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'Classical Minds' Guitar Festival Recital: Jennifer Grassman and Valerie Hartzell

Presented by University of Houston - Moores School of Music at University of Houston - Dudley Recital Hall

June 5, 2010

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The Moores School of Music at the University of Houston in conjunction with the 2010 Texas Music Festival - “Classical Minds” Guitar Festival and Competition, presents a "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival Recital, featuring Jennifer Grassman, vocals and piano, and Valerie Hartzell, guitar.  Saturday, June 5, at 7:30pm in UH Dudley Recital Hall.

Jennifer Grassman (pictured) is a Texas based recording artist. She has been touring and recording albums since 2006, and already has won several major awards, including winning Dances With Films in 2008 for her Pretty Girls music video. She has been commended by Tori Amos for her charitable work on behalf of abuse victims, and by President George W. Bush for her patriotic song dedicated to our troops overseas. Bassist and guitarist for Paul McCartney, Brian Ray, said of Grassman’s upcoming album, Serpent Tales & Nightingales, "It all sounds great! Jennifer Grassman has a voice all her own in a world of conformity."

Grassman composes original piano and vocal songs which embody her own haunting and idiosyncratic style. The media has compared Grassman’s music to that of Sarah McLachlan, Tori Amos, Loreena McKennitt, and Enya, while fans have compared her to the likes of Sarah Brightman and Kate Bush. Grassman’s lyrics are often derived from classical literature and real life experiences, such as surviving child abuse and later marrying her best friend, Jason Greenberg, when she was 21. They are happily married and residing in Spring, Texas.

Grassman is currently in partnership with Carl Wunsche Sr. High School in Spring ISD. Grassman is offering CWHS students a unique opportunity to intern with her, and thereby see the inner workings of the Music Industry in action.

Grassman will be touring the west coast in 2010, and will also be releasing her 3rd album, Serpents Tales & Nightingales, as well as premiering several new music videos.

Valerie Hartzell began her classical guitar studies on a half-size Ramirez at the age of three. At the age of six, she studied with maestro Alexandre Lagoya at the Académie Internationale d’Eté in Nice, France. She has participated in master classes with several internationally acclaimed artists, including Ako Ito, Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, David Russell, and Elena Papandreou.

In 1991, Ms. Hartzell made her debut performing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Concerto for guitar and orchestra” with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Texas. She made her international debut in San Mamete, Italy at the Festival del Piccolo Mondo in August 1994. She has performed in Europe, Canada, the U.S. and has appeared on television in Nice, FR. From September 29-October 5, 2002 she toured the Carolinas which promoted her first cd, Fuoco!

She has performed in many festivals, including the 'Close Encounters' Voice and Guitar Festival at University of Houston (where she performed and co-directed the festival along the side of Katherine Ciesinski), the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition in Mesquite, the first Classical Guitar Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of Texas in Frisco, the Tennessee Festival at Middle Tennessee State University, the ECU Competition and Festival in Greenville, NC and the MANC Guitar Competition and Festival in Greensboro, NC. In March of 2007, Ms. Hartzell performed with studio members of the Houston Grand Opera at the Rienzi Recital Series.

In August 2003, Ms. Hartzell was the first performer to win the “K-Artist of the Month Contest” sponsored by Houston’s former classical station, KRTS, 92.1FM. Additionally, she was a prizewinner at the Portland Guitar Competition, the East Carolina University Competition and Festival, and the Appalachian Guitar Festival and Competition. Was has won 1st prizes at the 10th International Guitar Competition “Simone Salmaso” in Viareggio, Italy and at the Concours de Guitare Classique Heitor Villa-Lobos in Nice, France.

At the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Hartzell was awarded the highest undergraduate scholarship for the classical guitar and studied with Manuel Barrueco earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1997. She was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at Radford University with Robert Trent and was placed as Adjunct Faculty while studying for her Master’s Degree in Music. She received her performance degree in May of 1999 and currently, she is a Professional Teacher at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is Adjunct Faculty at the Houston Community College. She also accompanies many vocal students at both Moores School of Music, University of Houston and at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University. She keeps an active solo career and works in a professional duo with soprano Sandra Johnson, as Duo Athena and frequently is a judge at international competitions throughout the United States (St. Joseph International Competition, Texas Guitar Competition, East Carolina University International Competition, the Eastfield Guitar Competition, the 'Classical Minds' Guitar Competition, and the MANC Guitar Competition). Many of her private students have placed and won national and international competitions. Also, her private students have been accepted on scholarship to Schwob School of Music (University of Columbus), San Francisco Conservatory, University of North Texas in Denton, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University at San Marcos.

Valerie Hartzell is the creator and Director of the "Classical Minds" Guitar Festival and Competition at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is the director of the Greater Houston Guitar Guild.

Ms. Hartzell plays a Greg Byers Guitar.