The Daily Reflector

East Carolina University's School of Music will hold its 12th annual Guitar Festival Saturday through Tuesday.

Organized by ECU's director of guitar studies Elliot Frank, this year's festival is sponsored by the D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts, a nonprofit foundation committed to assisting the growth and appreciation of stringed, band and orchestral music throughout the world.

Frank has performed at guitar festivals throughout the United States, including the Guitar Foundation of America, Appalachian Guitar Fest and the Columbus State Guitar Symposium.

He has been a guest soloist with The North Carolina Symphony and was awarded first prizes from International Guitar Competition in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and the Concurso Internacional "Alirio Diaz" in Venezuela.

The local guitar event brings some of the world's most respected classical guitarists to the area for public concerts each day.

This year's performers include 2007 solo guitar competition winner Austin Moorhead, Valerie Hartzell, Douglas James and workshop headliner Jason Vieaux.

An all-star spectacular featuring Andrew Zohn and the Italian guitarists SoloDuo, Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli, will also be held.

Workshop director Elliot Frank will perform with Valerie Hartzell at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, some of the finest young guitarists in the nation will compete in the finals of the ECU Solo Guitar Competition and the finals of the ECU Youth Guitar Competition.

All concerts are held in A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall.

Guitar festival schedule:

4:30 p.m. Saturday: Austin Moorhead

7:30 p.m. Saturday: Elliot Frank and Valerie Hartzell

7:30 p.m. Sunday: Douglas James and Jason Vieaux

7:30 p.m. Monday: Solo Duo (Matteo Mela and Lorenzo Micheli) and Andrew Zohn

7:30 p.m. Tuesday: Solo competition finals

Cost: $15 for adults and $10 for students per concert or a series package for $40 for adults and $20 for students.

Call: 328-4788