By Frankie Farrar-Helm/entertainment editor
NE Campus’ guitar ensemble will sponsor the Guitar Festival to raise funds to compete in the Brownsville Guitar Ensemble Festival.
During the TCC festival, contestants will compete in a series of divisions 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Feb. 26 in NSTU Center Corner on NE Campus. The competition is open to anyone.
The divisions will include acoustic, electric, classical, singer/songwriter, Guitar Hero and karaoke, all of which will be judged by former TCC professor and current guitar ensemble member Marion Nesvadba and NE guitar ensemble instructor Jan Ryberg.
“This guitar festival is brand new,” Ryberg said. “We don’t know how many people will come, but it should be fun.”
The event will also include an air guitar competition, a battle of the bands competition and a guitar orchestra, all judged by NE alumni.
Dallas Kaemmerling, an alumnus who now studies music education with an emphasis on chorale conducting at Texas Woman’s University, said he will help contestants who sign up for the guitar orchestra rehearse and perform.
“The goal is to take the music off the page and bring it to life as a group,” he said.
Nesvadba, retired choir director for NE and SE campuses, said contestants will be judged on technique, musicianship and knowledge of the music itself.
“TCC has a very viable guitar program, and this will show our involvement in the music community,” he said. “This is something needed because, outside of the classical guitar societies in Fort Worth, there isn’t a public venue that gives what TCC provides.”
After finalists from all divisions are announced, they will perform a concert that will end with the battle of the bands winner.
Possible prizes will include a free guitar and 20 percent of the overall amount of entry fees accumulated, Ryberg said.
For more information, entry forms and required music for the orchestra, visit www.strumhum.com or call 1-903-634-7427.
Competition entry fees are $10. General admission is free. Pizza and snacks will be sold. The festival is open to the public.
