Newsletter – Page 6 – Corvallis Guitar Society

May 2017 Newsletter

Dear Guitar Friends,
Thanks to everyone for coming out to enjoy a wonderful guitar evening on May 1^st 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 5^th 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 9^th and 10^th downtown at the 1^st Presbyterian Church 8^th 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 2^nd St. The Master Class and all workshops are free and open to the public.

The Festival Schedule is as follows:
Friday June 9^th
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 28^th 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 28^th. 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 5^th.

Best Regards
Jon Sharp
President, Corvallis Guitar Society

March Newsletter

Dear Guitar Friends,
Wow! What an amazing performance by Yuri Liberzon at the Guitar Society meeting on March 6^th. If you ever wondered what it’s like to hear near perfection in all of the dimensions that make up classical guitar music, and to witness it first hand in a live performance right here in Corvallis, well that’s what we got! If you missed it, keep your eyes and ears open because it certainly won’t be the last time we invite him to play for us.
Meanwhile, looking forward to the next meeting on April 3^rd, we will be welcoming Ryan Walsh down from Portland. If you have wandered through Portland Airport and heard live classical guitar music wafting beautifully through the concourse, then you have heard Ryan play. He is a wonderful musician and a fun performer willing to act like a classical jukebox – so bring your requests.

The agenda for the April 3^rd Meeting is as follows:
7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
7:05 – 7:40pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music can be downloaded from the website one week ahead of time.
7:40 – 8:10pm Open Stage: please share your music with us – all ages and abilities welcome.
8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artist Ryan Walsh

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.

Music for the ensemble session will be posted to the website one week ahead of the meeting.

Looking forward…

May Meeting
We have James Edwards lined up for the May Society meeting. Some of you have seen James play before and we are very pleased he will be returning to share his music and depth of knowledge about the history of the guitar.

Upcoming Guitar Festival!
Preparation for our first Guitar Festival scheduled for June 9^th and 10^th is marching forward. We have had to revise our plans for our Saturday night featured artist and I am very pleased to announce it will be Adam Del Monte. 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; he has performed with National Symphony Orchestras all over the world including his own compositions, performed soundtracks for motion pictures, appeared on TV, won international guitar competitions and much, much more. It will be a real honour to have someone with Adam’s depth of talent, diversity, and experience right here in Corvallis!

I am also delighted to announce that one of Oregon’s own rising stars Jaxon Williams will be opening the festival with a concert on Friday June 9^th. Jaxon is a great young talent with a vibrant academic and performing career to-date that saw him win a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Seville, Spain. We are proud to have such a great local artist kick off our festival!

Aaron Larget-Caplan
Acclaimed guitarist Aaron Larget-Caplan is performing in a tour of Oregon later this month. Aaron’s music and arrangements are both fascinating and virtuosic and we hope to be able to welcome him here in Corvallis in the future. In the meantime his current Oregon tour looks like this:
Tuesday March 28^th, Astoria OR (7pm)
Thursday March 30^th, Portland OR (7pm)
Find out more here: http://www.alcguitar.com/calendar.php

PDX Classic Guitar Concert Series
Next up are the Assad Brothers, one of my favourite guitar duets and will be playing at the Marylhurst University, Portland on April 27th.
http://www.portlandclassicguitar.com/app-news/the-assad-brothers

Thank you and I hope to see you on April 3^rd

Best Regards
Jon Sharp
President, Corvallis Guitar Society

Newsletter February 2017

Dear Guitar Friends,
Odd Fellows Hall is turning out to be a great venue for our monthly meetings both from an aesthetic and acoustic perspective. No amplification required, so we can just enjoy the natural sound of our guitars! Adam Scramstad was our featured artist on February 6^th and he delivered an amazing concert featuring acoustic blues and fingerstyle music inspired by the likes of John Fahey, Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters. I have to say that Adam is emerging as one of the best local musicians I have had the pleasure to hear and, if you missed the February meeting, keep your eyes and ears open as he will likely be back!

Looking forward to our Monday March 6^th meeting we have another extraordinary guitarist who will be our featured artist; Russian-born and Israeli-raised classical guitarist Yuri Liberzon has been widely recognized for his musicality and technical ability:

“…If there were anyone in the classical guitar world that could manage to combine musical elegance with architectural logic, it would be Yuri Liberzon.” – Classical Guitar Magazine.

If you want to know more, check out his website: https://www.yuriguitar.com/ Though I recommend you don’t miss the opportunity to hear his prodigious talent at the Guitar Society meeting. Entrance is FREE and open to the public (donations gratefully received).

The agenda for the March 6th Meeting is as follows:
7:00 – 7:05pm Welcome
7:05 – 7:40pm Open Ensemble: bring your guitar, footstool and join in. Music can be downloaded from the website one week ahead of time.
7:40 – 8:10pm Open Stage: please share your music with us – all ages and abilities welcome.
8:10 – 8:20pm BREAK and Refreshments
8:20 – 9:00pm Featured Artist Yuri Liberzon

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

Music for the ensemble session will be posted to the website one week ahead of the meeting. We will be performing one of our members newly composed pieces called Zephyr (by Martin Erwig) during the ensemble along with other pieces. The guitar parts for Zephyr, including an MP3 of the piece to help with your preparation, are already posted on the website under the Media tab.

Upcoming Events
Looking forward we have more featured artists in the pipeline for your monthly meetings

PDX Classic Guitar Concert Series. Next up are Los Romeros on March 10^th at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland. Los Romeros are the world’s original guitar quartet enjoying their 55th anniversary (including natural transformations.) More details at: http://www.portlandclassicguitar.com/app-news/los-romeros

Here in Corvallis the SAC Academy (OSU) are planning a summer guitar workshop run by our very own Mickey Jones that will provide an in-depth week of instruction on the concepts and techniques of classical guitar for students ages 11-18. It will take place on the OSU Campus July 10^th to July 15^th 2017. More details at: http://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/school-arts-and-communication/sac-academy/summer-programs/precollege-programs/classical-guitar-workshop

Thank you and I hope to see you on March 6^th.

Best Regards
Jon Sharp
President, Corvallis Guitar Society