Category: Newsletter

  • Newsletter January 2018

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Happy New Year to everyone. We are looking forward to a great year of guitar activities and here’s an overview of what is coming up:

    Winter Concert Series Continues at the Corvallis-Benton County Library Continues …
    Saturday Jan 20th  2018, 3:00 PM
    CONCERT FEATURING FLAMENCO GUITAR DUO BERTO BOYD & GRANT RUIZ
    Berto Boyd and Grant Ruiz will perform original Flamenco music from their CD “Convivencia”. Their group Flamenco Pacifico has been a favorite among Oregon festivals such as Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Oregon Country Fair, Britt Fest and DaVinci days. Web: www.flamencopacifico.com

    Saturday Feb 17th  2018, 3:00 PM
    CONCERT FEATURING CLASSICAL GUITARIST JON SHARP & SOPRANO REBECCA FROMHERZ
    This concert will feature music from South America including Heitor Villa-Lobos, one of Brazil’s greatest composers, along with Argentineans Jose Luis Merlin and others. We will also explore some of the modern compositions by American guitar maestro Andrew York and look back at early music from Europe that inspired the New World.

    The Next Guitar Society meeting is Monday February 5th 7-9pm Odd Fellows Hall, Corvallis
    We are very pleased to present local guitar duo John Jarvie and Peter Thomas from Eugene as our featured artists for the meeting. Check out their duets on YouTube, and come hear them play!
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwW01Sb5SZk
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LClEa38tKnw
    You might also like to hear this great rendition of Barrios’ La Catedral by John Jarvie played standing up J
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msgosfwou50
    AGENDA
    7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
    7:05 – 7:35pm Guitar Workshop with Cameron O’Connor. Bring your guitar and plan on learning something from OSU’s classical Maestro!
    7:40 – 8:10pm Open Stage; share your music with us – all solo guitar styles (or ensembles) and all abilities welcome.
    8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
    8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artists Eugene Guitar Duo John Jarvie and Peter Thomas
    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.

    Spring Concert Presented by the Corvallis Guitar Society and Corvallis Arts Center Sunday April 8th 2018
    CONCERT FEATURING CLASSICAL GUITARIST CAMERON O’CONNNOR AND PIANIST HUI WU
    We are very pleased to be working with the Corvallis Arts Center to present the spring concert on the afternoon of Sunday April 8th. This promises to be a fantastic musical experience featuring two top flight musicians who will be performing a combination of solo and duet works. You can check out more about these two great talents on their respective websites:
    New local Guitar maestro Cameron O’Connor
    http://www.cameronoconnor.com/video.html
    Pianist Hui Wu
    http://www.huiwupianist.com/media/

    Local Guitar/Ukulele Ensemble
    For those of you interested in maintaining your guitar ensemble activities while we take a break at the Guitar Society, you may wish to join Anne Loewen’s guitar/ukulele ensemble which meets on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 10-11am in the Allison room at the Presbyterian Church. There is no charge for this meeting. For more info contact Anne at [email protected]

    Oregon State University’s SAC Academy
    OFFERING GUITAR ENSEMBLE, GROUP GUITAR, AND PRIVATE LESSONS TO THE CORVALLIS GUITAR COMMUNITY BY GUITAR INSTRUCTOR CAMERON O’CONNOR
    Guitar Ensemble (Tue/Thurs 4-5pm) includes bi-weekly rehearsals of classical and contemporary music and a March concert.  Rehearsal and ensemble techniques— being present and aware of your conductor and neighbors, non-verbal communication, researching repertoire— will be stressed in an effort to produce the best possible performance at the end of the term. 
    http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-arts-and-communication/sac-academy/music/group-music-classes/guitar-ensemble
    Group Guitar Class (Wed/Fri 4-5pm) is offered for those interested in developing basic guitar skills, including familiarity with reading notation and performing in small group settings.
    http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-arts-and-communication/sac-academy/music/group-music-classes/group-guitar-i

    Guitar Festival  Weekend of June 8th and 9th
    Following the success of our first festival in 2017, we will be presenting Corvallis’ Second Annual Guitar Festival in June 2018. We are in the process of establishing the agenda for the festival, but we are delighted local maestro Cameron O’Connor is going to open the event for us with the Friday night concert. We are in the process of securing the Saturday Headline artist who, assuming all goes ahead, will be fabulous J

    We wish you all the very best over the festive season and I hope to see you at the Society Meeting on February 5th.

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society

  • November Newsletter: Winter Season Events

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Here’s a quick summary of all that is coming up in the guitar world in and around Corvallis over the festive season:

    • Monday December 4th 7:00 – 9:00 Guitar Society Meeting featuring the famous Oregon Guitar Quartet (whatever else you are doing, don’t miss this event!)
    • Contemporary Fado​ ​Singer​ Ramana​ ​Vieira​ ​​Performing​ ​Portuguese​ ​World Music,​ ​New​ ​and​ ​Old together with local guitar maestro Ricardo Cardenas from Eugene: Venues are​ ​La​ ​Baguette​ ​Music​ ​cafe​ ​Ashland​ ​Dec.​ ​7,​ ​Axe​ ​&​ ​Fiddle,​ ​Cottage​ ​Grove, Dec.​ ​8th​ ​& Coelho​ ​Winery,​ ​Amity,​ ​Dec.​ ​9th.
    • Saturday December 16th 3pm Corvallis Library Winter Guitar Concert featuring guitarists from the Corvallis Guitar Society performing festive and international ensemble, duet, and solo music.
    • The January Guitar Society meeting will be Monday January 8th 2016 (because the first Monday is January 1st)
    • Friday January 12th 12:00 noon OSU a’ La Carte Lunchtime concert in the Student Memorial Building featuring Jon Sharp classical guitar, and Soprano Rebecca Fromherz.
    • Saturday January 20th 3pm Corvallis Library Winter Guitar Concert Series featuring Flamenco Guitar Duo Berto Boyd and Grant Ruiz

    Details of all these events are as follows…

    Monday December 4th Guitar Society Meeting 7pm at Odd Fellows Hall downtown Corvallis
    We are thrilled to welcome one of the world’s famous guitar quartets to our next meeting right here in Corvallis. Please mark your calendars and don’t miss this one! 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 the Oregon Guitar Quartet here: http://www.oregonguitarquartet.com/

    Ensemble & Open Stage Sessions at the December 4th Meeting:
    We rehearsed the ensemble music for the opening Winter Guitar Concert Series at Corvallis Library at the last CGS meeting on November 6th and will be doing the same at the upcoming meeting on December 4th. Check out the music on the website (see post below), bring your guitar and join in! Also, 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.

    Agenda
    7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
    7:05 – 7:45pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music is already posted here on the website (see post below) and is the ensemble music for the December 16th concert.
    7:45 – 8:10pm Open Stage
    8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
    8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artists:  The Oregon Guitar Quartet!

    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.

    Portuguese World Music Concert Series
    Contemporary Fado​ ​Singer​ Ramana​ ​Vieira ​​Performing​ ​Portuguese​ ​World Music,​ ​New​ ​and​ ​Old together with local guitar maestro Ricardo Cardenas from Eugene. Oregonians will have a rare opportunity to hear Portuguese fado music performed live when California-based fado singer and composer Ramana Vieira brings her dramatic and powerful voice to the Willamette Valley for three concerts in December. Check out her website calendar for more details. http://ramanavieira.net/home.html
    Also, if you want to hear her singing Fado style music, check out YouTube:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYJxx_aFjdk

    The Winter Guitar 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. These concerts are FREE and open to the public, so tell your friends and come long for some enjoyable festive music from around the world.
    Saturday December 16th 3pm Featuring members of the Guitar Society solos , duets, and ensembles.
    Saturday January 20th 3pm Featuring Flamenco Duet Berto Boyd & Grant Ruiz
    Saturday February 17th 3pm Featuring Jon Sharp classical guitar and Soprano Rebecca Fromherz

    OSU a’ La Carte Concert Friday January 12th 12:00 Noon
    Wonderful Soprano Rebecca Fromherz and I (classical guitarist Jon Sharp) will be kicking off the OSU a’ La Carte Lunchtime Concert Series in the New Year on Friday January 12th. This free, lunch-hour concert series has been a tradition at Oregon State University since 1969. The concerts take place in the beautiful Memorial Union Lounge, beginning at 12 p.m. and lasting for approximately 45 minutes. We will be performing works by Heitor Villa-Lobos, John Dowland, Andrew York, and Jorge Morel.

    Thank you and I hope to see you at the Society Meeting on December 4th .

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society

  • 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

  • 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

  • Newsletter June 2017

    Dear Guitar Friends,
    Here’s a quick summary of the content, then read on…!
    • Wow, what a great First Corvallis Guitar Festival; we are already thinking about the Second!
    • After the excitement of the first half of 2017, we will be taking a break over the summer; so no Society meetings in July or August.
    • We kick off again in September with the next Guitar Society Meeting on Monday September 11th. 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
    • Check out Berto performing at the Chintimini Festival here in Corvallis on June 25th 4pm.

    What a remarkable 2017 to date with some of the best Guitar Society meetings we have had so far culminating in the First Corvallis Guitar Festival on June 9th and 10th! Thank you to everyone who came out 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 on the Guitar Society Facebook page:
    https://www.facebook.com/BertoGuitarra/videos/838497329631754/
    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 free workshops on Saturday afternoon were very well attended and people relished the chance to learn from some of the great local teachers & performers we have here 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 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.

    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 and Berto Boyd, 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. 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.

    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.

    Guitar Chamber Music at the Chintimini Festival
    Sunday June 25th Berot Boyd will be performing with fine local and regional chamber musicians at the Chintimini Festival here in Corvallis at the First Presbyterian Church 4:00pm. He will be performing Castel-Nuovo Tedesco’s Guitar Quintet, Op. 143 and Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet in D Major, G 448 “Fandango”.

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

    Best Regards
    Jon Sharp
    President, Corvallis Guitar Society