For the third time in three years, a mysterious, silent benefactor has stepped forward to underwrite my performance majors at Oberlin Conservatory to attend a major guitar event. This year the students will travel to and attend the

Classical Guitar Retreat

on the Isle of Cumbrae on Scotland's west coast. Their event registration, housing and travel costs will be covered by the grant.

Millport, Grand Cumbrae

Run by Scottish guitarist Matthew McAllister, the event features faculty from far and wide, including René Izquierdo, Patrick Kearney, Amanda Cook, Allan Neave, Uros Baric, Aisling Agnew, and Peter Stewart and myself. The retreat includes private lessons, workshops, chamber music coachings, technical sessions, guitar orchestra, recording sessions, student concerts, and feature artist concerts. The events all take place in the historic Cathedral of the Isles, Great Britain's smallest cathedral, in the extraordinary environment of the island village of Millport on Grand Cumbrae, an island in the Firth of Clyde (the largest coastal waters in the British Isles). To top it off, Oberlin guitar students will be presented in a special feature afternoon concert.

Cathedral of the Isles, Grand Cumbrae

Previously, our secret benefactor sent the guitar studio to the Sorrento GuitarFest in Italy (last year) and to the GFA Convention in Pasadena, CA (2014). Needless to say, we are beside ourselves with gratitude for the enormous generosity of this gift. Thank You, Thank You!!!!

Aisling Agnew and Matthew McAllister at Oberlin (10/15)