by Head Professor

Peace, love and guitars!!

It is an extraordinary honor for me to be asked to be the President Professor of the 2nd International Korean Guitar Festival. In 2010 I was asked by Maestro Jangsoo Jun and Maestro Man Jae Suo to perform a series of concerts in Korea. This was one of the most enjoyable concert tours of my career. I loved playing for the Korean audiences.

Korea has produced and is producing countless wonderful instrumentalists and composers of all musical styles. I am moved by the fact that the country supports great musicians like Chimhyang-moo who has devoted his life to the Kayagum which I consider a distant “cousin” of the guitar.

I have heard several brilliant young Korean guitarists in the last ten years. These young players of course owe much to the wonderful pedagogy of their Korean teachers.

I greatly look forward to being part of this marvelous celebration of the guitar. I am sure it will be a profoundly enriching experience. I thank Maestro Jangsoo Jun and Maestro Yun Bae Kim for inviting me.

Peace, love and guitars!!

11th Aug. 2016.
Professor Benjamin Verdery