Berit Strong Joins Music Department

The Department of Music is delighted to welcome a new member of the faculty: classical guitarist Berit Strong. For the winter and spring terms of 2023, Strong will teach Individual Instruction Program courses in classical guitar. We congratulate Berit and wish her a warm welcome to our musical community.

Berit Strong won a Top Prize in the 1988 Guitar Foundation of America International Competition which launched her international performing career. She has toured Europe several times, once with guitarist Alice Artzt, and then as a soloist, appearing in major festivals in Hungary, the former Yugoslavia, Italy, and Denmark. Ms. Strong has also performed solo recitals throughout the U.S., including the Cleveland Institute of Music, the University of Akron, Mechanics Hall in Worcester, Massachusetts and Jordan Hall in Boston.

Two of her recent accomplishments are performances of Daniel Pinkham's works at Northeastern University presented by the Boston Classical Guitar Society, and as featured soloist with the Wellesley Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Max Hobart in a performance of El Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo. She has also performed with pianist Virginia Eskin on NPR and at the Monadnock Music Festival. As a three-time special guest artist for the National Flute Association Congress, she gave world premieres and showcased competition winning pieces for flute and guitar. Her radio and television appearances include National Public Radio, WGBH Radio, Swissradio, Hungarian Radio, Belgrade Radio, and World Service International.

Audiences and critics alike have expressed enthusiasm for Ms. Strong's distinctive approach to classical music. Boston Globe critic Richard Dyer said that "Berit Strong was a colorful and commanding interpreter." Soundboard Magazine wrote, "Overall, Miss Strong displayed an intense and original musical personality with an outgoing and communicative stage presence."

Ms. Strong performed in master classes over a ten-year period with Oscar Ghiglia, and strives to continue his legacy as a teacher of dynamic interpretations and a holistic, injury-prevention approach towards guitar. Serious students, professionals and guitar teachers have consulted or studied privately with Ms. Strong. Some of her students have won competitions and have been placed in top-notch conservatories. From 1986 to 1988, she studied in Milan, Italy, with musicologist and conservatory professor Ruggero Chiesa, who helped her gain a deeper understanding of technique and musical styles.

Berit teaches privately in her home studio in Acton, at ArtSpace in Maynard, Massachusetts, and is on the faculties at Bridgewater State University, the Boston Conservatory of Music, and the Indian Hill Music Center in Littleton, Massachusetts. As the artistic director of the Boston Classical Guitar Society for six years, Ms. Strong restored its nonprofit status, and included in her concert series debut recitals of Paulo Bellinati and Juan Martin.

A new recording, Norwegian Landscape, was released by Clear Note Productions and features works inspired by nature from composers of the 19th century and 20th century post-Romantic era. It features music by Sor, Coste, Cullen, Tarrega, Panin, Sommerfeldt, and Cooperman.