Fred Benedetti

Fred Benedetti, Director of Guitar Studies, 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 where Guitarra Magazine wrote, "...Fred Benedetti amazed the audience with his performance of the (Bach) Chaconne..." He has also been a performer for the master classes of Pepe Romero, Christopher Parkening, Federico Moreno-Torroba, George Sakellariou, and David Grimes. Fred has performed in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, England, Germany, Mexico, the Czech Republic, and locally with the San Diego Symphony, the San Diego Opera, the Starlight Opera, the American Ballet Company, the Old Globe Theatre, Luciano Pavarotti, and jazz artist Dave Brubeck.

Presently he teaches at Grossmont College where he is chair of guitar studies, and is a member of the guitar faculty at San Diego State University with George Svoboda, Robert Wetzel and Celin Romero. Fred is listed in the prestigious "Who's Who Among America's Teachers-2002" and received an "Outstanding Faculty Award of the Year in Music," in 2001 from SDSU, the "NISOD" Excellence in Teaching award from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992 and an "Outstanding Chair" award in 1990 from Grossmont College.

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 magazine, Acoustic Guitar, as being one of the ten best independently produced guitar CDs for the year 2000, "Blurring the Edges" a recipient of the 1994 San Diego Music Awards "Best Pop-Jazz" album of the year featuring jazz musicians Peter and Tripp Sprague, and the Benedetti/Svoboda Guitar Duo. As a BMI affiliated composer, Fred has written numerous contemporary pieces for the international CD library company Network Productions and as a studio musician for 20 years his playing is featured on over 60 CD's, numerous movie soundtracks, and TV commercials. He has shared the stage with Art Garfunkel, Basia, Michael Franks, Mark O'Connor, Michael Hedges, and Ottmar Liebert, and has recorded with Willie Nelson, Juice Newton, Paul Overstreet, Patty Loveless, Tom Barabas, Big Mountain, Matthew Lien, Ronny Robbins and William Lee Golden. He has performed for dignitaries such as the King & Queen of Malaysia, Mikhail Gorbachev and President Jimmy Carter.

Fred's academic experience includes being Associate Professor of Music, Grossmont College 1986 to Present. Full Time Tenured. His teaching assignments have included Music Theory 1-4, Classical Guitar 1-3, Class Guitar 1-2, Theory for Guitar 1-2, Guitar Ensemble, MIDI recording and sequencing, Music History. He is Head of Guitar Studies, Grossmont College Music Department 1986 to present. At San Diego State University, a Music Instructor from 1993 to Present. Fred was Chairman, Grossmont College Music Department 1989 to 1992, Music Instructor at the Bishop's School Guitar Instruction, 9/84 to 9/86.

Other experience includes • Young Audience Program Educational Concerts for Secondary Schools, 9/81 to 9/86 • Performance as guitar soloist, member of The Odeum Guitar Duo, member of The Benedetti/Svoboda guitar duo, member of "Blurring the Edges" jazz ensemble. 1980 to present. AWARDS: • Faculty member of the year, Music Department • San Diego State University, 2001 • Outstanding Music Educator Award, San Diego Mesa College, 1997 • NISOD Excellence in Teaching Award, University of Texas at Austin, 1992 • Outstanding Chair, Grossmont College 1990 • Performance tour with Grammy award winner Mark O'Connor, 2000-2001 • Performance for Mikhail Gorbachev, 1997 • Performance for the King & Queen of Malaysia , 1995 • Performance with Luciano Pavarotti and San Diego Symphony, San Diego, 1995 • Master class with Andrés Segovia, University of Southern California 1986 (One of twelve guitarists chosen worldwide) • Performances with Dave Brubeck Quartet, San Diego, 1983

Fred's pubilcations include: • Class Guitar II Haynach Music Publishing, 2001 • Music Theory for Guitar Haynach Music Publishing, 1989 • An Introduction to Class Guitar Haynach Music Publishing, 1988 CONCERTO REPERTOIRE: • Concierto de Aranjuez-J. Rodrigo • Fantasia Para une Gentilhombre-J. Rodrigo • Concierto Madrigal-J. Rodrigo • Concierto Andaluz-J. Rodrigo • Concerto in A - M. Giuliani • Concerto in E - J.S. Bach • Concierto Romantico - Craig Russell

Fred's recordings include: Fred Benedetti & Peter Pupping guitar duo, 1996 to Present • CD's: "Morning has Broken" 2000 "Here Comes the Sun" 1997 The Odeum Guitar Duo, 1995 to Present • CD'S: "Forgotten Romance" 2000 • "Concert Hall Classics" 1998 Winner of Acoustic Guitar magazine "Best Classical Recording" 2/15/2000 • The Benedetti/Svoboda Guitar Duo, 1985 to Present • CD'S: "Echoes of Spain" 2002 "Maestrale" 2001 "Spanish Gardens" 1999 "Flamenco Dreams" 1998 "Zephyr" 1996 "Scirocco" 1995 • BLURRING THE EDGES Contemporary Jazz Quartet, 1989 to Present CD'S: "Sombra" 2002 "Blurring the Edges" 1994 Winner "Best Pop-Jazz album of the Year" San Diego Music Awards 1994 • ARS NOVA Contemporary Jazz Quartet, 1989 to 1993 CD: "Ars Nova" 1992 • Zmiros Klezmer Quartet, 1982 to Present CD's: "Cholent with Huckleberry" 1978 "Eclectic Klezz" 1979 • Orion Guitar Duo, 1977 to 1984 Record Album: "The Orion Duo Performs" 1981 • Orion Guitar Quartet, 1975 to 1977 Record Album: "Works by Telemann, DeFalla, Rodrigo, and Others" 1977 • Additional CD's: featuring Fred Benedetti "The Guitar Ensemble II" "Keltik Kharma" "Alterations Garden" with Jeff Basile "Network Music-SOLOS-125" "Network Music-SOLOS-136" "Network Music-SOLOS-213 "Network Music-153" "Network Music-170" "Network Music-173" "Soliloquy" with Peter Sprague "In So Many Words" with Matt Lien "Touching the Earth" with Matt Lien "Voyage to Paradise" with Matt Lien "Bleeding Wolves" with Matt Lien "Night Orchestra" "The Stars Come Out for Christmas" "SONOR Ensemble-UCSD" "Acoustic Variations" "Nouveau Classical" with Tom Barabas

Fred's professional affiliations include: American Federation of Musicians, Local 325 BMI as writer and publisher: "Haynach Music"

Fred's related expertise includes: • Web-page designer and web-master for "Odeum Guitar Duo," "Benedetti & Svoboda," & "Keltik Kharma," web sites. • Expertise in Adobe GoLive, Adobe Premier, and Adobe Photoshop software. • Expertise in Digidesign's Pro Tools software for professional recording, editing, and mastering of 24 bit digital soundfiles including expertise in 5.1 surround mastering. • Co-founder of SBE records, a record company that has produced 35 CD's from 1994-2001

Mr. Benedetti has also been a founding member of the Grossmont College Music Department Faculty Jazz Quintet called Ars Nova.

Fred Benedetti has been a member of the Grossmont College Music Department faculty since 1985. His classes include class guitar, classical guitar, general music and guitar theory, and guitar ensemble.