A Word or Two of Welcome
You have arrived at the website of Michael W. Hull, classical guitarist. For the benefit of those who wish to see/hear me play and for those who are hiring musicians for private events, I have included a performance schedule of all my public and private playing engagements. Public performances include restaurant gigs, coffee houses, recitals, university events such as music festivals and more. As you will see from my schedule, I stay busy. I would welcome the opportunity to provide the music for your wedding, dinner party or other special event. By all defintions, I am a classical musician. I work as a soloist and with various ensembles such as flute/guitar, violin/guitar, guitar duo or larger groups. However, in many settings, I provide thoughtful, tasteful jazz standards, blues and improvisation.
I invite you to visit the the links above. You will find some useful information, especially if you are an aspiring guitarist. Through the links, you have the opportunity to visit several colleges, read detailed blogs, listen to sample recordings, view pictures and more. If you wish to contact me, leave a message in the guestbook or e-mail me directly at mwhull4@juno.com. Welcome, enjoy your visits and check back often for updates...
Profile, biographical information
Originally from Wilmington, North Carolina
M.M. (Classical Guitar Performance)--Illinois State University; Graduate Assistant to Dr. Douglas Rubio
B.A. in Fine Arts/Music (Classical Guitar Performance)--University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Performances in the master classes of Christopher Parkening, Scott Tennant, Steve Brown, Michael Newman, Jason Vieaux, Martha Masters
Currently serve on the faculty of Bradley University and Illinois Central College
Served on the faculty of the Conservatory of Central Illinois (Champaign, IL) 1994--2005
President of the Central Illinois Guitar Society
Career highlights/Professional accomplishments: Performances at Illinois State University, Eureka College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Meredith College, Springfield College in Illinois, Springer Cultural Center (Champaign, IL), Cultural House of Vileyka, Belarus (former Soviet Union)
Founding of the Bradley University Guitar Ensemble in 1993 and the Illinois Central College Guitar Ensemble in 2005
Clinician (1993) and Director (2000, 2008) of the prestigious annual Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival
Commissioned, conducted and premiered the work Toccare, by Jeffrey Hoover (Guitar Orchestra)
Commissioned the work And God Rested, a piece written for guitar orchestra by composer Richard Harris
Commissioned and premiered Eventual Memories (Flute/Guitar), by Timothy Bowlby; Premiered Blue Wizard (Solo Guitar), by Jeffrey Hoover
Students, current and former: studies at prestigious music schools including Northern Illinois University, Eastman, Illinois State University, North Carolina School of the Arts and Berklee (Boston)
Former students as faculty members in various departments of colleges and universities: Lincoln Christian College, Lincoln College, Heartland College, The University of Illinois, Indiana University, The College of New Jersey and Rider University
MY INFLUENCES
Explanations: We all have many influences, no doubt. I have listed a number of them with various musical styles and categories in mind. The order of listing matters not. Let me just say that I have been mesmerized for many years by the atmospheric echoes of The Edge's guitars, the projection and power of Michael Lorimer's sound ( I also bought a great guitar from him in 1989), the musical expressions of Julian Bream, the amazing LAGQ, with their flair and absolute joy in performance, Miles Davis and his introspective tone/sound...and I could continue, of course.
Guitarists: Julian Bream, Andres Segovia, Michael Lorimer, The Assads, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, David Russell, Joe Pass, The Edge, Andy Summers, Antogoni Goni, Sharon Isbin, Julian Coryell...the list could go on and probably will from time to time.
Horn players: Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie.
Pianists: Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, McCoy Tyner.
Performance Schedule and Events
2006
March 28 Illinois Central College Choirs and Guitar Ensemble, Bradley University Guitar Ensemble, Nicole Long, flutist featured in Concert with Marija Temo, Guest Artist, Flamenco and Classical Guitar 7:30 P.M. Performing Arts Center, Campus of Illinois Central College (East Peoria, Illinois)
April 3 ICC and Bradley University Guitar Ensembles with other ensembles from various schools 7:30 P.M. Center for Performing Arts, Campus of Illinois State University Admission $7
April 4 Guitar Night, an informal concert featuring members of ICC and Bradley University Guitar Studios 7:30 P.M. Student Lounge, Campus of ICC
April 21 World Premiere of Jeffrey Hoover's Blue Wizard, for solo guitar 7:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
April 22 Performance with guitarists Erik Swanson and Phil Farwell 8--10 P.M. (Jazz, blues) Fusion Brew (Normal, Illinois)
April 23 Bradley University Guitar Ensemble Concert with Special Guests ICC Guitar Ensemble, Kate Hayes, soprano, Nicole Long, flutist 7:30 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center, Campus of Bradley University
April 29 Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo 2--6 P.M. (Jazz, blues) *Private Reception (Peoria, Illinois)
June 24 Performance with Christine Bock, violinist/violist at the Not in Our Town anti-racism event 6:30--7 P.M. (Bloomington, Illinois)
July 2 Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo 2:30--5 P.M. Wedding and Reception (Danvers, Illinois) *Private Event
September 14 Guitar Life Lecture with ICC guitarists Bill Cook and Dan Greuter 9:30 A.M. East Peoria Acadmeic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
October 3 Student/Faculty Departmental Recital/Lecture 7:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
October 17 Guitar Night, featuring members of the Illinois Central College Guitar Studio and Guests 7:30 P.M. Tranquility Room, ICC
October 25 Solo Performance, Recital Honoring the Delegation from Xiamen College, our sister college in China 2:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall *Private Concert
October 28 50th Year Celebration of Bradley University's Nursing Department, featuring the Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo 11-1 P.M. (Jazz, classical and blues), The Radisson Hotel (Peoria, Illinois) *Private Event
November 27 Peoria Charter Coach Employee Celebration, featuring the Illinois Central College Guitar Ensemble 7--7:20 P.M., The Radisson Hotel (Peoria, Illinois) *Private Event
November 28 ICC Guitar Ensemble Concert 7:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
November 30--December 3 Orchestral Guitarist in Grace Family Christmas Concert 7 P.M. (except for Sunday, December 3--4 P.M.), Grace Presbyterian Church (Peoria, Illinois)
December 2 Holiday Homes Tour, Delavan, Illinois 2:30--4 P.M.
December 3 Bradley University Guitar Ensemble Concert with Special Guest Alumni Kristin Whitaker, guitar; Long and Swanson Flute-Guitar Duo 7:30 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center, Campus of Bradley University
December 7--10 Peformance as the Troubadour, Limestone High School Madrigal Dinners 6 P.M. (except for Sunday, December 10--5 P.M.) (Bartonville, Illinois)
December 10 Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo, Salem Lutheran Church 8 and 10:30 A.M. services (Peoria, Illinois)
2007
March 25 Performance with Bradley University Guitar Ensemble and the 2007 Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival Orchestra, Indiana--Purdue University Fort Wayne (Fort Wayne, Indiana), Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival Walb Student Union 1 P.M.
March 27 Guitar Night, 7:30 P.M. Student Lounge, Campus of ICC
April 15 Performance with Wes Sedrel, Student Recital 7:30 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center
April 22 Bradley University Guitar Ensemble Concert 7:30 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center
April 24 ICC Guitar Ensemble Concert 7:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
August 11 Soloist, Wedding at Weaver Ridge Country Club (Peoria, Illinois) 6:30 P.M. *Private Event
August 19 Soloist, Reception at Delevan Methodist Church (Delevan, Illinois) 2--4 P.M. *Private Event
August 25 Soloist, Annual Event for Central Illinois FRIENDS of People with Aids, Methodist Atrium (Peoria, Illinois) 6--8 P.M. *Private Event
September 25 Soloist, Celebration of National Hispanic Month 12--12:30 P.M. East Peoria Campus Cafeteria, Illinois Central College
September 29 Wedding at Davis Lodge (Lake Bloomington), Performance with Violinist Christine Bock (Bloomington, Illinois) 3:30--4:45 P.M. *Private Event
September 29 Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo, Dessert Reception for Central Illinois FRIENDS of People with Aids, Methodist Atrium 8:15--10 P.M. (Peoria, Illinois) *Private Event
October 27 Solo Performance at the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages Conference (Luncheon), Abraham Lincoln Hotel (Springfield, Illinois) 12:30 P.M. *Private Event
October 28 Faculty Recital with special guest Erik Swanson, guitar 3 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center
November 3 Soloist, Wedding at Wildlife Prairie State Park (Hannah City, Illinois) 12:30 P.M. *Private Event
November 18 Bradley University Guitar Ensemble Concert 3 P.M. Dingeldine Music Center
November 24 Soloist, Wedding at Kickapoo Creek Winery (Edwards, Illinois) 3:30 P.M. *Private Event
November 25 Soloist, Salem Lutheran Church 8 and 10:30 A.M. services (Peoria, Illinois)
November 27 ICC Guitar Ensemble Concert 7:30 P.M. East Peoria Academic Bldg., ICC, Lecture/Recital Hall
December 2 Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo, Cosi Restaurant (Normal, Illinois) 5:30--8 P.M.
December 6--9 Performance as the Troubadour, Limestone High School Madrigal Dinners 6 P.M. (except for Sunday, December 9: 5 P.M.)
(Bartonville, Illinois)
December 10 Performance for the Normal Literary Center, Le Chateau Hotel, Bloomington, Illinois 7:45 P.M. *Private Event
December 14 Twin City Guitar Duo (formerly Hull/Swanson Guitar Duo), Cosi Restaurant (Normal, Illinois) 5:30--7:30 P.M.
December 21 Twin City Guitar Duo, Cosi Restaurant
December 28 Twin City Guitar Duo, Cosi
2008
January 4, 11, 18, 25 Twin City Guitar Duo, Cosi 5:30--7:30 P.M.
February 28 Bradley University Scholarship Luncheon, Student Center Ballroom 11:30--12:15 P.M. *Private Event
February 29--March 2: 2008 Mid-America Guitar Ensemble Festival, Dingeldine Music Center, Bradley University Campus 7:30 P.M., except for March 2--3 P.M. All concerts are free, excpet for March 1, which is free to students, $5 for the general public. I am not performing, but will be conduting a guitar orchestra on the March 2 concert.
April 20 Bradley University Guitar Ensemble Concert, Dingeldine Music Center, Bradley University Campus 7:30 P.M. Admission Free
April 22 ICC Guitar Ensemble Concert, East Peoria Academic Building, Lecture/Recital Hall, Room 127--F 7:30 P.M. Admission Free
April 26 Central Illinois Guitar Society--Inaugural Concert featuring guitarists Michael Hull, Erik Swanson, Michael Fields, Nicole Long (Flautist) and Lori Rider (Pianist) Salem Lutheran Church, Peoria, IL 7:30 P.M. Suggested Donation: $7
May 16 Twin City Guitar Duo, First Presbyterian Church of Normal, IL, Coffee House--Jazz 7 P.M. Admission Free
June 28 Twin City Guitar Duo, Wedding and Reception West Loop Studio Chicago , IL *Private Event
July 4 Twin City Guitar Duo, Wedding Grace Lutheran Church Springfiled, IL *Private Event
October 11 Twin City Guitar Duo, Wedding and Reception Mackinaw Vineyard Mackinaw, IL *Private Event
October 25 Solo Recital, Springfield Guitar Society Springfiled, IL
Matters of Business
My work consists of performing and teaching music. In addition to playing special events, I am available to travel throughout the United States to give masterclasses, clinics and recitals. Aspiring guitarists and those just looking for a hobby or musical background are invited to take lessons. I believe you will find the quality of my instruction informative, thorough and very professional. See the My Blog link for advice on how to practice and develop as a guitarist. I will update this very frequently, so feel free to throw questions and comments my way. I am very happy to speak with guitar players of all levels.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
I want to draw your attention to the following links--Players' Nails and Accessories. I have added these recently because a growing number of students are asking me about alternatives to natural fingernails. At this point, I have no products to sell, but I wish to provide you with pertinent information.
Beginning in the summer of 2008, I will be addressing some of the issues concerning fingernails as well as other topics on My Blog. As an aspiring guitarist, you need easy access to information on what steps to take for developing technique, repertoire, preparation for auditions, career development and much more. There are a number of archived blogs for you to view. Visit often and be informed.
As of Saturday, October 14, 2006, The Central Illinois Guitar Society is now in existence. Several of its members live in Bloomington and others live in Peoria. I am pleased to say that our first meeting was informative and productive. We are working hard toward establishing a presence in the area. Look for updates on our status in the near future.
The Central Illinois Guitar Society has been meeting for about eighteen months. We have had fun getting to know each other, playing and listening to music and making plans for future concerts. We had our first concert on April 26. Expect another one some time in the fall. We are working on getting our non-profit status at this point.