Album Notes

Distinguished as "one of the classical guitar world's most foremost personalities," by Classical Guitar Magazine, Benjamin Verdery has enjoyed an innovative and eclectic musical career. Since his 1980 New York debut with his wife, flutist Rie Schmidt, Verdery has performed worldwide, including the International Guitar Festival (Havana); Festival International de Agosto (Caracas); Theatre Carré (Amsterdam); Chichester Cathedral (England); Bad Urach Schubert Festival (Germany), the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the Ambassador Theater in Los Angeles, and concerts in Australia, Japan, Korea and Singapore. He has recorded and performed with such diverse artists as Frederic Hand, William Coulter, Leo Kottke, Anthony Newman, Jessye Norman, Paco Peña, Hermann Prey, Andy Summers and John Williams. Several composers have composed music for him, including Daniel Asia, John Anthony Lennon, Ingram Marshall, Anthony Newman, Roberto Sierra, Van Stiefel and Jack Vees. Verdery has released over 15 albums, his most recent, Branches (Mushkatweek) features arrangements of works by Bach, Mozart, Strauss, Hendrix and the traditional ”Amazing Grace.” His recording, Start Now (Mushkatweek), won the 2005 Classical Recording Foundation Award. A prolific composer, many of Benjamin Verdery’s compositions have been performed by artists such as John Williams, David Russell and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. Mr. Verdery’s compositions are published by Doberman-Yppan. In addition to his solo tours, recording and teaching, Verdery performs with guitarist Bill Coulter (Bill & Ben), his ensemble Ufonia and with flutist Rie Schmidt (Schmidt/Verdery Duo). Since 1985, Verdery has been chair of the guitar department at the Yale University School of Music. In 2004, the Yale University Music Library commissioned Ingram Marshall to compose a work for classical and electric guitars, Dark Florescence which he performed with Andy Summers at Carnegie Hall. He is also Artistic Director of the Yale Guitar Extravaganza and the “Art of the Guitar” series at the 92nd Street Y.