Ross Mann
Classical Guitarist, Chamber Musician, Educator

 Email:  ross @ rossmannguitar.com
or send me a note here!

(215)893-0659

http://www.rossmannguitar.com
Education
  • M.M., 2000 
          Cleveland Institute of Music, Cleveland, OH
  • B.M., cum laude, 1998
          Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 

Primary Instructors

  • John Holmquist, 1998 - 2000
  • John Sutherland,  1994 - 1998
  • Edward Wier,  1988 - 1994

Masterclasses/Festivals

  • Masterclasses with: Eduardo Fernandez,  Sharon Isbin, Ricardo Cobo, Antigoni Goni,  Paul Galbraith, Jason Vieaux, David Tannenbaum, Richard Stone (Lute and Baroque era performance), Alice Artzt,  Sergio Assad
  • IARGUS 2006 & 2007 - International Annual Russian Guitar Seminar.  A gathering addressing the history and repertoire of the Russian 7-string guitar (tuned D-G-B-D-G-B-D)  with concerts, masterclasses and lectures presented by:          Oleg Timofeyev, Vadim Kolpakov, John Schneiderman,  Matanya Ophee and others.
  • Aspen Music Festival and School - 2003,  Aspen, CO July 18 - August 17, 2003
  • Gitarrenfestspiele Nürtingen,  Nürtingen, Germany (July 30 - August 8, 1998).
    Participated in ensembles and masterclasses with  Marco Socias, Thomas Muller-Pering, Jonathan Leathwood, Andrew York.
  • Corsi Internazionali di Chitarra, Trivero, Italy (July 15 - 29, 1998)
  • Recitals and coachings with Angelo Gilardino, Luigi Biscaldi, Tilman Hoppstock
  • Christopher Parkening Masterclass - Montana State Univ. - Bozeman, MT (July 30 - August 3, 1997).

Awards

  • American String Teachers Association National Solo Competition 
              First Prizewinner,  Guitar Division,  May 2002.

  • National Federation of Music Clubs Agnes Fowler/Mary V. Thiesen Award 
              First Prizewinner, Guitar division,  March, 2001

  • PA Federation of Music Clubs Student Auditions, Guitar division 
              First Prizewinner,  January, 2001

  • Michael and Amelia Ablan Guitar Award
              Cleveland Institute of Music,  2000 

  • OH Federation of Music Clubs Student Auditions, Guitar division 
               First Prizewinner, Ohio and NE Region - January, 1999

  • Performance Scholarship 

          Cleveland Institute of Music,  1998 - 2000 

Teaching Experience

Higher Education

  • Curriculum Development: Bucks County Community College:   Guitar minor,  first offered Spring 2005.   Introduction to World Music, first offered Fall 2006.
  • Spring 2001 - Present.  Bucks County Community College. Dept. of the Arts/Music Area.    434 Swamp Rd.  Newtown, PA 18940 (215)968-8088.                              Adjunct professor of music. Courses include:  Introduction to Music (MUSC 101),      Intro to World Music     (MUSC103),  American Music    (MUSC 105),  and   Class Guitar (MUSA 167) in both full 15-week semesters and brief summer/intersession schedules as well as applied guitar instruction and chamber ensembles.
  • Summer 2005 - Spring 2006.  Cumberland County College,  College Dr. Vineland, NJ.  Adjunct professor of music.  Private guitar instruction and chamber ensembles.

Community / Pre-college instruction
  • June 2000 - Present.  Settlement Music School - W. Philadelphia and Jenkintown Branches : Associate staff, Guitar  -     416 Queen St, Philadelphia, PA 19147  (215)320-2620
  • June 2000 - Present.  Temple University: Music Preparatory Division:  Guitar faculty.  Private and class guitar instruction.  1515 Market St, 5th Floor  Philadelphia, PA 19103  (215)204-1512
  • June 2000 - June 2003.  Haddonfield School of Performing Arts, Haddonfield, NJ:  Guitar faculty
  • August 1998 - June 2000.  Guitar faculty     Riverside Academy of Music  1414 Riverside Dr.  Cleveland, OH 44107
  • August 1998 - June 2000.  Guitar instructor    Motter’s Music House     5228 Mayfield Rd.  Cleveland, OH  44124
  • September 1997 - July 1998  :  Guitar instructor       Decatur School for the Arts First Baptist Church of Decatur, GA
  • December 1992 - Present   Maintained a private studio in which I have been fortunate enough to work with a diverse body of  students and have been successful with a wide variety of pupils including :  Beginning to advanced students from 6 - 86,  visually and aurally impaired students,  Students for whom English is a second language,  Successfully prepared students for performances, masterclasses and collegiate music program auditions.
Other teaching experience
  • November 20, 2004 - Presented a masterclass for guitar students at the University of Texas in McAllen, TX.
  • April 13, 2004 - Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival.  Presented a lecture entitled,   “Arranging for the guitar” addressing transcription and arrangements of works found in sources ranging from ancient tablatures to contemporary songbooks for performers at all levels.
  • November 10, 2003 - Presented a masterclass for classical guitar students at Mansfield University, Mansfield, PA.
  • Fall 2003 - Present.   Served as a founding assistant director of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society’s volunteer guitar orchestra.  Completed arrangements for and directed the ensemble in a variety of works for as many as 25 guitars in 4 - 6 parts in rehearsals and performances at the PCGS annual festival and elsewhere.
  • Spring 1998,   Developed a seminar on composing for the guitar for professional and student composers, 1998.
  • Fall 1997, Developed a music theory/ear training program and booklet for private guitar students.    

Research and Publications

  • The Yoshimasa Wada Guitar music collection - Philadelphia Free Library”  Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Newsletter,  2002
  • “The Music of South America and the Guitar”   Soundboard,  Vol. 27, no. 1,  (Summer 2000) Completed a study of Latin American music, particularly the folk, popular, and art music traditions of Brazil and Argentina along with the Guitar’s role in their development under the advisement of Dr. Mary Davis.   Stressed the tri-ethnic makeup of South American music and culture,  described the syncretism that occurred between diverse musical traditions and the incorporation of folk and popular musics by Art music composers in South America.   Presented a Lecture Recital on the material with works from the folk, popular, and art music traditions. 
  • Fall 1999 Undertook a study of Schenkerian Analysis with Dr. Susan Tepping.   Studied standard repertoire in addition to a final paper analyzing a series of guitar works by Manuel Ponce. 
  • Fall 1997 Completed and performed transcriptions and arrangements for solo guitar and guitar ensembles. These include J.S. Bach’s solo violin Partita in d,  Ginastera’s Danzas Argentinas,  Manuel de Falla’s concert suite from El Sombrero de tres picos (The three-cornered hat),  Lute works by Charles Mouton, G. Kapsperger,  and many more. 

Computer Applications  and Technology

      I have used both Windows PC and Macintosh platforms extensively and am familiar with system configurations and operation for the personal computer as well as machines operating in a network.   Some relevant applications  for which I have received training or have attained proficiency with are: 
  • Finale (to Ver. Finale 2000),  Coda’s industry standard musical notation application.
  • Cakewalk,  Performer - Two popular MIDI sequencing applications. 
  • SoundForge, Goldwave, Pro Tools - Digital Audio Editing applications. 
  • Internet Media,  including Digital Audio formats and Internet Publishing - Capable of providing course materials (scores, Midi, Audio, and images) on the WWW.
  • Sound Synthesis  - Both Software and Hardware  (Roland keyboards) synthesis.
  • For an undergraduate level Introduction to Technology in Music,   I would hope to cover Finale,   MIDI   hardware and software configuration, MIDI sequencing,  and perhaps Internet publishing or additional digital media.

Performance Experience

- Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society - November 11, 2007 - Professional members showcase

- Bucks County Community College,  Newtown, PA  October 9, 2007

- Cumberland County College
   Vineland, NJ  November 1, 2005

- Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society - 2005 Annual Festival
   Recital with Michael Zimmerman, sax. April 10, 2005

- University of Texas/Brownsville & Univ. of Texas/Pan American NOV 19 & 20, 2004

- Concerts  by Candlelight with Musicaal Tempest (2 fl./gtr.), 
  Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May, NJ -  July 20, 2004

- Mansfield University,  Mansfield, PA  November 10, 2003

-Concerts by Candlelight with Musical Tempest,
  Chalfonte Hotel, Cape May, NJ - August 26, 2003

- Aspen Opera Ctr, Wheeler Opera House, Aspen, CO   “Beatrice and Benedict” by H. Berlioz  featuring the guitarist on stage and in costume  August 11, 14 & 16, 2003

- The Listening Room - Dreamcatcher Guitars, Roswell, GA - August 22, 2003

- Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. ("Live in the Plaza") with
      Musical Tempest - May 18, 2003

- Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia - March 11, 2003

- Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society; Jaanuary 12, 2003

- Old Pine Street Church concert series, Musical Tempest - September 29, 2002

- August Art 2002;  Raw Space Studios,,  New York, NY  August 30, 2002

- PA Federation of Music Clubs 2002 Conventtion;  Pittsburgh, PA,  May 31, 2002

- Calvary Presbyterian Church, Wyncote, PA &  St. Thomas Church, Philadelphia, PA 
     January 26, 2002 & April 21, 2002,    Recital with Barbara Di Toro, Soprano. 
     Featuring works by Faure,  Ravel,  Villa-Lobos,  Dowland, Ginastera et al.

- Matinee Musical Club of Philadelphia,  November 11, 2001

- Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society - 2nd annual Guitar Festival.   April 1, 2001

- Bucks County Community College.  Newwtown, PA;    February 7, 2001.

- Delaware Art Museum. Wilmington, DE;  November 15, 2000 

- Featured in a symposium with Samuel Adler performing his chamber work, “Ports of Call”   
     for guitar and two violins.    CIM New Music Ensemble.  Cleveland, OH; April 8, 2000. 

- Lecture Recital: “The Music of South America”   Case Western Reserve University, 
     Harkness Chapel,  CWRU.  Cleveland, OH;   11/18/99.

- Erie Classical Guitar Society  ;   Lakewood Un. Methodist Church, 
     Erie, PA; November 17, 1999. 

-Solo Recital.  OH Federation of Musiic Clubs, District IV Conference 
     Marion, OH;  April 11, 1999 

-Solo Recital.  OH Federation of Musiic Clubs, District I Conference  
   Carrolton, OH;   April 22, 1999 

-Degree Recitals. Cleveland Institute of Music.  Cleveland, OH;
    March 5, 1999, April 27, 2000. 

-Participated in the world premiere of  Hamsa for guitar orchestra by Roland Dyens  under the direction of the composer ~ concluding the Gitarrenfestspiele Nürtingen.  Nurtingen, Germany;   August 5, 1998. 

-Degree Recitals.  Georgia State University,  Atlanta, GA;  November 16, 1997, June 6, 1998

-Freelance performance, including both eduucational and outreach programs, 1995 - Present.

Radio 

  • Riverside Academy of Music  Faculty Recitals. February 21, 1999 & February 20, 2000.   Broadcast live on Cleveland’s WCLV 95.5.
  • Selections from recent concert recordings broadcast on "Radio Cultura"           Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.   February, 2000.

Professional Association Memberships

  • Guitar Foundation of America
  • American String Teachers Association
  • Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, board member

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