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American Mandolin & Guitar Summer School

About AMGuSS

At AMGuSS playing music comes first! Our event-packed week features personal instruction from experienced faculty; daily rehearsals with the American Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra; chamber music sessions with musicians from across the country; concerts and workshops by internationally renown artists; lively jam sessions every night; and your own performances in the week's final concerts. All of this, plus the legendary student-faculty camaraderie, make AMGuSS an eagerly awaited annual event.

AMGuSS Class 2006

AMGuSS was founded in 1986 to promote the art of ensemble playing for the guitar and mandolin family. All instruction is hands-on, and instructors work to develop students' musicianship and artistic interpretation. Classical study is combined with an exploration of folk and world music. From Baroque ornamentation to Brazilian choro, AMGuSS is guaranteed to broaden your musical horizons.

AMGuSS is held on the beautiful waterfront campus of Roger Williams University, in Bristol, Rhode Island. Students range in age from 18 to 85, and in ability from beginner to professional. If you're looking for an exciting week of non-stop music-making and fun, come join us for AMGuSS in 2004!

AMGuSS

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AMGuSS 2009

Marilynn Mair & Uncommon Strings present
The 23rd Annual American Mandolin & Guitar Summer School
June 22nd - June 28th, 2009
On the campus of Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI

2009 Guest Artist
2009 Guest Artists will include Mark Levesque & Judy Handler, guitar-mandolin duo extraordinaire, who will perform and give workshops. Other guest artist will be announced as we firm up our schedule.


AMGuSS 2009 Typical Day

8:00 - 8:30
Breakfast

9:00 - 10:00
Section rehearsals for the American Mandolin & Guitar Orchestra

Players will meet with their section (1st mandolin; 2nd mandolin; mandola; mando-cello; guitar) to rehearse parts for the all-school orchestra, led by a faculty member who is the section leader. Orchestra music is varied, and parts will be available to attendees by June 1st.

10:15 - 12:15
Full AMGO rehearsal

The all-school orchestra will rehearse daily under the baton of Robert Paul Sullivan, in preparation for a concert performance at the end of the week.

12:30 - 1:00
Lunch

1:30 - 2:45
Small Ensemble rehearsal w/ faculty coaching

All attendees will be placed in a chamber music ensemble by faculty, based on their interests and ability. These will rehearse daily, with faculty direction for half of each session. Players who have never performed chamber music should mention this in their application so they will be placed in an appropriate group. The groups will perform for each other in a no-pressure in-house situation at the end of the week.

3:00 - 4:15
Workshop(s) by faculty &/or guest artists

There will be daily sessions in two time slots, sometimes more than one at a time, including aspects of technique, styles, and special topics related to the evening's concert presented by the guest artists. The ever-popular all-guitar ensemble will meet in this time-slot, as well as a roda da choro, and a workshop on "The Complete Mandolinist," Marilynn's new method. Faculty will also be available for "Ask me" sessions on a rotating basis.

4:30 - 5:45
Workshop(s) by faculty &/or guest artists (see 3:00)

6:00 - 6:30
Dinner

8:00
The American Mandolin & Guitar Concert Series The series features performances by faculty and guest artists, and is an eager-awaited event for area residents as well as AMGuSS attendees.

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Faculty Musicians

Marilynn Mair (mandolin | AMGuSS Director)
Performance & Recording: Chamber & Brazilian music; Enigmatica, Mair & Larrabee, Mandolin World Summit, New England Mandolin Ensemble, & others.
Faculty: Roger Williams University. Columnist: Mandolin Quarterly; Mandolin Magazine

Ralph Costanza (mandolin | AMGuSS Registrar & Director)
Performance: Chamber & folk music.
Instruction: Mandolin & classroom music.

Robert Paul Sullivan (mandola & mandocello | AMGO Conductor)
Performance: Classical & chamber music; Sullivan/ Greene Duo & others.
Faculty: The New England Conservatory.

Robert N. Martel (guitar)
Performance: Chamber music & jazz
Instruction: jazz ensemble & classroom music.

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Accomodations

AMGuSS is held on the beautiful waterfront campus of Roger Williams University in scenic Bristol, Rhode Island. Housing is in dorm units, and meals are served cafeteria-style in the dining hall. Special requests for a first-floor room or dietary-restriction meals may be made before May 15th. Classes and rehearsals take place in buildings all across campus, so bring walking shoes, or a car. Check-in is Monday, June 22nd, from 1:00 to 3:00. Follow the signs for registration when you arrive on campus.


Application and Fees

Registration Fee (included in tuition)
Full refunds, minus a $50 registration fee, will be given for cancellations made by June 1st. For withdrawals June 1-10, a $100 housing fee will be charged in addition to the $50 registration fee. After June 10th no refund will be given, except in cases of clear emergency.

Tuition
$400, if mailed before May 1, 2009
$450, if mailed after May 1, 2009
$100/day, for partial week students

Room & Board
Please pay the appropriate fee if you are staying on campus.

$812 for a single air-conditioned room in a 2-bedroom apartment (includes sheets & towels, and all meals from dinner 6/22 through breakfast 6/28, including banquet). You will be sharing a bathroom & living room with 1 or 2 other people.

$515 per person in a double-occupancy air-conditioned room in a 2-bedroom apartment (includes sheets & towels, and all meals from dinner 6/22 through breakfast 6/28, including banquet). Persons requesting a double room should have a roommate. You may request to be assigned a roommate, but if none is available you will be placed in a single and charged that rate. You will be sharing a bedroom with 1 person, and a bathroom and living room with an additional 1 or 2 people.

There are a limited (& presently unknown) number of 3-bedroom 2nd-floor units available. Applicants may request them on a first-come first-served basis. Rates are $646 in a single, $475 in a double. You will share a bathroom & living room with 4 other people. If you request a 3-bedroom unit, you will be notified by June 1st if we can place you in one. If none is available, you will be placed in a 2-bedroom unit and must pay that rate (see above).

Banquet fee for commuters and guests: $35. This will be charged to all attendees who do not live on campus, and any outside guests who wish to attend the final banquet.

Commuters will not be able to buy meals in the cafeteria, but there are sandwich shops located in the same building.

For anyone preferring hotel accommodations, we recommend the Bristol Harbor Inn, 259 Thames Street, Bristol, RI 02809 (866)254-1444 or (401)254-1444. If you stay anywhere off-campus you will need to arrange for your own meals.

Application
Download the AMGuSS application (Word document) to reserve your spot today or contact Ralph Costanza if you would like a flyer mailed to you.

Send AMGuSS applications and other correspondence to:
Ralph Costanza, Registrar
The American Mandolin & Guitar Summer School
248 Broadlake Road
Colchester, Vermont 05446


Perry Memorial Scholarship Fund

Hibbard Perry (1906-1993) was a guitarist, mandolinist, and music teacher who worked in Providence, Rhode Island, for half a century to establish and nurture a supportive environment for the study and performance of guitar and mandolin. In 1993, Plucked String Editions and the friends of Mr. Perry established a memorial scholarship in his name, to award AMGuSS tuition scholarships to talented students aged 18 to 29. Scholarships are awarded to a mandolinist and a guitarist annually. To apply, send a letter of application outlining your musical background and a cassette or CD demonstrating your performing ability. Write or email for information and application guidelines. Applications should be mailed to the address below by May 1st.


The Norman Levine Teacher's Scholarship

Created 2006 to honor the lifelong achievements of Norman Levine in the field of mandolin education, this AMGuSS tuition scholarship will be awarded to a deserving mandolin teacher annually.


Contact AMGuSS

Ralph Costanza, Registrar
The American Mandolin & Guitar Summer School
248 Broadlake Road
Colchester, Vermont 05446

You can also reach Ralph by phone (802) 864-7940 or email.

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