Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival & Competition 2009
Contact: Larry Aynesmith, 775-338-1671
www.sierraguitar.org
sierraguitar@yahoo.com

Incline Village, NV: For immediate release

Imagine a warm August day, sitting on the beautiful lawn of one of Tahoe's first lakefront mansions, listening to the sounds of world-class classical guitarists.

That's what the Sierra Nevada Guitar Society and the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society envision as they team up to create what they hope will be an internationally renowned guitar festival and competition. The Festival occurs August 7-8 in the arts district of downtown Reno, and August 9 at the spectacular Thunderbird Lodge on the shores of Lake Tahoe.

A grant from Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, along with funding from Nevada Arts Council, City of Reno Arts Council, and the D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts, will help make that vision a reality.

Creating a signature event that attracts regional and international visitors is the goal of the Sierra Nevada Guitar Society. Its two previous events have grown steadily, but the Society is seeking the spectacular. The Thunderbird Lodge may offer just the right venue.

The amazing property, once summer home of wealthy eccentric George Whittell, was designed by Nevada's prominent architect, Frederic DeLongshamps in 1936. It sits on a beautiful spit of land with uncompromised views of Lake Tahoe. The mansion is packed with intriguing outbuildings, tunnels and technological curiosities of the day.

Preserving this unique estate, which sits on 10,000 acres of lakefront land, is the mission of the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society. Sharing its Tahoe history and beauty is the goal of the "Celebrating Our Heritage and Culture at the Thunderbird Lodge" program.

Melding the goals of these two organizations seemed a natural fit, and the Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival & Competition was launched. The festival is described as "a world class event occurring in one of the world's most beautiful and unique structures, surrounded by one of the world's most beautiful and fragile environments at Lake Tahoe, dedicated to one of the world's most beautiful and fragile musical instruments, the humble yet profoundly aesthetically moving classical guitar."

Visiting artists for the Festival include world renowned guitarist Ricardo Cobo along with rising stars Evan Hirschelman, Arina Bruceva and Hunter Mah. Regional artists and lecturers will also be featured.

The culminating day of the festival will be August 9^th, where a full day of concerts, educational events, and a classical guitar competition with a $3000.00 first prize will be offered at the Thunderbird Lodge. So save the date, August 9^th. It will be music to your ears.

For further information see:

Sierra Nevada Guitar Society
www.sierraguitar.org

Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society
www.thunderbirdlodge.org

Ricardo Cobo
www.ricardocobo.com

Evan Hirschelman
www.theguitarist.net

Arina Burceva
www.arinaburceva.com

Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation
www.parasol.org

Larry Aynesmith
President, Sierra Nevada Guitar Society
www.larryaguitar.com

# # #