The Columbus Guitar Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the art of classical and related styles of guitar music in central Ohio. Your site for Classical Music in Columbus, Ohio.
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society Winter Workshop
February 17, Sunday 2:30-5:00 pm
Forest Hill Church
3031 Monticello Boulevard, Cleveland Heights
Join us for this free workshop! We’re offering a class
on basic improvisation hosted by Brian Kozak, and a
master class by concert and recording artist Robert
Gruca. For more information about this event and the
artists, click here: http://www.clevelandguitarsociety.com/guitarworkshop.html
This is part of the Cleveland Guitar Society’s ongoing
mission to help guitar enthusiasts to get more out of
their playing. I’m looking forward to learning from
both these knowledgeable artists, and hope to see you
there.
I know, not quite February, but so much is happening in very late January and very early February that I wanted to keep the plucky clan informed.Official Columbus Guitar Society stuff:8:00 pm, Saturday, 26 January 2008: First, the concert series continues this very Saturday. The perpetually cordial Clare Callahan will bring her excellent student ensemble up from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music to perform at Capital University’s Huntington Recital Hall. Admission is the mere trifle of $5! See the Columbus Guitar Society (CGS) site or call for info. Prof. Callahan’s ensemble always represents some of the finest up-and-coming talent in the region. Participants in her program go on to become active professionals across the country. Clare always assembles a tastily diverse program; we are fortunate to have her and her proteges here again this year.
8:00 pm, Saturday, 9 February 2008: The next event on the professional concert series will be Chinese guitar virtuoso Xuefei Yang. Xuefei is a tremendous talent with an exclusive contract with EMI records (a BIG deal for a classical guitarist). Her previous CD of dedications (including by such notables as Domeniconi) on GSP is worthy of its critical acclaim as well. Xuefei has the unusual habit of inspiring gifts of guitars from those who hear her performances, including John Williams’ own Smallman! Don’t miss this exciting, intense rising star! As usual, general admission to Capital University’s Huntington Recital Hall is $18; only $12 for students, seniors, or members. Full-price tickets can be purchased in advance via CAPA (614-469-0939) or Ticketmaster.com (discounted tickets can only be obtained at the door).
Xuefei Yang performs Cavatina
1:00 pm, Saturday, 16 February 2008: Sho’nuff, it’s the next informal meeting of the CGS. As always, come on out to play some “classical” music on your guitar (…guitarra, chitarra, gitarre, guitare, oud, lute, laud, luth, laute, liuto,colascione, gallichon, mandora, mandore, mandolino, mandoline, mandolin, bandolim, or whatever) or just casually socialize and listen. As always, we’ll be at the Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 4545 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH, 43220 (at the intersection of Kenny and Henderson Rds). If you may be up for plucking a few notes but are feeling just a little intimidated, fear not! The setting is casual and supportive in the extreme. I enjoy these and would enjoy your company there. C’mon out.
Other guitar-related events:
7:30 pm, Wednesday, 30 January and 27 February 2008: don’t forget that our own Karl Wohlwend has made 7:30 pm on the last Wednesday of every month a regular classical guitar gig at a fine Spanish-style tapas eatery: Maca Cafe, 5 S. Liberty Street, Powell, OH 43065. The setting is intimate and the chow is tasty.
8:00 pm, Friday, 1 February 2008: Ensemble Caprice will perform gypsy music of the baroque era on the Early Music in Columbus concert series at Capital University’s Mees Auditorium. The mix of sonorous period instruments will include 5-course guitar. Seating is $25 general admission, $20 for seniors, and $10 for students. I subscribe, so I’ll be there. Feel free to join me.
2:30 pm, Sunday, 3 February 2008: Jason Vieaux will perform a solo recital on the Xavier University Piano/Guitar Series, held in Xavier’s Gallagher Student Center, Cincinnati. Jason is an old friend of the CGS, director of the guitar program at the prestigious Cleveland Institute of Music, and a fantastic talent. General admission is only $12 (or the ridiculous sum of $3 for students!). Road trip anyone?
Jason Vieaux performing Capricho Arabe
8:00 pm, Thursday, 14 February 2008: Phenomenal oud virtuoso Simon Shaheen will perform on Dayton’s City Folk series…because nothing says “Valentine’s Day” like the spiky, microtonally and augmented-4th-rich classical music of Arabic places! I am a tremendous fan of Shaheen’s earlier work. His more recent stuff is a little too crossover-y for me…but it is popular. If you don’t know, oud shared a common ancestor to European lutes. General admission is $18.
Simon Shaheen
2:00 pm, Saturday, 16 February 2008: Students of Karl Wohlwend will give a recital at Otterbein College’s Riley Auditorium. I’ve heard rumors that post-recital cookies may be involved. I would be there (almost ended up playing a bit of chamber music this round), but am obliged to MC the Borders meeting. Break that proverbial leg, you lot!
The New Year is upon us! …and I am now older than I was.
The concert series continues at 8:00 pm on Saturday, 26 January 2008. The perpetually cordial Clare Callahan will bring her excellent student ensemble up from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music to perform at Capital University’s Huntington Recital Hall. Admission is the mere trifle of $5! Prof. Callahan’s ensemble always represents some of the finest up-and-coming talent in the region. Participants in her program go on to become active professionals across the country. Clare always assembles a tastily diverse program; we are fortunate to have her and her protégés here again this year.
The next informal meeting of the CGS falls at 1:00 pm on 19 January. Nothing planned but the usual: come on out to play some “classical” music on your guitar (…lute, mandolin, domra, tamburitza, requinto, vihuela, cittern, saz, charango, laute, viola da terra, or whatever) or just casually socialize and listen. As always, we’ll be at the Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 4545 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH, 43220 (at the intersection of Kenny and Henderson Rds). Also as always, the setting is casual and supportive in the extreme.
A selfishly personal announcement: I have commissioned a new guitar by Columbus’ own Gary Demos. I certainly won’t have it by the January meeting, but it will be in hand pretty soon, and you might as well get in the habit of going to the meetings so you’re certain to not miss its debut, eh?
Ohio’s Winter Guitar Show runs 11:30 am-6:30 pm, 13 January. The winter show is traditionally much bigger than the summer show, sometimes approaching 300 dealers, and old friends of mine often make the trip in from NYC, Iowa City, various places in between, etc; it’s always good to see the lot. Unfortunately, modern classical guitars of quality are scarce. Every once in a great while, a decent piece, like something from the Kenny Hill shop or even a rare 19th-c. guitar, will appear. …And this time the show will be graced with Gary Demos‘ presence as a vendor. I usually stroll these, sometimes with friends and sometimes greeting friends as I pass, with a remarkably casual air about me. This time I may do a little less strolling and less casualness..ality…stuff because I have been tasked with helping to staff Gary’s table. I hope to see you there!
Your Punteado Pal,
E
Eugene C. Braig IV
Artistic Director
Phone: 614-561-9204
Greetings partners in practice of punteado and/or plectra (…and maybe even rasgueado, but that wrecks my effort at semi-witty alliteration),Concerts on the guitar series are taking a holiday break to return in January.The next informal meeting of the Columbus Guitar Society falls on Saturday, 1 pm, 15 December 2007. I know, any number of holidays are holiday-ing, and we’ll be sandwiched between Hanukkah and Christmas, but I’ll be out there with guitar and/or mandolin and loving it. Those December meetings can be hit or miss, but when they “hit”, they hit big with a great many attendees and intrigued onlookers…and when they miss, nobody cares that Joe, Robin, and I are there and plucking. Come on out to play some “classical” music on your guitar or kin…or just casually socialize and listen. I really like the potential for “guitar/classical-music outreach” in the presence of throngs of holiday shoppers. Feel free to bring some cheesy holiday music if you have it. As always, we’ll be at the Borders Books, Music & Cafe, 4545 Kenny Rd., Columbus, OH, 43220 (at the intersection of Kenny and Henderson Rds). Also as always, the setting is casual and supportive in the extreme. Don’t be shy now; feel free to pluck at something…especially YOU, ensemble members. You know whom you are (as do I).
Pluck on,
E
Eugene C. Braig IV
Artistic Director
Phone: 614-561-9204
Thomas’ concert was extraordinary, the program crafted much more for aficionados than the masses, but I like to imagine a few of us here favor the former mentality over the latter. He was great company too, and I understand he is a respectful and pleasant house guest. Best wishes as he completes his GFA tour.
It has been some time since my last newsletter and I appreciate all of the continued support.
It has been a busy school year since I entered the Masters program. Gigs are light and school is demanding but there are some great concerts happening.
This summer will be busier than last and I hope to come to a city near you…
As I promised, I will have some videos out on YouTube and Myspace soon.
Baby Watch
Our shinny new baby was on back order and is now almost ready to be shipped. The factory said it should be here by January 10th, 2008 but depending on the holidays UPS may get it out by Christmas.
PBS support
We are still waiting to hear when PBS will be broadcasting The Rhythmic Light Ensemble concert we did live for The Cleveland Ingenuity Festival.
Also, I recently heard that my album Acoustica was one of the top three picks for holiday CD’s for WITF/PBS in Harrisburgh, PA.
Here is the link to the review in Central PA Magazine:
A special thank you to my friend, and producer of HealthSmart at PBS, Maria Petrilak who I have known since music school at Duquesne and has been a wonderful supporter through my time in Manhattan and now.
As always you can get a copy of my album Acoustica on my sites:
Select Barnes and Noble, Borders and JospehBeth Booksellers in Northeast Ohio. You can also order direct by credit card at these locations and the cd will be shipped to you.
Interested in hiring me for a show? Please view my Electronic Press Kit:
A quick, mid-November guitar supplement. There are a couple concerts in Dayton this very day (especially relevant to those couple of you in Dayton). I would actually make a road trip to make a whole day of it, but I’m on my way to Lake Erie for a little recreational fishing followed by a day-job journey into MI. Note there will also be lute in the evening concert:
Here are the details of this Sunday’s concerts. Both are in Sears Recital
Hall at the University of Dayton Jesse Philips Humanities Center.
3:00 PM: Alessio Nebiolo, who teaches guitar at the Geneva Conservatory.
FREE. Co-sponsored by the DCGS and the UD Music Department.
7:00 PM: Jim McCutcheon and Lawrence Pitzer (who also plays the lute) in a
variety concert including Wind in the Woods and Musica.
Don’t forget to check out Karl Wohlwend at the Maca Cafe, 5 S. Liberty Street, Powell, OH 43065, 7:30 pm, 28 November.
…And finally, there is a movement afoot to create social group for guitar enthusiasts in Cincinnati. The Wilkes (whom many of you know…or who happen to be you, depending upon who is reading) are largely behind the initial organizing, and are hosting a guitar-centric holiday party in Cincinnati on 30 November. To quote:
Drinks and a ham will be provided but please bring an appetizer or dessert to share. If you have a particular alcoholic beverage you enjoy, please bring it too. Bring as many friends as you want - it’s not just for guitarists!
And don’t forget to bring your guitar if you want participate in the holiday sing/play along. Sheet music and a few percussion instruments will be provided. Non-guitarists can help us sing along. (Don’t worry - absolutely no one is going to be forced to have fun if they don’t want to!)
I’m thinking about attending to show support if my schedule allows. (If so, material support would likely take the form of fish and stout.) If you’d like to as well, contact me for more details.
Johnny DiLoretto of Fox 28’s Good Day Columbus has invited me to promote the Columbus Guitar Society on his Friday morning program 7-9 AM, 2 November 2007! A few of us will talk about the society; discuss some basics of the history of the classical guitar; plug our concert series, ensemble, and informal gatherings; play a little guitar music; and plug Saturday’s concert. I’m rather excited! Thanks Johnny and Fox 28 for this opportunity!
The Cleveland Classical Guitar Society Open Recital is
almost upon us.
Saturday, October 27, 2007—7:00 pm
The Beck Center for the Arts
17801 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood
On this weekend’s program, we have all ages and skill
levels. One of our players will be performing his own
works. Another will be performing the first movement
of Manuel Ponce’s “Concierto Del Sur” with keyboard
accompaniment. (This is perhaps my favorite guitar
concerto.) You can see the current program here: http://www.clevelandguitarsociety.com/gccgsopenrecital.html
If you wish to perform, but haven’t yet signed up, now
is the time. CGS Open Recitals are free and open to
players of all ages and levels. If you wish to
perform, contact Tom Poore at augustineregal@yahoo.com. Be sure to include your
name, the name of the piece and composer, and an
approximate timing for your performance.
