Ben Bolt - Definition and Overview

Ben Bolt is an American classical guitar player and instructor.

Music studies

Bolt first met Andres Segovia in the American Embassy in Madrid, Spain, on his 18th birthday. Bolt was registering for the draft as maestro Segovia was getting his visa to tour the U.S. This fortuitous meeting was the beginning of their relationship. Andres Segovia, the Father of the classic guitar, was quoted saying "Ben Bolt is an excellent guitarist with fine tone." After studying with Segovia, the Maestro personally paid for scholarships so that Bolt could continue his studies abroad, as well as setting up lessons with his assistants while he was on tour.

Ben Bolt first met Abel Carlevaro in Paris. Carlevaro then invited the then 20-year-old to study with him under full scholarship at the yearly Master Classes held in Brazil. After Brazil, Bolt moved to Montevideo, Uruguay. He won first place in the Concurso Internacional Aemus by unanimous decision. Carlevaro awarded him the coveted “Premio de Merito” at the National Library of Montevideo for his outstanding efforts in music. Bolt assisted maestro Carlevaro at the San Francisco Conservatory in 1978. Bolt then completed his music studies under the direction of maestro Guido Santorsola, who bestowed him with an original composition for guitar entitled “Seis Bagatelas” as a graduation gift. After returning to the U.S. he became the first guitarist inducted as a National Patron of Delta Omicron’s International Music Fraternity.

Accomplishments

He is credited with being the first classic guitar instructor to introduce the classic style of playing to the masses. Because of his worldwide success, his work has been mimicked throughout the publishing world. Several Ben Bolt books have consistently appeared on Mel Bay's “Best Seller” list. He also appears on Mel Bay's videos of the complete volumes of “The Modern Guitar Method”, a huge commercial success, selling in the millions of copies. His publications are distributed internationally and have been featured at all the major conventions and music shows, including the National Association of Music Merchants in Germany. His video “Anyone Can Play the Classic Guitar” has become a reference for college students as the authority on the fundamentals of classic technique. He is endorsed by D’Addario Strings and Takamine Guitars. He has recorded the classic guitar work for HGTV and can be heard in the background of programs such as “America's Castles”.