MTSU Guitar Grad selected as semi-finalist in Parkening Int'l Guitar Competition

(Updated) MTSU Guitar Grad Silviu Ciulei has been selected as one of 5 finalists in the Parkening International Guitar Competition at Pepperdine University on May 28, through Saturday, May 30, 2009.

Silviu was awarded the $500 semi-finalist prize and the $1000 Fifth Prize. Silviu was the only college student presently attending in the United States to win a prize in this, the preeminent guitar competition in the world.

This competition has the largest cash awards of any classical guitar competition in the world. Over $65,000 in prize money, including the $30,000 First Prize. (The $30,000 1st Prize exceeds even that of the famous Van Cliburn piano competition).

After graduating from MTSU last spring, Silviu was awarded a Graduate Assistantship and a Dean's Fellowship last fall at Florida State University where he studies with Bruce Holzman, my old teacher.

Watch Silviu performing one of the required pieces for the competition on youtube.

(Pic of Silviu partying out on my boat)

Also, congrats to MTSU Guitar students Javier Castellote and Kip Minton for winning 2nd and 3rd Prize at the Beethoven Club Young Artist Competition in Memphis on 3/7. They earned $200 and $100 in Prize money.

The beautiful gift of music

While on tour, I performed at the University of South Carolina in Columbia. I stayed a few days with Christopher Berg. I loved his place because had no less than 5 lutes, a vihuela and various other instruments.

He gave me this piece I had heard him play, Lullaby Blue. Such a sweet, beautiful and emotional piece, I learned it as soon as I got home. It was a great gift.

Have a listen, I think you'll like it too:

Lullaby Blue MP3

Here's a photo of me at Christopher's place playing his vihuela and a photo of us after my concert.

Congrats to Christopher on his excellent article in Soundboard Magazine: "The Re-imagination of Performance, " and his recent engagement.

First week of 5k training - TORTURE!

Maybe I'll run a few 5k races. I really hate this training but part of me loves it, I must have a masochist streak in me.

This was my first week of serious 5k training after a meager injury filled indoor sprint season. I'm amazed that my crappy 55m sprint time is still in the top ten (#8) nationally in my age group. I know I can do better.

But for now, I'll just torture myself with 3 or 4 more weeks of 5k training and maybe run a few races before it gets warm.

Here was my first week - and it was a ball buster!!

2/27: 4 miles - 7:02 avg pace

2/28: 6 miles - 7:09 avg pace

2/3: 8 half miles intervals with 3 min rest between at 3:01 avg pace

2/5: 3 miles in 20:01 (6:40 pace), 2 miles in 13:41 (6:50 pace); 1 mile in 6:13 .... 8 min rest between intervals

TORTURE !!!

More snow pictures

Impatiens.

Yes, those are impatiens growing in my window in the dead of a winter storm. Those red/orange impatiens are actually more than 2 yrs old. Some people call them "annuals" ...heh.












Snow path

Picture 2 is the path through my woods on the morning of the snow.















Homestead

My homestead on the morning of March 1, 2009, under a fresh snow.

Snow sculpture monolith

Here at Bill's TN Paradise, I can't be happy just building an ordinary snowman...

No.... I have to craft a 15 foot tall sculptured snow MONOLITH.

As the snow has virtually melted around urban Murfreesboro, at 2:40pm, there is still plenty left on the ground at Bill's TN Paradise.

Tennessee Snow

The biggest snowfall in years hit parts of TN. Parts of west central TN received well over a foot and maybe as much as 2' in some isolated locations.

Here at the homestead, we got 3" to 4" in Murfreesboro ... it's sticking to everything because it was preceded by heavy freezing rain.

I just spoke to my students at a competition in Columbus, GA and they said it is snowing there. This morning it is still snowing in GA and AL.

I'll update later with more pics.

Guitar Life: concert tour - first impressions

This concert tour was exactly what I needed exactly when I needed it. The 6 concerts I played in SC, NC and TN were a great success and truly motivational. It was the 'highest density' tour I've attempted to date - during one stretch (3/18- 22) I did 4 concerts in 5 days, each in a different city.


I will have a more detailed post up when my pictures and reviews come in, but in short, I just wanted to mention that this concert tour reaffirmed me, and I feel spiritually refreshed and awakened. I feel a renewed ambition to improve myself as a musician and do more touring and recording. I never want to get too far away from music again.

After a great week, life in general just feels good. After getting home on Monday from concerts in NC and a long drive (I hammered it - Greensboro, NC to Murfreesboro, TN in just 6 hrs!), I got out of the hot tub and laid in front of the fireplace on my porch with my cats. The sun was setting, everything looked so nice, the plants were beautiful, the house was clean, it felt good to be home. I can't tell you how good life is when all I have to be concerned about doing is playing and teaching classical guitar. It is amazing to me that I can go out and be with good friends, play concerts, have fun, and in doing so, earn a month's pay in a week. I just feel so happy, humbled and somehow undeserving of this wonderful lifestyle.


People seemed to really like my program. I feel like I really connected with my audiences.

(Even with relatively small crowds, I still sold over 40 CDs in 5 concerts).

Pictures: 1) Poster from Elon University. 2) Leaving for SC in the MTSU car. 3) In concert with my lute at the University of SC in Columbia.

.... still haven't unpacked.

Gearing up for the concert tour

Gettin' ready...

It's really been fun preparing... scooting to school with the guitar on my back on my cycle to play for Music Appreciation classes, elementary kids at Lascasas School, and my own guitar rep classes. William, my cat in the photo has been my constant audience while I practice. He's a good listener but offers very little feedback.

It's not easy playing solo classical concerts. Especially when there are so many variables involved that could affect performance. Things like temperature, humidity and even more importantly the right hand fingernails. Classical guitarists produce their sound with right hand nails and the health and shape of the nails is paramount. Right now, my nails suck, but the show must go on so I'm using false nails cut from a ping-pong ball glued underneath the damaged nail - a common trick of the trade of classical guitarists. Unfortunately ... this is the first tour I will be using ALL fake nails. Usually, it's just one or 2.

This type of performance is not like a writers night or a bar band gig. The University concert series circuit is bit more demanding. Few performers know what it's like to walk out on stage with just a guitar and fingernails, no amplifier, no band to blend in with, no bar chatter, 100 guitar players and music students in the audience sitting in the dark in dead silence watching my every move under the bright lights with great attention while I'm being paid as much as $1000 an hour to play and get it right while my professional reputation is riding on every difficult passage I play. The technical difficulties and level of scrutiny are what separate this type performance from others. Confidence and preparation are everything. My attitude is that I can't be consumed with caring about mistakes, more so, I care about expressing the art of music, connecting with my audience, and having a good time. I can't wait to check out that University car and hit the road.

Valentines Day event - Monteagle Winery

Valentines Day event

Free wine tasting, chocolate and classical guitar.

As a tune up recital for my upcoming concert tour, I'll be playing a concert on Saturday at 6 pm at the Monteagle Winery. (Details of the concert tour and sound clips at my Myspace page).

Here's the promotional blurb:

Dear friends,

Please join us at the Monteagle Winery on Saturday, Feb. 14 for free wine tasting, chocolate and classical guitar. MTSU Music Faculty William Yelverton will be performing a 6:00 pm classical guitar and lute concert. The Monteagle Winery is about 90 minutes from Nashville, or an hour from Murfreesboro on I-24 East, exit 134. Turn left toward Sewanee and the Winery will be less than a mile on your right.

The Monteagle Winery is now under the ownership of MTSU 's Dr. Tony Johnston, master winemaker. If you like wonderful fruity wines, chocolate and classical guitar, please join us on Valentines Day. The very diverse and entertaining concert program will contain guitar and lute music from the Renaissance and Baroque, as well as Spanish Flamenco and Brazilian jazz. Come and enjoy for free.

William Yelverton will also be playing the same program at Blair School of Music's Turner Recital Hall in Nashville on Wed. February 25 at 8:00 pm. The Blair School of Music is located on 2400 Blakemore Ave.

Nice cool southern weather

Ahh... it never gets really cold in Tennessee, right?

Check out these temperature reports from Mt. LeConte lodge in the Smoky Mountains:

2/3:
High temperature: 13
Low temperature: -22

2/4:
High temperature: -10
Low temperature: -18

The most moving part of the Inauguration for me

UPDATE: It has been reported that this performance was synced to prerecorded music. I thought that this might be the case when hearing how perfect the sound was, how balanced and how true the intonation was despite the bitter cold. They were playing, however playing to their previously recorded performance and it was convincing, but it was a recording we all heard.

Perlman said that the recording, which was made on Sunday at the Marine Barracks in Washington, was used only as a last resort.

“It would have been a disaster if we had done it any other way,” he said. “This occasion’s got to be perfect. You can’t have any slip-ups.”

(I guess Justice Roberts didn't get that message ; )
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It brought tears to my eyes. What an incredible and joyous sound, and so uniquely American. Made famous by Aaron Copeland, the Shaker hymn was a great choice for the occasion. I can't tell you how moved I was by the performance of this John Williams arrangement of "Air and Simple Gifts" by Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill. Yo-Yo was absolutely beaming a big smile throughout the performance. This, by far, was the most moving part of the inauguration. This 'A-list' of performers also shows the diversity of America. Perlman - born an Israeli, Yo-Yo Ma - French born of Chinese parents, Gabriela Montero - a Latin American born in Venezuela, and Anthony McGill - an African American from Chicago. This was a celebration of all things that make America great.



If 2 million people could turn out to Washington to watch this with no major incidents, I hope this is a harbinger for the future of the cooperation, good will, and hope yet to come for a better America.

One criticism I must mention regarding the TV coverage, I have to say, I was terribly disappointed that CNN's Wolf Blitzer broke in and began to speak over this wonderful performance. I quickly switched to MSNBC and never went back. In my view, this was a very insensitive and disrespectful thing to do to both the listeners and these great artists.

MLK's Dream

Listening to Soledad O'Brien's tearful interview of Andrew Young on CNN where he recounts the last speech, the last morning, and the assassination of Dr. King was quite moving. I hope I can get the video up soon.

This MLK Day seems so extra special with the inauguration of our first African-American President, Barack Obama coming tomorrow. Politics aside, it just makes me feel so good, proud and hopeful to be an American again.

It was the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference (NCLC), an affiliate of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Southern Christian Leadership Conference that took on the task to organize black college students from Fisk and elsewhere to stage sit-ins to desegregate downtown Nashville. Under the the direction of Reverend Kelly Miller Smith, NCLC president and pastor of First Colored Baptist Church on Eighth Avenue, early in 1959, the NCLC began a movement to desegregate by targeting lunch counters at Greyhound bus terminals, Grant's variety store, Walgreen's drugstore, Cain-Sloan's and Harvey's department stores.

Read more on this remarkable history of the Nashville sit-ins.



I'd really like to think that we've come a long way since those days and I am absolutely euphoric over tomorrow's inauguration, truly a step toward fulfilling MLK's dream.

Rest easy Dr. King.

The return of an old slow sprinter

I ran my first sprint race at the Ed Temple Classic at TSU on 1/11. I was sore before the race and did not get a good start. I ran with some great athletes and it was a blast. I did not get hurt and it was over so fast. i hope to improve on my pathetic 7.59 time in the next meet.

Nevertheless, my lowly 7.59 is the fastest electronic time recorded thus far this year in the Masters Rankings for the 55m in the 45-49 age group. I'm sure there will be faster times as the season rolls on. Nice to get on the board however.

I AM a sprinter

Not just any sprinter... a white 48 yr old sprinter.

Today, I worked out with the MTSU sprinters under the watchful eye of USATF Hall of Fame Track Coach, Dean Hayes. I took several gun starts with the team. It felt great. No injuries or strain. I ran several full speed sprints letting up after about 30m. I preceded this with an hour long warm up of jogging, stretching, and a variety of striders and lunges.

It was really cool to hang with the team. Many of these sprinters are here on scholarship from Africa. Being the only white guy and twice their age, they treated me so politely and were so friendly, it was a joy to be there. I felt like a kid again. I can't tell you how much fun I had. I was definitely a curiosity. Like that writer George Plimpton who used to write about his experiences as an ordinary guy doing extraordinary things. When the gun went off, I definitely did not feel out of place. Even though I was just slightly faster than some of the women, I did have one real good start where I was only 2 steps behind the guy leading at 30m when I let up. Based on the times these guys run, and how far ahead they are, I would estimate my time to definitely be over 7.

I think a realistic goal for Sunday's Ed Temple Classic would be 7.2 for the 55m. According to Masters Rankings, 7.2 is listed as the "all-American Standard" for my age group for the 55m. There has been only a few times posted for this event in my age group thus far this season, and no fast electronic times.

Dean Hayes asked me if I was ready, and I said, "I only have to hang together for 7 seconds... hopefully 6.9."

Dreamin'....

Holiday season in upstate NY - inspiration for the New Year

Happy 2009!

Here's my xmas snowman from my parents' home in NY.

Our family was inspired this holiday season by my nephew Kris. On Christmas eve, Kris invited a friend to have dinner with our family that he knew would be alone otherwise. His friend Joel is a very big guy, a shot putter from the Caribbean. What made this so inspiring for me was that my nephew Kris not only made the effort to accommodate Joel on Christmas eve, a complete stranger to our family's home, but made the effort to learn ASL (American Sign Language) to communicate with Joel who is deaf and does not speak. Joel was a classy polite individual and my nephew Kris set an example of good will and thoughtfulness that set the tone for our holiday season and New Year. At xmas dinner (below), Dad remarked appropriately about what Kris had done. Kris had extended himself to accommodate a friend, even learning a 'new language' to do so. Way to go Kris!

One of my resolutions for the New Year is to be more kind, be a better friend, give what I can to help people, and be a better person. I've been lucky to have what I have in life, especially my family and friends.

After some delicious 'food sport' at Cracker Barrel on New Years Day, I was happy to drive to Cookeville where Tana and I collected her mom's cat Phylicia, so she could get her shots updated. Tana continually impresses me with her commitment to animal care and well being. She has a big heart for animals and is a wonderful person. I've learned a lot from her about pet care.

Masters Indoor Track - 'tis the season

Well, I've been threatening to do this for a year now and finally, the time is now. I'm planning to sprint competitively for the first time in 30 years on Dec. 27 (pending weather) at the Upstate Holiday Classic at RIT in NY. Of course, I've not really been training for this specifically, but I have been running. Like last year, this was a last minute decision. I will be in NY for the holidays and this year, I'll be bringing my Adidas. I plan to run the 55m and the 200m at RIT. If all goes well and I do ok, I'll likely run in the Ed Temple Indoor meet at TSU on 1/11. I've already registered but not yet paid.

I tried out my sprint legs yesterday at the Murphy Center. I ran two 300's with some of the elite college runners. Yea they smoked me but I was able to stay with them for 150m, not bad for an old white guy. I also did 4 full power starts out of the blocks with my spikes. Felt fine! No leg issues except that I'm a little sore today. Amazing that I can run 2:45 half mile repeats for days and feel no soreness, but just sprint two 300's and I'm sore. It's a totally different running experience.

For my first meet, I'd love to be around 7.5 in the 55m and under 25.0 in the 200m. I'd like to 'get on the board' at the Masters Rankings website. On the other hand, if I can't break 8 in the 55m and 26 in the 200m, I think I'll just hang it up.

Maybe if I get two meets under my belt with decent times, I'll get the balls to bug Dean Hayes again to let me run in a college meet at the Murphy Center. Last year he was kind enough to put me in but I had to scratch at the last minute. I don't want to ask him again unless I've actually done it before ...
I mean sometime since 1978:



UPDATE: I scratched from the 12/27 RIT meet. It was 3 hrs away and I entertained at my parent's 49th Anniversary party the night before and didn't feel like getting up early to drive the 3 hrs to race. I would not have been able to run the 200m and the 55m would have been risky since my left quad has again been strained since the last workout. I hope I'll be ready in 2 weeks to run the 55m at TSU.

Do the right thing - spay/neuter your animal

I saw him again... that cat.

My woods are full of feral cats. They seemed to be breeding out of control. I've always suspected a particular large black and white tom cat was the father of many of these young cats. I also suspect he has fought with my cats. I see him all the time, walking around my property, drinking from my pool - like he owns the place. I saw him again last night. So, I decided to try and trap him. I've learned that having him neutered will take away that instinct to fight and also control the cat population around here.

After less than an hour, the trap was sprung but empty. Drat, that cat is too smart to get caught. So, I reset the trap in a different location and caught a cat, but not the one I wanted. This little female tabby looked to be less than a year old. The ear wasn't tipped* so I knew she hadn't been fixed. I called the Beesley clinic and they said they could take her today so I got my coat on. As I was looking at this cat, she didn't seem feral. So, I stuck my finger through the cage and touched her. She immediately began purring. I took her out of the cage and held her. She was clearly not a feral cat. I called my neighbor and found that she had just taken these 2 kittens, neither had been fixed, it was her cat. So, I returned her cat and encouraged her to have them fixed. It looks like that cat, the big black and white tom cat will have to wait for another day.

Thanks to Tana who has educated me on this subject and has done more to help control the cat population in Mid TN than anyone I know. At great personal expense, Tana has saved the lives of many animals. She has personally trapped, fixed, and released several cats in my neighborhood. I've learned a lot from her. Tana is a hero and champion of animals. Her actions could even help preserve the health of my own cats:

As my cats get older, I don't want to have them fighting for their territory and being infected or injured by these feral cats.

*If you're unfamiliar with Snip and Tip, it is a trap/neuter/return (TNR) program that will help control the population of feral and free roaming cats. All cats will receive a left ear tip to identify them as a spayed or neutered and vaccinated cat. Probably best that you read about how to trap cats humanely if you plan to do it.

Be responsible, have respect for life and don't be a Dick:




Spay/neuter your animals!!

A different motorcycle culture: high on adventure, low on chrome and noise

The mint condition 2001 Kawasaki Super Sherpa.

I have to remind myself to drive this bike every month or so. It is nearly eight yrs old and has just 1170 miles on it. It just sits in the shed covered and shiny. Today I put a few miles on it, polished it up, and put it away.

I have an identical twin to this bike that I use a lot for commuting and off road adventure. So, why do I have two?



Well, this bike is ideal for me and they stopped selling it in the US in 2003. They replaced it with the KLR 250 which is nearly 30lbs heavier and 3 inches taller. A WORLD of difference on the trail. So, I thought that I'd kill one with my rugged off road riding and and keep one in reserve after I ruined the first. Guess what. This bike has proved to be extremely tough. It fell off the back of my truck last month and even that didn't hurt it much (slightly bent handlebars but I was able to correct it). Yea, it has a dented gas tank, ripped seat, and scratched up fenders ... but it spins like a top. Extremely reliable bike.

Well, guess what (again)? Kawasaki is reissuing the Sherpa for 2009. I guess they realized what a great bike this was.

I'm not impressed by the big custom Harleys and road bikes I see. I guess I'm more utilitarian in my perception of mechanical beauty. Unlike those bikes that sound like highly amplified farting going down the road, I'll stay with my quiet and nimble Sherpa, thank you. No chrome, noise, tattoos, minimally protective helmets and gray pony tails for me. Not my culture.

In fact, I feel sorry for those guys... confined to the pavement, trying to be cool like everyone else. They'll never be able to go where I do.

This is my motorcycle culture:

The Moon Room

My upstairs sunroom has a glass ceiling and it becomes a 'moon room' on these nights of the brilliant full moon.
(click pictures to enlarge)

The white moonlight gives this room full of tropical plants an ethereal glow when the lights are off at night. It was really ethereal watching the snow come down last night and then see the moon break through the clouds directly overhead.

This is also a great 'rain room.'

In fact I like it best in this room when the sun is not shining.

Next to the little gas fireplace in this room, I'll be drinking lots of Assam tea and practicing guitar for my upcoming concert season.

This is a great room to practice in. I learned two Rodrigo concertos in this room. I like it especially at night and when it rains. A great room to watch lightning from as well.

Bill's New Myspace Music Page

I finally created a myspace music page with music clips, photos, videos, and my concert schedule.
It was hard to decide on which six MP3s to put up, so if you don't like the clip that's playing, try the next one.

Here it is:
http://www.myspace.com/williamyelverton

Here's an old photo I found of a concerto I played back in the 90's.