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The Rancho Bernardo Friends of the Library
Present
Eclectic Guitar Duo
October 22, 2014 (Wednesday) at 6:15 p.m.
Fred Benedetti & George Svoboda have been playing together for over 25 years. They are known as engaging and entertaining performers
whose tunes can stir up emotions in the deepest corners of the soul. Their music ranges from peaceful melancholy to cascades of furious
flamenco rasgueados. They are not only performers, but have also gained recognition as composers and arrangers of music. Their music
has won them consistent praise from audiences, musicians and critics alike.
About the Artists:
Fred Benedetti was born in Sasebo, Japan and began playing the guitar at age 9. In 1986, he was one of 12 guitarists chosen
worldwide to perform in the Master Class of Andrés Segovia at USC. He has been a performer for the master classes of Pepe
Romero and Christopher Parkening. Fred has performed in the United States, England, Germany, the Czech Republic, Taiwan,
Canada, and Mexico and locally with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, the Starlight Opera, the American Ballet
Company and the Old Globe Theatre. He also performed with Luciano Pavarotti and jazz artist, Dave Brubeck. Fred is a full-time
professor of music at Grossmont College where he is chair of guitar studies and is a member of the guitar faculty at SDSU with
George Svoboda, Robert Wetzel and Celin Romero.
Equally at home playing classical music or contemporary music, he records on the SBE label and Domo Records with four noted
ensembles: Keltik Kharma (a celtic band), The Odeum Guitar Duo (recently given the honor by the Acoustic Guitar magazine as
being one of the ten best independently produced guitar CDs of 2000), Blurring the Edges (a recipient of the 1994 SDMA Best PopJazz album of the year featuring jazz musicians, Peter and Tripp Sprague), and the Benedetti/Svoboda Guitar Duo.
George Svoboda has been heard in recital in his native Czechoslovakia, England, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Austria, Mexico and
the United States. He has gained recognition not only as an immaculate and entertaining performer, but also as a composer and
arranger of music for solo guitar, small ensembles and large orchestras. His music is rooted in the folk traditions of Eastern Europe
and his transcriptions have won him consistent praise from musicians and critics alike. He is also a member of the well-known
Second Avenue Klezmer Ensemble.
George has been teaching at San Diego City Schools as an Artist in Residence, guitar instructor at Mesa College and Grossmont
College, and is a faculty member at CSU San Marcos and SDSU. He has also published successful instructional books on classical
guitar technique. Born in Cheb, Czech Republic and now residing in San Diego, George studied guitar and history of music at the
State Conservatory of Music in Pilsen, Czech Republic. He received his Bachelor Degree in Music at SDSU in 1996 and his
Masters Degree in Music in 1998.
The duo’s compact discs, Scirocco-Desert Wind and Zephyr, are a fascinating blend of music with Slavic, Latin, Indian and Middle
Eastern influences. Their recent CDs, Flamenco Dreams and Spanish Gardens are in the Flamenco Noeveau style.
Free will offering is greatly appreciated ♦ Children 7 yrs. & older are welcome to attend with their parent
To contact us, send an e-mail to [email protected] ♦ Full concert series posted on www.friendsoftheranchobernardolibrary.org
Rancho Bernardo Branch Library
17110 Bernardo Center Dr ♦ (858) 538-8163