Kirk Hanser, faculty guitar recital

Free Admission.

 

Performers:

KIRK HANSER “is a superb guitarist...possessing an authentic musical personality” writes author and music critic Erik Eriksson (The DC Advocate). Hanser has performed throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan as soloist with orchestra, with various chamber groups, and on solo guitar. He has appeared on numerous recordings with a wide range of artists and organizations, and authored books for Warner Brothers Publications and Mel Bay Publications ranging in style from classical to jazz, rock to country.  A session musician for many years and adept at working in various styles, Kirk is often heard locally with various groups including the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Muny, and St. Louis Opera Theater.  Primarily, he records and tours with Webster University guitar professor John McClellan as half of the Hanser-McClellan Guitar Duo. Since 1996, they have performed throughout the US and Europe, worked with many of today’s most notable guitar composers to expand the repertoire of the classical guitar duo, and recorded several CDs together.  This past spring, they were the first non-faculty guitar duo in the history of the prestigious Paris Conservatory to be invited in to hold a teaching residency. In addition to his duties at Washington University, Hanser is director of the St. Louis Academy for Guitar, and Executive Director for the St. Louis Guitar Consortium, Inc., an organization which focuses on providing guitar-related opportunities (such as the Mid America Guitar Camps) for young musicians throughout the United States. An award-winning teacher as well as performer, he has received several national awards including “National Teacher of the Year” and three-times the “Outstanding National Program” award for his work with the Childbloom Guitar Program. Kirk resides in St. Louis with his four children.

 

JOHN McCLELLAN is one of America's most respected performers, teachers, writers and music film producers.

McClellan is head of Classical Guitar studies at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. His best selling books and DVDs on 14-time grammy winning guitarist/producer, Chet Atkins, and Argentinian legend, guitarist/composer Jorge Morel, are consistent best sellers. McClellan’s musical collaborations include recordings and performances with: Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Vince Gill, Jazz legend, Martin Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel, Janis Ian, Luciano Pavoratti, Suzy Boggus, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet , Jorge Morel, Brent Mason and many others.

 

PAULA KASICA grew up in north central Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Music from the St. Louis Conservatory of Music. Her teachers have included Jacob Berg, Julius Baker and Gerald Carey. Paula was the top prizewinner at the Julius Baker New York Masterclass in 1978.  Paula has appeared as soloist with several symphonies and performs throughout the area in many capacities. She has played as an extra with the Saint Louis Symphony and is a member of the Equinox Chamber Players. She has performed with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, the Aspen Music Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Fox Theatre Orchestra, the Ballet Orchestra of Saint Louis and the Bach at the Seminary Series. Ms Kasica has been on the faculty of the Masterworks Christian Performing Arts Festival since 1997. She is also an adjunct flute instructor at Webster University,UM-St Louis and Mo Bap University. She has recorded with Hosanna Music, New Earth Productions, and Restoration Arts. She most recently recorded an improvisatory worship CD called Breath of God which is being distributed by Integrity Europe. Paula, along with her husband, John, perform around the country as WINDFIRE: Flute & Percussion Spectacular. They have also traveled to Brazil & Great Britain to perform and have been a part of music festivals in China in 2012 and 2013. In 2006 they won the National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition.

ALYSSA CATLIN is an instructor for the St. Louis Academy for Guitar in Kirkwood. In 2005, while still in high school, she was featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated radio show, “From the Top.”  Alyssa moved from Boise, Idaho to St. Louis in 2006 to attend Webster University, studying classical guitar under Prof. John McClellan. After graduating from Webster University in 2010, she became trained and certified as an instructor for the Childbloom Guitar Program. Her many teaching awards include “Instructor of the Year” for the Childbloom Company, As a guitarist, Alyssa has been a national top-prize winner in many competitions, including the Mid America Guitar Camp Solo Guitar Competition and the American String Teachers of America (ASTA) Solo Strings Competition.

 

MEGHANA KUMAR and JAKE GILES are students at the St. Louis Academy for Guitar, studying under Kirk Hanser and Alyssa Catlin, respectively. Individually, they are each national award-winning young guitarists,  Jake and Meghana are members of St. Louis Bella Corda, an eight-member touring youth guitar ensemble which performs throughout the Midwest. This past summer, the group was awarded First Prize in a national guitar ensemble competition judged in Round Rock, TX. 

 

 

 

PROGRAM:

Sketches for Friends (1990) by Brian Head (b 1964)

1. 33rd Street Ballad

2. Lobster Tale

3. November song

4. Brookland boogie

 

Episode in Compound Meter (1989) by David Burdick (b 1959)

 

Jake Giles, Meghana Kumar, Alyssa Catlin: guitars

 

Cowboy Waltz (1996) by Michael Chapdelaine (b 1956)

 

from Mountain Songs (1984) by Robert Beaser (b 1954)

Paula Kasica: flute

I. Barbara Allen

II. The House Carpenter

IV. Hush You Bye

V. Cindy

 

- intermission -

 

3 Intermezzos (2005) by Kim Portnoy

John McClellan: guitar

I. Allegro appassionato

II. Andante cantabile

III. Allegro Agitato

 

Sunburst by Andrew York (b 1958)

 

Three Pieces by Michael Hedges (1953-1997)

Bensusan (1983)

Layover (1980)

Ragamuffin (1983)

 

Rebecca's Dance (2005) by Kirk Hanser (b 1968)

 

 

Kirk Hanser and John McClellan play classical guitars by Keith Adams of Bonnie, IL, USA

 

Kirk plays steel string guitars by the Gibson Guitar Co., USA

Kirk Hanser and John McClellan perform and record using D’Addario Strings

www.kirkhanser.com

www.hansermcclellan.com