Classical guitarists to entertain at PC
Classical guitar enthusiasts are in for a treat on Friday when Porterville College hosts Dr. Corey Whitehead, director of guitar studies at Fresno State. A trio of Whitehead’s students will also perform during the lunch-time recital, which begins at 12:05 p.m. in the music room at the college. Admission and parking is free, but donations will be accepted to defray the artists’ expenses.
Acknowledged as a “go-to” professor who attracts talented guitar students from through- out California and the West, Whitehead is highly regarded as both a performer and teacher. He has performed on radio and television, as well as in concert halls on every continent except Antarctica.
On three occasions he has played as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State with his guitar duo, Douze Cordes. U.S. senators, royalty and international dignitaries have all seen Whitehead in action.
His venues have included the Kennedy Center Millennium Series on three occasions, as well as the Chitarra Imperia Italia in 2001 and 2003. He has also played at Casa Thomas Jefferson in Brasilia, Brazil; the Club de Jazz de Santiago in Santiago, Chile; Strathmore Hall in Bethesda, Md; the California Guitar Panorama; and the Musee de la Musique in Paris, France.
The critically acclaimed musician studied Flamenco guitar with Juan Serrano, and at the Curso Flamenco XIV with Gerardo Núñez. He was handpicked by flamenco icon Manolo Sanlúcar to receive a full scholarship at “La forma y Naturaleza de la Guitarra Flamenca” in Cordoba, becoming the first American guitarist selected for the scholarship. He received a doctorate in musical arts and performance in 2002 from the University of Arizona.
Whitehead will be joined by Master’s candidate Tyler Williams, and undergraduate guitar students Patrick Aguirre and Edgar Contreras. They will perform selections by Francicso Tarrega, Manolo Sanlucar, Manolo Franco, Ricardo Marlow, Michael Praetorius, Isaac Albeniz and J. S. Bach.
For more information call the PC Music Office at 791-2255.