ERIC DESPARD – classical guitar
Heralded as a “talented classical guitarist” by the Times of Trenton, and a “wonderful flamenco guitarist” by Berkshireonstage.com, guitarist Eric Despard performs extensively throughout North America as a soloist and with various chamber ensembles. His dynamic solo concert programs include “The Latin Guitar” featuring Spanish, Latin and South American guitar composers and “World Guitar” featuring music and transcriptions of composers from around the world. In addition to solo classical guitar concerts, Eric regularly performs with various jazz, blues, and rock groups throughout the Northeast.
Eric’s commitment to New Music has also been highlighted with four regional tours with the Progression Ensemble. The Progression Ensemble under Music Director Rocco Jerry has commissioned and premiered over 20 works by as many composers.
His passion for accessible community music and arts education led to a five year position as the Executive Director of the Bennington Music School. Eric holds and undergraduate degree from the Hartt School of Music and a graduate degree from the Yale School of Music. At Hartt he studied with Alan Spriestersbach and Richard Provost and at Yale he studied with Benjamin Verdery. Eric has performed in masterclasses for Sharon Isbin, Elliot Fisk, Eduardo Fernandez, and David Russell. He has taught guitar at the Turtle Bay Music School, Rutgers Community Music Program, the Westminster Conservatory, the Bennington Music School, and the Community College of Vermont.
Eric was an Affiliate Artist at Middlebury College and an Instructor of Guitar at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He also was an Associate Professor of the Humanities and was the Music Director at Southern Vermont College where he taught music history, music theory, concert jazz band, choir, and related performance classes. In addition to music courses, he also taught core art classes and was appointed as the Executive Director of the Laumeister Art Center. Students from his private studio have been accepted to the Boston Conservatory, Crane School of Music, SUNY Fredonia, Ithaca College, William Patterson University, the University of Vermont, and the Berkelee College of Music.
Eric is currently the Director of Cultural Arts at the University of Houston-Clear Lake.
This website is supported in part by Vermont Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Please support both of these organizations to keep the arts vibrant in Vermont and throughout the United States!
For booking information please contact Eric at edespard@comcast.net