Master Class with the Paris Duo

Xavier Jara & Chris Garwood perform Scarlatti for the Paris Guitar Duo (Jeremy Jouve & Judicael Perroy).

Xavier's audition for From the Top's "Big Break" contest

Etude #8 by Giulio Regondi. Recorded in Antonello Hall at the MacPhail Center for Music. Filmed by Dan Huiting. Guitar made by Stephen Kakos.  
Recorded for the Big Break contest for From the Top

With Grandpa

Xavier must have been 2 or 3 years old when I caught him and grandpa sitting together outside on the porch at our Ham Lake house.  I wish the photos were of better quality because I love these photos.  For me it captures the comfortable and quiet way that my dad could just "hang out" with the kids.  Note: in the background of the 2nd photo is his famous red truck!

Here is another one of my favorite photos of Selena with her grandpa.  This was in 1992 at a vacation resort in Perham, MN.

Xavi's concert debut at Salon Se Léve

As the 2009 Schubert Club winner in guitar Xavier was invited to perform a program for Salon Se Léve; a local group that supports young musicians by providing them the opportunity to perform professionally. Xavier has been working on his program of 6 pieces since last summer when he was first approached for the gig. So, in other words, this wasn't just another typical recital but the mini-version of a professional concert where he had the opportunity to "pull his own weight" and take center stage for a half hour program (for which he was paid :)

The concert took place in the art gallery of the United Methodist church on Hennepin Avenue. We had to arrive an hour before the performance (who knows why) so we tried out the stage and I took these photos. (It kind of looked like he had matched his shirt to go with the chairs and rug in the hall.) The hall was filled with paintings. Paul Wirth, a local pianist and Salon organizer, pointed out that there was a 16th century painting with the first appearance in western art of a "new world" turkey in it. This was really interesting since the turkey depicted in the painting does not look like a wild turkey but more like the domesticated breeds that I assume came later. This is puzzling to me and deserves some fun research at a later date. In fact, that particular painting is located above Xavier's right shoulder in the photo above.

Below: a copy of the concert program.

Xavier played the "Frog Galliard" piece well but showing some nervousness. By the time he started the Regondi, (my favorite) I was happy to hear that the nerves were calm and he was making music. Boy, I love that piece and his phrasing is excellent. Right now he's still working on finding the right mix, especially for the coming GFA competition in June, but all in all, it went really well for him. The Bach "Prelude" was beauuutiful and the "Allegro" was a bit too fast, but not as fast as you hear in some recordings. So, the program was finished, Xavier took his bow and the audience rose for a standing ovation! Yikes, Xavier was NOT prepared for this possibility at all. All of his time had been invested in preparing the program without considering that a encore piece might be required. I wish I had a photo of the look on his face as he was trying to figure out what the heck he was going to play for an encore! Finally he sat down and played half of "Blue Shift" but had some trouble remembering it. "Sorry, I can't remember it", he said, and the audience laughed and stood up again. This time he bowed and made a quick exit.

After the concert there was a reception for the artists so he chatted with folks for awhile. We were SO glad to see our friends Jane and Geza Simon at the concert, and even more so to celebrate together afterwards at the restaurant Monte Carlo. You can see in the photo below how happy I was; good times with good friends!

Above: Geza, Xavier and Jane

Below: the Salon Se Léve billboard for 2009/2010 season

Who are those cuties?

Thank you, Becky, for sharing this photo on your facebook!  Yes, it's Jimmy and Xavier (my nephew Jim) when they were about 4 years old.  It must have been Thanksgiving, 1997.

Xavier performed at Woman's Club of Minneapolis

This spring Xavier was a 2nd place scholarship winner in the Thursday Musical Young Artist competition (http://www.thursdaymusical.com/id13.html.) The scholarship money gave him the opportunity to work with local guitar masters Alan Johnston (MacPhail), Chris Kachian (St. Thomas University), and David Crittendon (Bethel College). It has also been a wonderful opportunity to perform. Earlier this summer he performed for the American Association of University Women and on Tuesday he was invited to perform at the Women's Club. He played Villa Lobos, "Prélude Guitare no. 1." We were both invited to the luncheon and we got to sit at the head table and talk to some of the other young artists (including Argentine celloist, Ramiro Alvarez) and the leaders of the club. All of these women are very supportive of all of the young artists in our community.
Xavier received star treatment at the club; he had his own parking space!! It was so much fun to find this parking space after coming into the parking lot expecting to spend some time looking for a spot. What a GREAT day!

Troska Jara Duo

This spring Xavier has been working with violinist Andy Troska (13) on the Paganini piece for guitar and violin, “Centone di Sonate for Violin and Guitar, Op. 64, No. 1". They competed and won a spot in the Youth Guitarathon and also played at the House of Mercy in St. Paul (recorded and shown below) and at the Open Stage (photo above). They performed great together!

Paganini, Part I

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Paganini, Part II

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