FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday [ ... ]
By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]
By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]
By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Well-Traveled Guitarist Eager to Visit Sitka
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Brad Richter’s touring schedule, charity work and studies with some of the best guitar players in the business have taken him around the world.
But at age 49, he said, he’s definitely feeling the draw of Alaska.
“You never know when you’ll have another opportunity,” said the Tucson, Arizona, resident. “It’s something I would be disappointed if I didn’t get to see it in my lifetime.”
Guitarist Brad Richter, a Tucson musician, will play in Sitka 7 p.m. Saturday at the Performing Arts Center. The show is one of three stops in Alaska. (Photo provided)
Richter will play a solo concert 7 p.m. Saturday at the Performing Arts Center. The show is presented by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp.
The Sitka show is the kickoff of a three-stop tour of what Richter considers to be the most scenic locations in Alaska – Sitka, Haines and Valdez.
“I really love nature, and it was a call to the Alaska Frontier – it’s one of the most beautiful places on Earth,” he said. “And I wanted to see Sitka, Haines and Valdez in particular.”
Fine Arts Camp Director Roger Schmidt said he was contacted by Richter’s representative, and jumped at the opportunity for Sitka audiences to hear an accomplished guitarist and composer who takes some of the inspiration for his own work from nature.
“He’s just an incredible guitar player,” Schmidt said. “He spends a lot of time in the desert, and a lot of time remotely, which gives him inspiration. (The pieces) are just really beautiful.”
Schmidt’s research also told him Richter is among the leading classical guitarists in the world.
The Oklahoma-born Richter first picked up a guitar at age 12, after saving enough money from mowing lawns to purchase one. He was self-taught at that point, playing mostly rock music, when he was drawn more toward classical music around age 15 or 17.
Richter was also lucky to live in the same town, Enid, as acoustic guitar legend Michael Hedges,
“Seeing him play set me on a different trajectory in getting me interested in something other than what I was teaching myself to do,” Richter said.
He turned more toward classical and folk-rock, moved to Los Angeles, and played in a rock band, but knew he wanted to take his art and technique further.
Richter auditioned for the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, where he won a full scholarship to “dive completely” into classical guitar and composition.
After earning his undergraduate degree, he went on to study at the Royal College of Music in London for his master’s degree, studying with one of the best technicians and players in the world, Carlos Bonell.
Twenty years after Richter finished his studies, the two played and toured together.
“I was really excited and honored by that,” Richter said. “It was fun and a learning experience to play with him.”
In an interview on Thursday, Richter described his style today as “something between classical, folk and American finger-style guitar.”
Sitkans can expect a few audience-pleasing novelty tricks with the guitar alongside a lineup of his version of Stephen Foster’s “Hard Times Come Again No More”; songs inspired by the Colorado River; a mash-up of “House of the Rising Sun,” “Scarborough Fair” and “Greensleeves”; and compositions by Francisco Tarrega and Paraguayan composer Agustín Pío Barrios, among others.
“I take music very seriously but I want people to have fun, and laugh, and not take it all seriously,” Richter said.
Schmidt said he was also interested in Richter’s outreach work with rural youths in the West through his organization Lead Guitar.
When Richter was about 30, he played a concert in Page, Arizona, on the edge of the Navajo reservation, where he met a group of Navajo boys, who had taught themselves to play classical guitar.
“I started going to the school as a volunteer to help write a curriculum, and worked with the teachers and students,” Richter said.
Living in the West, and playing in a number of remote areas, Richter could see how few resources there were, and also that the guitar was a popular instrument with the kids.
“In the guitar class, it seemed like they weren’t treated with the same seriousness as other music classes,” Richter said. “This gives them some of the same quality of music education – music education, music theory, ensemble playing, reading music – things we know help the brain and help with math and science.”
Schmidt said he’s interested in giving Sitkans a high-quality show, in line with Sitka Fine Arts Camp’s goal of offering a variety of shows on campus and at the Performing Arts Center. The schedule for the year so far includes hip-hop, classical, musical theater, country music and rock.
“Great music transcends all styles,” Schmidt said. “We’re trying to bring in all kinds of styles but make sure it’s all really great. We want to provide more opportunities for listeners.”
Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for youths, available at Old Harbor Books and the door.
Login Form
20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....