Ben Verdery’s Maui Masterclass
1998-2023
From 1998 to 2023, Benjamin Verdery led one of the classical guitar world's most beloved and distinctive educational gatherings: an annual two-week masterclass held on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Over the course of its twenty-five-year run, the program drew students and performers from across the globe, offering an immersive experience that blended rigorous musical study with the natural beauty and spirit of the Hawaiian islands.
Each session brought together a select group of guitarists — ranging from advanced students to emerging professionals — who worked closely with Verdery and guest faculty in an intimate, intensive setting. The masterclass format allowed participants to refine their technique, broaden their repertoire, and absorb Verdery's deeply personal and wide-ranging musical philosophy, which embraced everything from the classical canon to contemporary composition and world music influences.
The two weeks culminated in a series of community performances at some of Maui's most cherished venues. Concerts were held at sites including the Lahaina Jodo Mission, a historic Japanese Buddhist temple overlooking the ocean; Keawala'i Church, a storied Hawaiian Congregational church nestled along the coastline in Mākena; and the Makawao Union Church, a beloved landmark in Maui's upcountry community. These performances transformed the masterclass into a gift to the local community, connecting classical guitar with the cultural and spiritual landscape of the island.
The Maui Masterclass became far more than a guitar program — it was, for many participants, a transformative life experience. The combination of Verdery's inspired and generous teaching, the close bonds formed among fellow musicians, and the profound sense of place that Maui provided gave the program a character unlike any other in the guitar world. Its twenty-five-year legacy stands as a testament to the power of music, mentorship, and place to shape an artist's life.
Videos
Classes
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Julian Gray
Ian O'Sullivan
Scott Tennant
Serap Bastepe-Gray
Simon Powis
Freddie Bryant
Thomas FlippinJiji
John Olson
Christopher Mallett
Michael Caracciolo
Emilia Díaz Delgado
Dave Friedman
Abhi Milind Gudipati
Thatcher Harrison
Luis Medina
Patricio Muñoz Quezada
Conor Padmanabhan
Nathan Park
Reade Park
Trent Park
Quinn Shumway
Arnav Singh
Brandon Wong
Anthony Bez
Marcus Delgado
Thomas Donahue
Joey Malvinni
Joel Mauger
Bob McAuley
Ashwin Naren
Helen Shi-Yuen
Tim Westwig -
Mark Eden, Guest Faculty
Christopher Stell, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Yoonjin Bae
Greg Brown
Emilia Diaz Delgado
Tom Donahue
Ahhyun Noh
John Olson
Conor Padmanabhan
Nicholas Padmanabhan
Reade Park
Trent Park
Archer Parry
Marvin Ren
Shefali Sahai
Arnav Singh
Shrey Varma
Eric Wang
Brandon Wong -
Scott Tennant, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Julian Burbano
Aaron Cardenas
Tom Donahue
Nate Huvard
Stephan Kane
Zora Kramer
Max Mondzac
Libby Myers
John Olson
Chase Onodera
Conor Padmanabhan
Nicholas Padmanabhan
Reade Park
Trent Park
Stanley Wang
Zak Werdegar -
Martha Masters, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Laura Boswell
Greg Brown
Mark Bussey
Aaron Cardenas
Michael Casher
Tom Donahue
Liz Faure
Roberto Granados
Satchel Henneman
Stephan Kane
John Olson
Conor Padmanabhan
Nicholas Padmanabhan
Tyler Rhodes
Carson Strohecker
Zak Werdegar
Brandon Wong -
David Leisner, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Simon Powis, Guest Artist
Francesca Boerio
John Bogan
Johnny Culwell
Tom Donahue
Roberto Granados
Christopher Hopper
Reed Hutchinson
Stephan Kane
Andrew Kobelak
Ben Lauring
Percy Nuñez
John Olson
Conor Padmanabhan
Nicholas Padmanabhan
Carson Strohecker
Ben Werdegar
Zak Werdegar
Brandon Wong -
Andrew York, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Aaron Cardenas
Tom Donahue
Kacel Ellis
Gabriella Eugenio
Liz Faure
Shannon Harrison
Christopher Hopper
Reed Hutchinson
Nathania Isnander
Stephan Kane
Christopher Mallett
Percy Nuñez
John Olson
Patrick Owléa
Conor Padmanabhan
Nicholas Padmanabhan
Alexander Stroud
Ben Werdegar
Zak Werdegar
Brandon Wong -
John Dearman, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Jeff Peterson, Guest Performer
Zeke Bardash
Mark Bussey
Aaron Cardenas
Tom Donahue
Christopher Hopper
Reed Hutchinson
Stephan Kane
Blaise Lee
Matthieu Mills
Arash Noori
John Olson
David Reynolds
Dylan Reynolds
Christopher Rispoli
Ben Werdegar
Zak Werdegar
Ray Zhou -
Frederic Hand, Guest Faculty
Ian O'Sullivan, Ensemble Assistant
Arden Armbruster
Mark Bussey
Aaron Cardenas
Tom Donahue
Reed Hutchinson
Noah Kim
Eri Kumazaki
Ming-Jiu Liu
Robert McAuley
Juan Nuñez
Percy Nuñez
Alejandro Olson
John Olson
Chase Ono
David Reynolds
Dylan Reynolds
Ian Rowe
Harry Trump
Ben Werdegar
Zak Werdegar -
Casey Ball
Graham Banfield
Glen Botto
Karen Campbell
Michael Cioffero
Madeleine Davidson
Tom Donahue
Michael Dowling
Henry Goldman
Jeremy Grall
Chris Hague
Wu Love
Ian O'Sullivan
Alejandro Olson
John Olson
Kim Perlak
Kassandra Siebel
Kyle Tessier-Lavigne
Austin Wahl
Ben Werdegar
Ray Zhou -
Diana Arp
Graham Banfield
Glen Botto
Mark Bussey
Karen Campbell
Tom Donahue
Natasha Engel
Froilan Fabro
Sofia Gleeson
Michael Hulmes
Jangsoo Jun
Noah Kim
Tom Morelli
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Simon Powis
Jennie Schillig
Jeanie Siggelkow
Alexander Stroud
Chad Yacobucci -
Glen Botto
Peter Boyd
Sam Cogburn
Tom Donahue
Natasha Engel
Froilan Fabro
Liz Faure
Sofia Gleeson
Jangsoo Jun
Noah Kim
Joowon Lee
Alexander Lew
Matt McPherson
Ojan Mobedshahi
Jason Nomura
Juan Nuñez
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Brent Paul
Nic Roozeboom -
Glen Botto
Mark Bussey
Karen Campbell
Tom Donahue
Morgan Fiddler
Zane Forshee
Greg Freehling
Josh Friedman
Sofia Gleeson
Koh Kazama
Jet Lowe
Matt McPherson
Ojan Mobedshahi
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Matt Ostler
Brett Parnell
Brent Paul
Michael Poll
Geremy Schulick
Jeesoo Sohn
Ted Stefan
Max Zuckerman -
Glen Botto
Peter Cho
Matthew Cmiel
Tom Donahue
Josh Friedman
Sofia Gleeson
Kazuyuki Heraga
Masataka Kazumoto
Ojan Mobedshahi
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Michael Poll
Matt Rohde
Dominique Ruiz
Jeanie Siggelkow
Ariadne Smith
Rick Smith
Jeesoo Sohn
Ted Stefan
Shouta Tsurumaru
David Veslocki
Shintaro Yana
Max Zuckerman -
Glen Botto
Peter Cho
Matthew Cmiel
Tom Donahue
Zane Forshee
Josh Friedman
Ryan Haverty
Wayne Lines
Tom Morelli
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Michael Poll
Andrew Schiller
Jeanie Siggelkow
Ariadne Smith
Rick Smith
Jeesoo Sohn
Rob Watson
Shintaro Yana
Max Zuckerman -
Glen Botto
Theresa Calpotura
Matthew Cmiel
Andrew Dickenson
Tom Donahue
Josh Friedman
Ryan Haverty
Michael Hulmes
Ian O'Sullivan
John Olson
Michael Poll
Joseph Schwartz
Jeanie Siggelkow
Ariadne Smith
Mark Smith
Rick Smith
Heather Wunner
Shintaro Yana
Max Zuckerman -
Matthew Cmiel
Andrew Dickenson
Ken Freeland
David Hindman
Marc Lipari
Tom Morelli
Jeff Peterson
Michael Poll
Jeanie Siggelkow
Rick Smith
Jon Suters
Joe Thibodeau
Shintaro Yana
Max Zuckerman -
Mark Bussey
Matthew Cmiel
Adam Cotton
Ken Freeland
Josh Friedman
Juan Guillen
Yoichi Hatanaka
David Hindman
Marc Lipari
James Moore
Tom Morelli
Jeff Peterson
Geremy Schulick
Jeanie Siggelkow
Joe Thibodeau
Max Zuckerman -
Adam Cotton
Josh Friedman
Nicole Hetzer
David Hindman
Michael Hulmes
Marc Lipari
Brian Mancini
Robert McAuley
James Moore
Tom Morelli
Jeff Peterson
Geremy Schulick
Jeanie Siggelkow
Rob Watson
Max Zuckerman -
Tom Amoriello
Mike Benninger
Christian Berndt
Theresa Calpotura
Matthew Cmiel
Sara Cohen
Tom Coleman
Amanda Cook
Bryce Dessner
Josh Friedman
David Hindman
Zoe Johnstone
Peter Koht
Matthew Marshall
Jeff Peterson
David Reynolds
Rami Vamos
John Wade
Max Zuckerman -
Daniel Corr
Mary Lord
Scott Morris
Isamu Nakamura
Jeff Peterson
Kevin Vigil -
Bryce Dessner
Mary Lord
Scott Morris
Mesut Ozgen
Jeff Peterson