CROWN OF THE CONTINENT GUITAR FOUNDATION

The History of the Crown

2010 – 2015

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

The Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation was launched inAugust of 2009 because David Feffer dreams big. Not content to justhike and travel in his retirement, David wanted to improve his classicalguitar playing. In the summer of 2008 he went to the east coast andtook classes at the National Guitar Workshop in New Milford, Connecticutwith teachers Andrew Leonard and Ben Verderey. The following summerFeffer invited Leonard to his home in Montana for continuing lessons,to perform at a fundraiser for two local youth educational groups andto enjoy the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park.

Following the Sunday fundraising performance, an ambitious workshopconcept was hatched late that night over a bottle of bourbon sharedby Leonard, Feffer, his son William and his brother-in-law Mark Noonan. Number one for the workshop dreamwas a commitment to promote the artistry of the guitar across all genres in a non-competitive communityenvironment. Second was providing a place for guitarists to draw creative inspiration from the spectacularnatural beauty of northwestern Montana. They then talked about who would be their dream-come-trueteachers. “Why not Pat Metheny?” asked one. “How about Scott Tennant, or Alex de Grassi?” queried another.

“Our goal from day one was to establish the Flathead Valley as an internationally regarded center for theguitar,” Feffer recalls. “If artists and students could come with their families and stay at a top-notch location,this could be a workshop like none other. This would be an opportunity to bring world-class musicians andpeople of all levels with a passion for playing the guitar to Montana and introduce them to the unparalleledexperience of the Flathead Valley and Glacier National Park,” he continued.

Was this a hare-brained idea or something that could be successful? The group sought input from business,music and community leaders throughout the Flathead Valley. After describing the concept, Feffer imploredpeople to “please tell me why this is not a good idea!” They also sought input from people involved in guitarworkshops and music festivals across the country. Universally, the responses were positive and encouraging.

THE DREAM NEEDS A NAME

Glacier National Park was celebrating its 100th birthday that year and had long been referred to as the ‘jewel’in the Crown of the Continent region. Focusing on the importance of nature in the workshop they titled theirventure the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation (COCGF), and its inaugural Guitar Workshop wasslated for the week of August 29 to September 5, 2010. Now they just needed the perfect location.

Feffer called on Doug Averill, owner of Flathead Lake Lodge, a stunning four-star dude ranch situated alongthe spectacular shoreline of the 28-mile long lake, to see if he would be willing to provide the facility for the

event. Averill liked the idea and inDecember of 2009, Feffer gathered agroup of people willing to commit tojoining a board. Together, they beganthe process of forming a nonprofitfoundation and finding top-notch artists

David Feffer practicing his passion: The Guitar.

The Crown of the Continent mountainsare ‘dreaming of guitars.’

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and faculty to teach and perform at the signature workshop.

Very quickly Feffer and Leonard realized they needed apartner familiar with the music business, and they askedDave Smolover, an expert in the guitar education field, ifhe would help them. Smolover agreed, saying “Who wouldn'twant to teach or study guitar in one of the most beautifulplaces in the world?”

Through Smolover’s connections, pioneering jazz guitaristand multi-GRAMMY® award winner Pat Metheny wassoon booked, along with Grammy-winning classical artistScott Tennant and fingerstyle maestro Alex de Grassi. Tocomplete this incredible line-up of talent, they pursuedGrammy-winning, multi-genre, jazz/rock virtuoso, LeeRitenour, who said he could only spare two days. Auspiciously,his presence has led to a delightful six-year collaboration.

With an elite teaching staff that included Jody Fisher, jazz, Mark Dziuba, blues, Doug Smith, acoustic and beginner,Andrew Leonard, classical, and Matt Smith, rock, the workshop was ready to go.

Forty-eight participants joined the inaugural event. “We made a great start, aiming for everyone to have a 10+experience,” remembers Feffer. Comments from students that first year indicated that the workshop greatlyexceeded their already high expectations. They were surprised by the relaxed informality of the surroundings,the sense of community, the spontaneous jam sessionson the lawn overlooking the lake, and being able toshare meals together in the main lodge with some oftheir most admired artists.

“I loved the intimacy and smaller numbers, it was lessoverwhelming, and I absorbed so much. The setting atFlathead Lake Lodge is classic.” – Kate McLaughlin, Kalispell MT

SCHOLARSHIPS AND MORE

As part of their mission the newly formed COCGFboard developed a scholarship program for studentsand teachers. “We wanted to provide an opportunityfor guitar students of all levels and means to study withoutstanding guitar artists, with the intention of advancingtheir playing skills while also creating a lasting impacton guitar music in Flathead Valley,” stated CherylRichmond, a founding board member.

That first year eight deserving recipients – three students and five guitar instructors – received full scholarshipsworth over $2,500 each. The winners were chosen via an application to the North Valley Music School, aWhitefish nonprofit that collaborated with the COCGF.

The Flathead Lake Lodge shoreline and wooded grounds.

Lee Ritenour with workshop students on stage at the Carriage House.

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To extend the reach of the Workshop, four free community guitar clinics were also given during that week innearby Whitefish, Kalispell, Bigfork and Columbia Falls, offering guitarists of any age a 90-minute experiencewith the superb instructors from COCGW event.

“The whole week was a phenomenal nurturing experience for me as a musician and music/guitar teacher.I felt like a sponge, soaking it all in.” – Tim Torgerson,Whitefish MT, guitar instructor and scholarship-winner

A FESTIVAL IS BORN...

With so many fantastic musicians converging on Flathead Valley, it only seemed logical to provide some publicconcerts for the greater community to enjoy and the COC Guitar Festival began. During the first year, fiveconcerts were held. The first was in Whitefish with Alex de Grassi, the second in Bigfork featuring Alex deGrassi and Montana native son, pianist Phil Aaberg. A third night featured Pat Metheny performing in theCarriage House at Flathead Lake Lodge, followed by a fourth concert there with Scott Tennant. The publicconcert highlight came at the end of the week with a grand Guitar Extravaganza finalé that brought all theinstructors and many regional Montana performers onto a stage overlooking the lake at sunset. That magicalnight still resonates with the nearly 400 attendees who were luckyenough to catch the very first Crown of the Continent Guitar Festival,and the actualization of the Flathead Valley as a guitar mecca was onits way.

2011: SECOND VERSE SAME AS THE FIRST?

“Great instruction. Great camaraderie with the staff, instructors, andfellow guitar players. Fantastic concerts.” – Mark Cattral, Alberta CAN

Buoyed by the success of the first Workshop and Festival, a secondevent was a foregone conclusion. Keeping the event on the last weekof August each year seemed to work and August 27-September 3,2011 was secured at Flathead Lake Lodge. Planning began almostimmediately, and Scott Tennant agreed to return. The course instructorsalso re-upped, citing the awesome learning environment and the funtime they all had.

Lee Ritenour’s enthusiasm for the Crown of the Continent GuitarFoundation also gave it a huge boost in 2011. He was so impressed

Faculty and guest artists perform at the 2010 Guitar Extravaganza on the lawn overlooking the lake, giving birth to the Crown Guitar Festival.

Scott Tennant performs at the Carriage House.

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by the caliber of the workshop that he decidedto bring the world finals of his newly formedYamaha Six String Theory Guitar Competitionto Bigfork.. This competition is an internationalprogram to help launch the careers of aspiringyoung guitarists. They would compete onstage at the Bigfork Center for the PerformingArts, with all of the finalists receivingscholarships to attend the COC workshop.

“It was the most unique, inspiring workshopI’ve been involved with. It combined greatteachers, great students and incredibleatmosphere that kept everyone motivatedand creative. There is nothing like this, that Iknow of, in the world.” – Lee Ritenour

A Grammy winner and multiple nominee with a career spanning 50-plus years as a cross-genre session musicianand recording star, Ritenour provided the cachet and artist connections to move the workshop/festival up anotch toward its goal as an internationally recognized event. He invited longtime close personal friend, rockguitarist and multi Grammy winner Steve Lukather, along with young blues guitar great Joe Bonamassa, to comeenjoy the easygoing Montana hospitality of the workshop. He also brought along rhythm musicians who haveplayed on many of his albums: drummer Dave Weckl and bassist Melvin Lee Davis. Joining them as Artists inResidence were classical artist Scott Tennant and popular singer/songwriter David Wilcox.

Highlights of 2011:• 95 guitar students attended, selling out the workshop.• 14 Scholarships were awarded to seven students, five teachers and two performers.• The World Finals of the Yamaha Six String Theory Guitar Competition was held at the Bigfork Center forthe Performing Arts. Among the judges were Scott Goldman, vice president of the GRAMMY Foundation,and Ken Dapron, Director of Yamaha Guitar Artist Services. Winner of the competition was David Browne-Murray of Belfast, Ireland. The six finalists came from South Africa, Italy, Sweden, Seattle and New York City,winning out over 500 entrants.• A large tent was set up on the grounds of the lodge to accommodate the public Festival performances bythe Artists in Residence, accompanied by the rhythm musicians and faculty musicians. Five concerts were held

Joe Bonamassa holds an impromptu blues guitar clinic out on the lawn at the lodge.

Faculty artist Dennis McCumber teaching his advanced blues students.

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with total attendance estimated at more than 3500 people.• Two fundraising events were held to bring awareness of theCOCGF and solicit support. Singer/Songwriter Livingston Taylorwas the featured artist at an April 2011 soiree. In June an outdoor“summer celebration” concert was held at the Saddlehorn TrapperCabins above the town of Bigfork.clinics were held at Flathead High School, Columbia Falls communitycenter, North Valley Music School in Whitefish, and Marina CayResort in Bigfork.• National media attention was rising with articles about theWorkshop and the Six String Theory winners in national guitarmagazines. Regional media included a special television segmenton Spokane Public Television that aired across Washington, Idaho,Montana and Western Canada.

2012: THIRD TIME’S A CHARM

“This was truly a memorable experience and one that we willrepeat as long as you hold the event!!”

– Nick and Ken Porcaro, New Jersey

Year three of the Crown of the Continent Guitar Workshop andFestival was set for August 26 through September 1, 2012. Ritenourexpressed his delight with how well the Six String Theory competition had worked in Bigfork and asked tobring the event back in 2012, this time including the semifinals. “The Guitar Workshop provided a wonderfuleducational opportunity for the competitors and created an environment that brought everyone together inall the positive ways,” he commented.

With Ritenour’s help, the process of engaging Artists in Residence began. Eventually seven of the world’s leadingguitarists signed on. They were: classical and flamenco guitar master Dennis Koster • up-and-coming youngjazz master and Grammy nominee Julian Lage, with his drummer Tupac Mantilla and bassist Jorge Roeder •Sonny Landreth, a Louisiana bluesman and slide guitarist supreme • Patty Larkin, a self-described “guitar-drivensongwriter” • and the duo of Grammy winner Chris Hillman, a founding member of The Byrds, and Herb

Pedersen, both country rock icons.

A new workshop for bass players was addedalong with clinics for guitar players to workwith master keyboard, drum and rhythmplayers. Ritenour asked his longtime friend,pianist and composer Dave Grusin, a 12-time GRAMMY-winner, to help judge theSix String Theory Competition and teacha keyboard clinic. A special rhythm clinicwas taught by bassists Melvin Lee Davis,Clipper Anderson and Jorge Roeder, anddrummers Sonny Emory, long-time drummerfor Earth, Wind and Fire, and Tupac Mantillaof the Julian Lage Trio.

Enjoying a quiet stroll to the Main Lodge.

The Festival tent, meadow and pond at sunset before an evening performance.

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Highlights of 2012:• Winner of the Yamaha Six String Theory Competition finals held at Bigfork Center for Performing Arts, wasclassical artist Karl Marino, of Laval, Quebec. Other finalists came from California, Washington, Israel, Hungaryand Minnesota. In addition, seven semifinalists, hailing from Canada, California, Virginia and France, also receivedscholarships to the workshop.• 16 additional scholarships were awarded, three for teachers, two for performers and 11 for students. TwoClassical Youth Scholarships were also provided for promising young artists wishing to pursue a guitar career.One was awarded to a 17 year-old from Tokyo, Japan who was selected by the Guitar Society of Japan. Thesecond was awarded to a 16 year-old enrolled in the Juilliard Youth Program.• Free community guitar clinics were held during the week in Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Kalispell.• A special fundraiser, ‘Guitar Night for Glacier National Park Fund,’ was held in Whitefish on the Friday beforethe workshop began. It featured Bill Mize on acoustic acompanied by Beth Bramhall on accordion, followedby RIO, a bossa nova jazz quartet.• Fundraising events included a second annual ‘Summer Guitar Celebration’in June featuring 2011 Six String Theory winner David Browne-Murrayand faculty artists Doug Smith and Jody Fisher.tent was expanded once again with over 800 seats for the audience toenjoy five evening concerts from the Artists in Residence and rhythmmusicians.

2013: CELEBRATING THE LOVE OF GUITAR

“I was completely blown away by the whole experience… The senseof mutual support, camaraderie and absolute JOY IN THE GUITAR ANDMUSIC among staff, participants, instructors, artists in residence – eventhe spouses and host families and audience members – was astonishing.Thank you from the bottom of my fingerpickin’, flat pickin’ heart!”

– Deni Llovet, Missoula MT

Inspired by the COCGF tagline of Celebrating the Love of the Guitar inthe Magical Splendor of Montana, the ‘Crown,’ as it was now affectionatelycalled, became an even bigger affair in year four with 14 highly acclaimedmusicians on the docket for the week of August 26-31, 2013. The PatMetheny Trio and multi Grammy nominee Robben Ford led the astoundingline-up of Artists in Residence along with Lee Ritenour, Grammy winner

Evening social hour just before another delicious homestyle supper.

Student Andre Floyd, along with his PerformingMusician workshop classmates, spends a dayat nearby SnowGhost Music recording studio.

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Daryl Stuermer, Country Music Songwriters Hall of Famemember Mac McAnally and Livingston Taylor. Scott Tennantreturned, bringing his fellow performers in the Los AngelesGuitar Quartet. Five stellar rhythm musicians also came includingMetheny’s award-winning jazz trio mates, Larry Grenadieron bass and Bill Stewart on drums. Ritenour’s all-star entourageincluded high-octane drummer Sonny Emory, renowned bassistAbraham Laboriel and keyboardist extraordinaire John Beasley.

Highlights of 2013:• The Festival venue became the ‘Crown Festival Tent’ andwas enlarged to now accommodate 900 seats. Two videoprojection screens were installed on the ‘Crown Festival Stage’to provide the audience better viewing of the action on stage.• All five concert nights sold out in advance. A VIP area was designated backstage to provide a place forsponsors and patrons to socialize and meet the guest artists.• The Pat Metheny Trio performed for the first time ever in Montana.• Renowned luthier, Linda Manzer came from Toronto to share her expertise and stories with the students.She is most famous for building guitars for the stars – including the unusual three-necked, 42-string ‘Pikasso’for Pat Metheny.• Six student, six teacher and five performer scholarships were awarded to Montana residents. Also awardedwere scholarships in the following categories: Chairman’s Young Artist, two National Youth Gifted in Classicaland Jazz, and an Artist in Residence Selection.• There were 89 workshop attendees.• Free community guitar clinics were held in Whitefish and Columbia Falls.• COCGF brought singer/songwriter Chuck Suchy to the Flathead Valley to present four workshops in areaschools, one community workshop and a public performance.• Four fundraising events were held including two house concerts in April with Diego Figueiredo and two inAugust with Dennis Koster.• In June, the third annual Summer Guitar Celebration fundraiser was held in Bigfork.• New national sponsors joined including Musician’s Friend, True Fire, La Bella Strings, Fender Guitar andMartin & Co. Guitars.• A study supported by Northwestern Energy and the Flathead Economic Development Authority documentedthat the Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation contributed over $3 million dollars to the local economyduring the first three years. In year four that number rose to over $5 million.

Five of the 14 Artists in 2013: Blues icon Robben Ford groovin’ and Lee Ritenour, Daryl Stuermer, Abraham Laboriel and Sonny Emory rockin’ out.

Pat Metheny playing his Manzer ‘Pikasso’ guitar at the Festival.

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2014: THE KEYWORDFOR YEAR FIVE:COLLABORATION!

“The collaboration that everyoneparticipates in is just insane. That is whatmakes this a unique experience!”

– Dweezil Zappa Crown Artist in Residence 2014

In year five The Crown Guitar Workshopand Festival hit it out of the ballpark. Sold out workshops were crowned by sold out concerts and the musicjust kept coming. The schoalrship program and workshop participants were outstanding with incrediblecollaboration between students, artists and teachers.

The Guitar Festival opened on Sunday night with local musical legend Rob Quist, founding member of theMission Mountain Band, who was joined by his daughter Halladay Quist. Then, Grammy-winning guitaristDweezil Zappa took the microphone, and introduced his band mates Scheila Gonzalez on sax/keys/vocals,Kurt Morgan on bass and Ryan Brown on drums. It was a stellar launch for the six-night music festival.

Monday's concert featured the incomparable Ana Popovic. The five-time nominee as “Female Blues Artistof the Year” who won the award in 2014, showed her chops in a fiery performance of blues guitar licks. Shewas preceded in the concert by another guitar legend, Mike Stern, whose versatile jazz style won him the2012 award as “Best Jazz Guitarist” by Guitar Player Magazine. That came after six Grammy-nominees overhis long career.

Tuesday night's concert featured two powerhouse women singer/songwriters, Emily Elbert and Shelby Lynne.Elbert opened the show, performing a series of her original jazzy ballads. She had first come to the CrownWorkshop in 2013 as the recipient of the Chairman's Scholarship and returned in 2014 as an Artist in Residence.Her 2014 appearance resulted in introduction to a major recording company.

Shelby Lynne brought her slide guitarist Ben Peeler to perform with her, creating thesoulful style she is known for. At the end of her set she invited all the Artists in Residenceguitarists on stage in a grand musical collaboration. Perhaps John Oates describes itbest: “It was all pretty spontaneous. We got on stage with like18 guitarists (includingthe scholarship winners and backup musicians)… and everyone took a solo…you know,these are moments that may only happen once in a lifetime,” commented the Rock &Roll Hall of Fame artist.

Lee Ritenour, back for his fifth year with the Crown, brought the house to its feetmore than once with his high-octane team of John Beasley on keyboards, AbrahamLaboriel on bass and Sonny Emory on drums. To finish off the 'hump day' concert,Mike Stern, Ritenour's long time friend and musical compatriot, jumped on stage, alongwith his wife and world music guitarist, Leni Stern, adding another layer of excitementto an already jammin' night of jazz

But it wasn’t all rock n’ roll collaborations. On Thursday, classical master guitarist, DavidLeisner, performed solo guitar pieces and then invited a string quartet from the Glacier

John Beasley, Mike Stern, John Oates, Abe Laboriel, Lee Ritenour and Sonny Emory

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John Beasley, Mike Stern, John Oates, Abe Laboriel, Lee Ritenour and Sonny Emory

Symphony to the stage to play the Boccherini Quintet with him. This was followedby a show featuring the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame master, John Oates. His hummable,memorable repertoire of music was backed up by members of his band; ShaneTheriot on guitar, Michael Jude on bass and John Michel on drums, all accomplishedmusicians in their own right. Oates then invited Shelby Lynne, Ben Peeler andDweezil Zappa to join him on stage in a grand guitar finale.

The week wrapped on Saturday with the “Guitar Extravaganza” that began in theafternoon with solo and small ensemble performances by the students at variouslocations on the Flathead Lake Lodge campus, and culminated in a huge musicalbash featuring the talented Crown workshop faculty, and the AIRs who stayed onfor the whole week.

Highlights of 2014:• Dweezil Zappa's family offered a signed, commemorative, Frank Zappa guitar to be auctioned off to supportthe Crown of the Continent Guitar Foundation's scholarship program.• In a new collaboration with Montana Public Radio the Wednesday night concert with Lee Ritenour and hisband was rebroadcast on the following Friday night.• On Friday night a free musical jam was presented on the Brookies Cookies stage in downtown Bigfork thatfeatured over 30 of the workshop participants and some faculty members.• 79 students enrolled in the Crown Workshop.• Two special scholarships were awarded by the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Winners were “King”Solomon Hicks, a teenage prodigy whose website proclaims he is “carrying on the torch of the blues,” andWillie Moore III of Jacksonville, FL. A week before the Workshop started, Solomon Hicks did a performancetour around the Flathead Valley, stimulating interest in the Festival. The week after the workshop, Willie Moorebecame a student at Berklee College of Music.• A new relationship with the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) provided a scholarship to John Bogan(16), winner of the GFA International Youth Competition. Josh Achiron received the AIR scholarship onrecommendation of Lee Ritenour. All the scholarship winners were featured in short solo performances ateach Festival concert.• 16 scholarships were awarded to local Montana guitarists.• In June, the fourth annual Summer Guitar Celebration was held at BruMar Estate near Bigfork and featured“Zen Cowboy” Chuck Pyle and the John Floridis Trio, winners of a 2013 NW Emmy® award.• A collaborative effort between COCGF and Bigfork Center for the Performing Arts resulted in a Februarybenefit concert featuring guitar master Diego Figueiredo of Brazil, and singer/songwriter Chucky Suchy.• As a result of his 2013 appearance, Pat Metheny has been commissioned to write a major composition forthe L.A. Guitar Quartet, which will be premiered at the 2015 festival.

“Just the general feeling of the whole situation is really special to me. I dig teaching, first of all. But in this settingit's paradise. Obviously, you know, the weather and the location is just off the hook. It's amazing.” – Mike Stern - Jazz/Fusion, Crown Artist in Residence 2014

Dweezil Zappa shares his equipment, set-up and playing secrets during his two-hour Rock workshop.

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For the Crown Guitar Workshop & Festival, 2015 was truly a transformative year as the dream of supportinga new generation of outstanding guitar artists became a full-fledged reality. Every hour of each day thecamaraderie and collaboration was palpable between the eight very talented fellowship students, 70 workshopparticipants, 16 regional scholarship winners and nine faculty members. The twelve world-class guitarists whoparticipated as Artists-in-Residence gave once-in-a-lifetime musical performances – teaching, inspiring and fullyengaging in a chock-full week of life-changing activities. The Crown’s buzz has now reached the top musicalcircles from Nashville to LA to NYC to Tokyo and London.

Highlights of the 2015 Crown Guitar Workshop:• We increased the involvement level of each Artist-in-Residence (AIR), who both perform on the CrownFestival Stage and participate in the educational aspects of the workshop. In previous years, AIR's have taughthour-long Master Classes, but in 2015 several of our AIRs taught week-long workshops providing studentsfull access to their insights and guidance while fulfilling our long-term ‘collaboration’ goal.• Dweezil Zappa demonstrated his dedication to the Crown’s mission by teaching a ‘Play with the Masters’workshop resulting in a Friday night student performance that featured Dweezil’s ‘guitar orchestra’ delightingboth audience and students.• Celebrated Brazilian guitar legend Romero Lubambo,presented the ‘Brazilian Emerges in Montana’ offeringstudents everything from bossa nova to samba andthe intricacies of straight ahead jazz.• The entire Los Angeles Guitar Quartet co-taught‘Classical Guitar Perfected’ focusing on styles, effectsand their own personalized techniques. Noted for theirability to cross genres, the LAGQ led a classical workshopthat even included a little ‘Zappa’ flavor.• ‘The Art of Songwriting’ taught by faculty memberBret Boyer was taken to new heights. AIRs Brett Dennenand Madeleine Peyroux joined in daily instruction,offering participants unparalleled access to these twosongwriting icons.• Workshop classes this year took on a whole newlevel of professional and artist collaboration, culminating in a free four-hour public concert on Friday night.All the performances by students and artists were augmented by a live back-up band providing another rockingnight of music on the Crown Festival Stage.• Eight Crown Guitar Fellowships were awarded, including: the Zappa Family Fellowship, Wes Montgomery/LeeRitenour Fellowship, James Stroud All-Ohio Classical Guitar Fellowship, Hawaii Fellowship, Seattle/EMP MuseumFellowship, D’Addario Fellowship, Chairman’s Fellowship and Guitar Foundation of America Fellowship. Inaddition, five Salish Kootenai College scholarships were awarded to SKC students, one Flathead Lake BrewingCompany Scholarship went to a Bigfork resident while eleven other local scholarships went to deservingstudents and teachers throughout the Flathead Valley. These Fellowships and Scholarships keep our six-yeartradition of a local, regional, national and international mix alive.

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2015: CROWN VISION 2020 5-YEAR PLAN COMES INTO FOCUS

There’s this magical place called Bigfork, Montana, where they hold a weeklong guitar workshop and festival.If you get invited – GO! – 2013 Crown Artist-in-Residence Mac McAnally

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Highlights of the2015 Crown GuitarFestival:• During the opening concert theLos Angeles Guitar Quartet, aGrammy-winning classical guitargroup, presented the worldpremier of Marmux Buhdardux,a composition written for themby Dweezil Zappa.• Special guests made for magicalmoments. Making appearanceson stage and in classrooms were:India Carney - a finalist on TheVoice, Andy Aledort - a Hendrixexpert and writer for GGG, andRobert Montgomery, son of jazzguitar icon Wes Montgomery -representing the WesMontgomery family.

• The Festival Tent meadow was enlivened by pre-show musical performances featuring collaborations byfaculty artists and students adding to the nightly performances.• During his 6th annual concert, Lee Ritenour released his latest album Twist of Rit, which hit #1 on the Billboardchart that week and has received 5 Grammy nominations.

Highlights of the 2015 Crown Pre-Festival Activities:• ‘Strum and Drum’ held in March at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, Montana, was a benefit concert tosupport the launch of a new guitar education program at SKC that was organized by the Crown of theContinent Guitar Foundation and the Salish Kootenai College Foundation (SKCF).• ‘Live! In Lakeside’ held in July was part of the catalyst for our neighboring community of Lakeside to launcha new venue and build community support, resulting in an upgraded bandstand and the ability to share musicin a family friendly environment.• Crown fellowship students Leandro Pellegrino, Phil Goldenberg, Shem Kawahai’i and Jose Daniel – all youngartists with world-class potential, toured and taught across the Valley the week prior to the workshop andfestival, providing the community a clear vision of the international talent nurtured by the Crown FellowshipProgram.• India Carney, a recent finalist on the popular NBC TV show The Voice, presented an assembly for BigforkHigh School students, much to their delight.

The Crown Guitar Workshop & Festival’s goal is to make a difference in the lives of everyone we touch. Thisyear’s incredible music, amazing settings and venues, world-class education, once-in-a-lifetime experiences andtrue partnerships/collaborations helped us reach our goal. As one alumnus was overheard saying, “Crown is now in my blood and soul, it gives me a new level of energyevery year and I will always come and forever remember these weeks on the Flathead in the Crown Tent!”

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INTO THE FUTURE

“In six short years the Guitar Foundation has put Bigfork and the Flathead Valley on the international Guitarmap!” exclaims founder/chairman David Feffer. “We started with big dreams and have achieved many of themfar sooner than we had expected. We’ve created a special and unique celebration of the guitar, one that’sbuilding a community of people with a passion for this most universal of all musical instruments. We are proudand excited about our future and we humbly invite you to share this magical journey with us.”

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GONZALO BERGARA Django/Gypsy Jazz

SOLODUO Classical

2016 CROWN GUITAR ARTISTS

STAY TUNED – MORE ARTISTS TO COME!

LEE RITENOURJazz Legend

BRENT MASONCountry Rock

JULIAN LAGE & CHRIS ELDRIDGEJazz and Americana

DWEEZIL ZAPPARock Fusion

LIZ LONGLEY Country Singer-Songwriter

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Photography: Michael Roessmann, Brenda Ahearn, William Feffer, Chris Gill, Steve Pickel, Monty Sanford, Gravity Shots, John Stalowy Productions

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