Fred Benedetti
Peter Sprague
Mack Leighton
Monday, March 25, 2024
12 PM
Fred Benedetti
Fred Benedetti was born in Sasebo, Japan, and began playing the guitar at the age of 9. In 1986 he was one of the 12 guitarists chosen worldwide to perform in the Master Class of Andres Segovia at USC where Guitarra Magazine wrote:
"…Fred Benedetti amazed the audience with his performance of the Bach Chaconne..."
He has played 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. He is a full-time professor of music at Grossmont College where he is the head of the guitar studies program; he is part of the SDSU guitar program with colleagues Robert Wetzel and Sean Bassett. Fred is listed in the prestigious "Who's Who Among America's Teachers—2002" and received a "Most Influential Professor " 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.
According to JazzReview.com, “Danny Green is what evolution in jazz is all about, expressing the traits of those that came before him, with a style and panache that is all his own…an individual who expresses what is inside of him.”
Peter Sprague
Peter Sprague was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1955 into a musical family. They moved to Del Mar in 1963. He started playing guitar when he was 12 and attended a year of study at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan. In 1976 he moved to Boston, where he studied with Pat Metheny and classical guitarist Albin Zak. Returning to California in 1978, he formed a group called The Dance of the Universe Orchestra, featuring vocalist Kevyn Lettau.
Peter has recorded over 30 of his own albums and has been part of over 300 others. In addition to performing and recording, he recorded 4 albums with Charles McPherson and later established a long-standing performing and recording relationship with Chick Corea. He organized Corea’s music in book form for publishing and published a book of his own transcriptions of Corea’s piano solos.
In 1985 he accepted teaching positions at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood and at CalArts in Los Angeles and has published several books of his pedagogy and compositions. Peter has a recording studio where he records, produces, and composes.
Mack Leighton
Bassist Mackenzie Leighton is a bass player specializing in jazz and theater. He has worked with jazz legends Donald Brown and Geoffrey Keezer, as well as San Diego jazz heroes Peter Sprague and Gilbert Castellanos. Mack has also worked at many local theaters, including The Old Globe. In his career, he has performed in a wide range of styles and settings ranging from a one-off concert with tango master Raul Jaurena to a 6-week cruise ship residency with Grammy-winning bluesman Sugar Blue.
Free concerts at noon every Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every Monday at noon and last about an hour.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.
Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.