I'm still Around!

It is already the beginning of May! I can't believe that I have been dormant for so long! As I believed I mentioned a while back, I have been looking at my Guitar life and have not been happy at what I have surveyed as I just turned 60 in April ( 6th ). By not being happy, I mean to say that I have been supporting so many of my friends and colleagues by attending their concerts and Festivals and workshops and gigs and neglecting my own career so it is time to concentrate on MY PLAYING! I have been on the Guitar scene since the early 60's playing my butt off starting as a Folk singing Guitarist then getting into the Classical Guitar thanks to Andres Segovia. I had a chance to thank Segovia during an intermission of Michael Lorimer's Debut concert here in New York a few decades ago. I told the Maestro how he converted me from the Classical Piano to the Classical Guitar. He said " MOOWEE BIEN ME AMIGO!YOU CHANGE FROM THEE PIANO TO THEE GEETARRR" MUY BIEN!!
Of course I looked around and people were all pointing to him but no one had the balls to just walk up and say Hello! After all, he is a human being and he doesn't walk on water! Although it was he who introduced me to the lovely world of the Classical Guitar, Julian Bream showed me the most extreme use of tone color which transported me to the land of the Sound Gods! I really miss Julian because he always left his musical guts on the stage when he performed. I always looked forward to what ever instrument he would be performing on as he would make a shoe box with strings sound the the most glorious sounds in heaven!

I have been fortunate to have studied with just about all of the finest I have wanted to study with in my life. I just gave a really nice performance ths past Saturday May 1st , at the public
Library Branch in New Dorp Staten Island. At this time I have no other library Gigs set up as I am trying to work on many new things! I know of so many wonderful works for the Guitar that are being ignored and I will devote the rest of my life on the Guitar bringing forth these gems in my concerts.

Recently, I attended two superb concerts by two outstanding female artists : ANA VIDOVIC and PIA GAZAREK-OFFERMANN. My next post will share the details of these great artists. Those concerts have re-awakened my desire to start up my blog again as they struck me deeply with the depth and beauty of their artistry. Of course, ANA VIDOVIC is on the front burner of the Classical Guitar world due to her great beauty and totally fantastic playing. have followed her for several years now and am proud to call her a friend. She is also one of the finest and sweetest people on the planet! She is totally gracious and warm and giving to the public. She has taken some pot shots from some people because she plays things that she likes and when she plays things like Tarrega , there was some grumbling and I heard some people walked. That is their loss because this young woman is totally comitted to each and every work that goes through her hands! I love her dearly! When she gave her concert recently at the Long Island Guitar Festival, she had the audacity to aks the audience what they wanted to hear! What spunk and graciousness! She has an aura of an exceptional ARTIST and extremely warm human bing! You just want to jump on the stage and hug her! As a matter of fact a few years ago whcn she was the guest artist at the Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York , I shouted from the audience " WILL YOU MARRY ME"! This was after she totally melted the audience with her towering virtuosity and sweet stage presence! She must be seen in person even though there is a Concert video of her by Mel Bay available! She is also a exceptionally gifted teacher who knows how to encourage her students with gentility and clarity. More about my dear ANA in the concert post.

PIA GAZAREK-OFFERMANN is another totally phenominally gifted ARTIST who should be up there foremost in the minds of Classical Guitar community because she is one of our greatest living Guitarists but the least known for various reasons! I have been a colleague and friend of hers for a few years now 1st meeting her and her equally great husband THOMAS OFFERMANN at the Yale School a several years ago and then again here in Brooklyn when she was presented by my dear buddy LARS FRANDSEN at Brooklyn College! I was instrumental in securing her for the New York Classical Guitar Society "Second Sunday Concert Series" . She was already contracted to perform at the same Long Island Classical Guitar Festival as ANA VIDOVIC. PIAS' playing is both poetic and deep. Due to familial obligations, her rise to the top of the Classical Guitar world has been held up but once you hear this exceptional artistry, you will be knocked off of your ignorance seat! This woman is so incredible no matter what she touches! Her tone is all that great tone can be! Technique to give away! A great interpreter in the highest realms! I will give you more of the details in the coming blogg of her two excellent performances. I was also lucky to hang with Pia for a few hours during her New York stay and mark my words- You will be hearing quite a bit about this outstanding artist in our near future because I am devoting much energy to making sure she is better known in our Classical Guitar Community. Stay tuned Folks! Glad to be back!~

Donnie Witter