Corvallis Guitar Society

Category: Events

  • October Events and Newsletter

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Autumn is turning into a guitar bonanza with many events, concerts, and talented guitar performers appearing right here in Corvallis. Open your calendar and make note to check out these upcoming events and of course bring your guitar to the Corvallis Guitar Society (CGS) sessions and join in!

    Here’s a quick summary in calendar order, note all of them are FREE so don’t miss out.

    • Thursday October 19th Corvallis Art Walk from 4-8pm featuring guitarists from CGS.
    • Friday October 20th 12:00 OSU Music a la Carte lunchtime concert featuring Cameron O’Conner
    • Monday November 6th 7:00 – 9:00 Guitar Society Meeting featuring maestro Mario Diaz
    • Monday December 4th 7:00 – 9:00 Guitar Society Meeting featuring the famous Oregon Guitar Quartet
    • Saturday December 16th 3pm Corvallis Library Concert featuring guitarists from CGS

    Details of all these events are below…

    New Maestro in Town – Cameron O’Conner Lunchtime Concert October 20th 12:00 Noon
    Here’s a great opportunity to see classical guitarist Cameron O’Conner play the OSU Music a la Carte lunchtime concert Series on October 20th at noon at OSU. Details can be found at:
    http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-arts-and-communication/music-la-carte

    In the meantime, check out his website including some great performances on YouTube:
    http://www.cameronoconnor.com/

    Featured Artists for the Guitar Society Up and Coming Monday Night Meetings
    Mario Diaz is a wonderfully talented classical guitarist based in Portland and part of the Oregon Guitar Quartet. We are delighted to have him do a solo performance for us at the Guitar Society on November 6th and then return on December 4th to perform with the Oregon Guitar Quartet.

    The Oregon Guitar Quartet is a critically acclaimed ensemble of four of the finest classical guitarists residing in Portland, Oregon. The group’s members Mario Diaz, John Mery, Jesse McCann and Bryan Johanson have been performing and recording together for nearly a decade. Their 2010 debut album Something Wondrous Fair was met with outstanding approval. Soundboard’s Jim McCutcheon wrote, “…it is the joyousness, energy, and precision of the performance that convinces me that this group is one to hear.” Since then, the group has released five more exciting and unique recordings each receiving rave reviews. We are delighted to have them come to Corvallis and they will perform selections from their new album, “Scarlatti” along with a variety of other exciting works. If you’re in the area, don’t miss out on this opportunity! You can find out more about Mario and the Oregon Guitar Quartet here: http://www.oregonguitarquartet.com/

    Upcoming Concert Series at Corvallis Library hosted by the Guitar Society
    The Corvallis Guitar Society will also be hosting three one-hour concerts at the Corvallis Library.

    Saturday December 16th 3pm Featuring members of the Guitar Society solos , duets, and ensembles.
    Saturday January 20th Featuring Berto Boyd & Grant Ruiz, Flamenco duo
    Saturday February 17th Featuring Jon Sharp with special guest soprano Rebecca Fromherz

    We played through some of the ensemble music for the December concert at the last CGS meeting on October 2nd and will be doing the same at the upcoming meeting on November 6th. Check out the music on the website, bring your guitar and join in!

    Corvallis Art Walk and Guitar Society Join Forces
    The Guitar Society is joining together with the Corvallis Arts Walk (CAW) to provide musicians in support of this months’s CAW on Thursday October 19th. This is in recognition of the 3rd anniversary of the CAW. Some of our members will be performing at venues as part of the CAW between 4pm and 8pm:

    Venue Performers
    The Arts Center 700 SW Madison Ave Zoe Moulton and Jay Archer
    POPSART Studio (Madison Plaza) 425 SW Madison Ave Berto Boyd
    CEI Artworks 408 SW Monroe/4th St. Raven Dow-Hygelund
    Fairbanks Gallery OSU Campus 220 SW 26th St. Jon Sharp
    Pegasus Gallery 341 SW 2nd Marlys Cappaert & Rick Debbout

    Next Guitar Society Meeting Monday November 6th
    We will continue this season’s first Monday sessions with our Guitar Society Meeting November 6th.

    We will be playing ensemble music including looking at what we plan to play at the December 16th Concert at the Corvallis Library. There will be an open stage session as usual for people to get up and share their music with us – all acoustic guitar styles are welcome.

    I am delighted to announce that our featured artist for September will be Mario Diaz from Portland.

    Agenda
    7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
    7:05 – 7:35pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music can be downloaded from the website one week ahead of time.
    7:35 – 8:10pm Open Stage
    8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
    8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artist Mario Diaz

    Entrance is FREE and open to the public (donations gratefully received).

    Location: Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St, Corvallis, OR 97333. The entrance is between New Morning Bakery and Sedlaks Boots and Shoes.

    Thank you and I hope to see you on November 6th.

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society

  • Ensemble Music for October 2nd Meeting

    Below are the guitar ensemble music scores for the open ensemble session at the next Guitar Society meeting on October 2nd, 7-9pm at Odd Fellows Hall downtown Corvallis. We will be playing pieces that are candidates for the Guitar Society’s Concert on December 16th between 2pm and 5pm at Corvallis Library. The goal is to perform some festive ensemble pieces as part of the concert, so I encourage you all to please put the date in your calendar and plan on being part of the concert! More details will follow.

    So download the scores, decide which parts you wish to play, and bring them along with your guitar and music stand (if you have one) even if you do not wish to be part of the concert. It’s all about having fun and joining in so simplify your parts if you wish – no pressure!

    Carol of the Bells Ukrainian Carol
    Santa Lucia as part of Forrest Guitar Ensemble Group 3
    DulciJubilo
    Estrellita Score
    Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

  • September Activities & Newsletter Vol. I

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Welcome back, I hope you all had a great summer reflecting in the glow of a wonderful guitar festival in June. Looking forward here’s a summary of what’s coming next:

    • We kick off again in September with the next Guitar Society Meeting on Monday September 11th, 7-9pm at Oddfellows Hall downtown Corvallis.
      • Note this is NOT the first Monday because that is Labor Day, but rather the Second Monday.
    • Featured Artist for the September meeting will be Ed Dunsavage, a great jazz guitarist from Ashland.
    • We have lined up featured artists for our monthly meetings out through February 2018:
      October – Scott Kritzer
      November – Mario Diaz
      December – Oregon Guitar Quartet
      February – Jarvis-Thomas Classical guitar duo
    • Planning is underway for other events, future concerts, and the 2018 guitar festival.
    • Read on…

    Next Guitar Society Meeting Monday September 11th
    We will kick off the second half of the year with our Guitar Society Meeting on September 11th We will be playing more ensemble music arranged by James Bishop Edwards, plus new material that will be posted to the website one week ahead of the meeting. There will be an open stage session as usual for people to get up on stage and play – all acoustic guitar styles are welcome.

    I am delighted to announce that our featured artist for September will be Ed Dunsavage. Ed is a guitar instructor at Southern Oregon University and works as artistic and education director for the Siskiyou Music Project, also in Ashland. His trio was voted Favorite Jazz Group in the Ashland 2017 Sneak Preview Readers Poll! Some of his musical influences are Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Pat Martino, John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett and Ralph Towner. Ed has performed at many venues and festivals all over the west coast and we are honored to have him share his music with us right here in Corvallis!

    Check out a couple of YouTube videos of Ed performing:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZ56yFjI9SI
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77-OMQV3TQo

    So bring your own guitar and join in with the Ensemble and share your own music with us during the open stage session – ALL levels of music are very welcome, then sit back and enjoy the music of Ed Dunsavage.

    September Meeting Agenda
    7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
    7:05 – 7:35pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music can be downloaded from the website one week ahead of time.
    7:35 – 8:10pm Open Stage
    8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
    8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artist Ed Dunsavage

    Entrance is FREE and open to the public (donations gratefully received).

    Location: Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St, Corvallis, OR 97333. The entrance is between New Morning Bakery and Sedlaks Boots and Shoes.

    Thank you and I hope to see you on September 11th.

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society

  • First Corvallis Guitar Festival


    Thank you to everyone who came to the First Corvallis Guitar Festival June 9th and 10th and joined in the fun and enjoyed the amazing talent we had on stage. Our headline artist Adam del Monte put on a fantastic concert of classical and flamenco music on Saturday night and wowed the audience. If you missed it, check out this snippet of his concert…

     

    @adamdelmonte tearing up some #bulerias on his encore for the recent #CorvallisGuitarFestival #flamencoguitar #corvallisguitarsociety #guitarfestival

    Posted by Berto Boyd – Flamenco Guitarist and Composer on Tuesday, June 13, 2017

    His Master Class Saturday morning was very insightful and I would like to thank local students Devon, Nathan, Paige, and Raven who took to the stage to perform for Adam during that session.

    The workshops that were free and open to the public on Saturday afternoon were very well attended and people relished the chance to learn from some of the great local teachers & performers we have in Corvallis including Mickey Jones and Berto Boyd. And rising star Jaxon Williams, an Oregonian and Fulbright Scholar who opened the festival for us on Friday night with a wonderful performance and a great program, and shared his insights into what makes him so good with our workshop attendees. Thank you Jaxon!

    We were very pleased with the turnout which surpassed our expectations and more so with the tremendous enthusiasm expressed by everyone who came. I would like to express my gratitude to the Benton County Cultural Coalition whose grant made this event possible as well as to our sponsors Shelton Faretta Guitars, Cordoba Guitars, Jon Sharp Guitar and Tom Strini.

    I would like to thank Wayne and Lily from Hilltop Music, Phoenix Oregon, who displayed wonderful collection of fine instruments, current and historical, for our festival including a Hernandez guitar from 1922.

    And finally thank you to our Board members for the hours of hard work they put in voluntarily. We are already looking forward to the Second Corvallis Guitar Festival!

  • May 2017 Newsletter

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Thanks to everyone for coming out to enjoy a wonderful guitar evening on May 1st and a big thank you to James Bishop-Edwards for delighting us with his gallery of classical arrangements. It was a great ensemble session and James was so impressed that he has arranged a piece of music by Lorenzo Barcelata called “Maria Elena” especially for us to play. I look forward to hearing us play this piece at the next Society meeting on June 5th and I will be posting the score and guitar parts to the website shortly.

    I would also like to point out that recordings of a number of James’ musical arrangements can be downloaded for FREE from his website. And, if you wish, the scores of his arrangements are also available for a modest fee. So check out his website:  https://www.jamesbishopedwardsguitar.com/

    First Annual Corvallis Guitar Festival
    Looking Forward we have quite a Bonanza of guitar activity happening in the next few weeks. The Corvallis Guitar Society is proud to present the First Annual Corvallis Guitar Festival taking place on June 9th and 10th downtown at the 1st Presbyterian Church 8th St. Adam del Monte will be our headline artist for the Saturday concert. Adam is one of the leading flamenco and classical guitarist/composers of his generation with a remarkably diverse list of accomplishments under a banner of artistic and cultural diversity. Oregonian and rising star Jaxon Williams will be opening the festival on Friday night and there will be Master Classes and workshops which will be free and open to the public. So mark your calendar, bring your guitar and join in the fun.

    Tickets for the two concerts are available online – check out the Guitar Society Website www.corvallisguitarsociety.org or can be purchased downtown Corvallis at Grassroots Books and Music on 2nd St. The Master Class and all workshops are free and open to the public.

    The Festival Schedule is as follows:
    Friday  June 9th
    7:00pm                    Opening Concert: Jaxon Williams

    Saturday June 10th
    10:00am – 12:00   Masterclass with Adam del Monte; 4 students, 30 mins each
    12:00 – 1:00pm                 Break
    1:00 – 2:45pm        Workshop: Introduction to Classical Guitar: Mickey Jones
    2:45 – 3:00pm                  Break
    3:00 – 4pm              Workshop: Flamenco Technique: Berto Boyd
    4:00pm – 5pm        Workshop: Fundamentals of right & left hand for all solo guitar styles: Jaxon Williams
    5pm – 7pm                       Break
    7pm- —                    Concert: Maestro Adam del Monte

    All festival events will take place at the 1st Presbyterian Church downtown Corvallis: 114 SW 8th St.

    Check out the Guitar Society website for more details about the festival .

    Next Guitar Society Meeting Monday June 5th
    Looking forward to our next Society Open Meeting on June 5th, I am anticipating a lot of fun with an extended ensemble and open stage session. We will be playing ensemble music arranged by James Bishop Edwards and our very own Berto Boyd, plus some of our greatest hits from previous meetings. In addition there will be more time for people to get up on stage and play – all acoustic guitar styles are welcome! Bring your own guitar and join in with the Ensemble (music will be posted to the website one week ahead of the meeting) and share your own music with us during the open stage session – ALL levels of music are very welcome.
    7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
    7:05 – 8:00pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music can be downloaded from the website one week ahead of time.
    8:00 – 8:10pm BREAK and Refreshments
    8:10 – 9:00pm Open Stage: please share your music with us – all ages and abilities welcome.
    Entrance is FREE and open to the public (donations gratefully received).

    Location: Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St, Corvallis, OR 97333. The entrance is between New Morning Bakery and Sedlaks Boots and Shoes.

    Sunday May 28th Neil and Tamara Caulkins
    Neil and Tamara are experts in the world of early nineteenth century music for two guitars and will be coming to Corvallis to share their knowledge and music on period instruments at the Troubadour at 2:00pm on Sunday May 28th. Neil plays a replica of a seven string guitar made in Mirecourt, France, by Aubry-Maire in 1830 and Tamara plays an original anonymous French instrument from about 1825. The program will be entirely of 19th century guitar duets and will include works by Henry, Giuliani, Lhoyer, and Mertz.  Neil will also be presenting a paper on the early 19th century performance practice of the improvised prelude at a conference at the Musicking Conference at 3:00pm in the Univ. of Oregon Collier House in Eugene at the U of O on May 26th.

     Thank you and I hope to see you on June 5th.

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society