TRI-COUNTY — “Guitar in the Big Bend” kicks off in April featuring a free series of classical guitar concerts in Alpine and Marfa, a masterclass at Sul Ross State University and a workshop at Far West Guitars. The events occur the weekend of April 12, 13 and 14.
The featured concert artist for this year is Dragos Ilie of Romania. Concerts will also include performances by Jeremy Waldrip of Memphis, Tennessee, and Nicolas Hurt of Marfa. Ilie has performed all over the world and has won an impressive number of grand prizes in international guitar competitions (Koblenz International Festival, the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, and the Texas A&M Guitar Competition). The programs will include an eclectic section of classical guitar music from all over the world, including Alpine.
At an early age, Ilie fell in love with the instrument after listening to his father play. Soon he enrolled at the Popular School of Arts and later the National College of Arts in his native city, Iasi, Romania, with professor Marius Timpau. His dedication to the art led him to receive numerous grants for competing, performing and studying in his home country and abroad. Ilie began his studies in the United States at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University in the studio of composer and pedagogue Andrew Zohn. He has performed, taught masterclasses, and led workshops across the United States and Europe. He has been featured in Classical Guitar Magazine, Gendai Magazine, and Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Ilie is currently completing his doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin with the renowned performer, recording artist and teacher Adam Holzman.
Jeremy Waldrip, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, is an accomplished classical guitarist currently pursuing his doctoral studies under the guidance of Professor Adam Holzman at the University of Texas at Austin. Waldrip earned his Master of Music degree from the same institution in 2021, following his undergraduate studies with Dr. Stephen Mattingly at the University of Louisville. Waldrip’s international musical journey includes a transformative experience at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana in Siena, Italy, where he honed his skills in a series of masterclasses led by the esteemed Maestro Oscar Ghiglia. Waldrip’s musical prowess has graced stages worldwide; he participated in a captivating tour of France with the U.S. Guitar Orchestra and performed at the esteemed Guitar Art Festival in Belgrade, Serbia, as part of the World Guitar Orchestra.
Waldrip has earned accolades in over 20 competitions, securing prestigious prizes at notable events such as the Southern Guitar Festival, Florida Guitar Festival, Denver Guitar Festival, and the CSU Guitar Symposium. His musical journey has been enriched by interactions with esteemed artists, having participated in masterclasses with luminaries such as Christopher Parkening, Sergio Assad, David Russell, Roland Dyens, Lily Afshar, and other renowned musicians.
Nicolas Hurt was born and raised in Austin. Hurt began his study of music in the Austin tradition of electric blues guitar à la Stevie Ray Vaughn and T-Bone Walker. In his teens, Hurt began to study the classical guitar with Dr. Kim Perlak and Dr. Klondike Steadman. In 2006 Hurt was accepted into the renowned pedagogue professor Adam Holzman’s studio at the University of Texas at Austin. During his studies at the University of Texas, Hurt performed at festivals in Cervo, Italy (2007) and Morelia, Mexico (2008). Hurt also performed and taught at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford, Connecticut, for several years and received a certificate for the Teacher Training Program in 2008. In 2008 Hurt began a teaching studio at the Orpheus Academy of Music in Austin.
Along with his wife, artist Janelle Borsberry, Hurt moved to Marfa, Texas, in 2017. In Marfa, Hurt began a teaching studio and a radio show called “In Tune” on Marfa Public Radio, West Texas’ source for NPR. In 2022 Hurt released a performance video of Heitor Villa-Lobo’s “Five Preludes” that was featured in the Fretboard Journal. In 2022 Hurt commissioned new works for the solo guitar from friends and composers in Austin. The resulting performance documentary short film, Serenade I Miss You, premiered in April of 2023 at the Rosette through Austin Classical Guitar.
Guitar in the Big Bend events (all free):
Friday, April 12
Welcome Reception and Workshop
Far West Guitars, 6 p.m.
Saturday, April 13
Dragos Ilie Masterclass
Sul Ross State University
FAB 200 (Fine Arts Building), Noon to 2 p.m.
Alpine Concert: Dragos Ilie, Nicolas Hurt
Museum of the Big Bend, 6 p.m.
Sunday, April 14
Marfa Concert: Dragos Ilie, Jeremy Waldrip
First Presbyterian Church, 7 p.m.
More information about all the performers can be found at: