn right (west)
- Third light is Ransom Avenue, turn right (north)
- St. Cecilia Music Center and parking lot are directly on the right
Lodging Information
The Holiday Inn (which will be the Days Hotel until December 2009) is located in Downtown Grand Rapids and is less than a mile from St. Cecilia Music Center.
Room rates are $95.00 plus tax per night and includes free parking. All guest room rates are based on single/
double occupancy and are subject to the appropriate state, local and occupancy tax in effect on the date of
arrival. Currently 14 percent. (Be sure to mention the “Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival”.)
310 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone (616) 235-7611
www.holidayinn.com/grandrapidsdt
The Radisson Grand Rapids Riverfront is located about three miles or a ten-minute drive from St. Cecilia Music Center.
Room rates are $75.00 plus tax per night and includes free parking and continental breakfast. (Be sure to mention the “Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival.”)
270 Ann Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504
Phone (616) 363-9001
www.radisson.com/grriverfront