Benjamin Verdery is a brilliant performer who possesses an astonishing technique; is a skilled arranger and composer; a gifted teacher; and a creative programmer. Guitar Review described this New York based guitarist as “an American original, an American master”.
A graduate of SUNY Purchase, he studied with Philip deFremery and Frederic Hand, and performed in master classes with Leo Brouwer and Alirio Diaz. He has also worked closely with keyboard virtuosi, Anthony Newman, Mary Jane Newman and Seymour Bernstein. Mr. Verdery’s career has taken him all over the World. He has participated in festivals such as the International Guitar Festival Havana, Cuba; Theatre Carre, Amsterdam; South Bank Festival, London; Colorado Music Festival; the National Guitar Summer Workshop; the American Fingerstyle Festival; the Academix 10 International Guitar Happening in Belgium; and the 3rd Classical Guitar Festival of Great Britain. He has played in all the major cities, including NewYork City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Miami. Mr.Verdery has appeared on BBC Radio 3, PBS, Morning Pro Musica and WNYC’s New Sounds.
A recording artist since 1978, his recordings for the Newport Classics label include: Reverie, French Music for Flute & Guitar (1986); Ride the Wind Horse, a collection of American guitar music (1991) and Some Towns and Cities (winner of 1992 Best Classical recording in Guitar Player Magarine) with special guests Leo Kottke, Frederic Hand, John Williams and Paco Peña (1991). In addition, in 1991 Sony Classical released John Williams’s Vivaldi Concertos, that includes the Concerto for Two Mandolins in G Major (transcribed for two guitars) with Benjamin Verdery and the Liszt Chamber Orchestra. He recorded Two Generations of Bach for the Musical Heritage Society with Anthony Newman conducting, which includes two concerti transcribed for guitar and orchestra by Mr. Verdery. In the Spring of 1994, the Guitarra label released his recording J.S. Bach, Transcriptions far Guitar.
Benjamin Verdery is also recognized for his unique approach to guitar instruction. His enthusiasm and exceptional ability for teaching can be seen in his video, The Essentials of Classical Guitar, produced by the National Guitar Workshop, and in his many columns for Guitar Player Magazine.
Benjamin Verdery is currently on the faculties of Yale University and the Centro Flamenco Paco Peña in Cordoba, Spain. He resides in NewYork with his wife Rie Schmidt, their son John and daughter Mitsuko. (1994)