By James Day
The Classical Guitar Immersion (CGI) workshop is coming back to the Mount Angel Abbey for a second season.
The program, now in its 18th year, matches up classical guitar teachers, led by Scott Kritzer and Mario Diaz, with students in a nearly year-long process that culminates with the “immersion” at the Abbey, a week-long series of instruction and performances.
The June 26-July 2 program includes a free series of public performances (see information box) at the Abbey’s renowned Alvar Aalto Library. The event started in a private home near Lewis & Clark College in Portland before moving to the Menucha Retreat and Conference Center in Corbett.
Brother Anselm of the Abbey says the guitar workshop dovetails perfectly with Abbey values, noting the importance of arts and culture, particularly “high-end” concerts.
“The Aalto Library is such a renowned building,” he said. “We wanted high-end music to match the quality of the building.”
“Anyone who is into guitar will enjoy this,” Kritzer said.
Diaz, a Silverton High graduate, is an accomplished musician with teaching experience at Willamette University, Portland State University, Reed College, and Portland Community College.
Kritzer has performed in concert halls all over the country, as well as Japan and Germany. His students have won regional, national and international guitar competitions and have gone on to attend such institutions as the Juilliard School and the Royal Conservatory of Music and Diaz’s and Kritzer’s alma mater, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Kritzer is a former instructor at both Reed and Lewis & Clark.
The theme of this year’s workshop is “breaking the musical code.” Last year it was “advanced technique.”
“We work on developing this concept over the course of eight months of workshops prior to arriving at CGI,” Kritzer said.
A key approach for this year, Kritzer said, is for the students to learn “to play music through their own voice.” The players will do exercises in which they will sing the music they will eventually play on the guitar.
“To be able to express yourself in public can seem daunting,” Kritzer said. “But once you go back into that voice it’s easy to do.”
“You’re building fundamentals,” Diaz said. “We are a learning organization. Yes, there is a level of vulnerability, but you have to let your own voice and humanity show.”
CGI Events
Monday, June 26
4-6 p.m.: “Care and Feeding of Your Instrument” with Jeffrey Elliott, Cyndy Burton and Gregory Miller
8-9 p.m.: Mario Diaz and Scott Kritzer in concert. Works by Bach, Lou Harrison and Manuel de Falla
Saturday, July 1
4-5 p.m.: the CGI Ensemble Concert. Works by Dave Brubeck, John Downland and Georges Bizet
8-9 p.m.; the CGI Performer’s Concert. Works by Scarlatti, Tarrega, Sor, Bach and others
Note: All events are free at the Alvar Aalto Library at Mount Angel Abbey.
