Corvallis Guitar Society Events in May 2024

Bringing Local Guitarists Out of the Woodwork

  • Our next Guitar Society Meeting is on Monday May 6th, 2024 (first Monday of the month) at Odd Fellows Hall and will begin at 7:15 pm; free and open to the public.
  • DRAGOS ILIE is our Featured Artist for May 6th  –😊
  • Isaac Engel will be running the Ensemble Session; the music scores are available (see below) and any one of you will be delighted to join in and play. And all three pieces have been produced by members of the Corvallis Guitar Society 😊!
  • The Open Stage is an opportunity for anyone to play classical guitar music – beginners, intermediate, and advanced!
  • The After School Guitar Program is going to take place on Monday May 6th at 6:00pm run by Isaac Engel, and on Monday 20th at 6:00pm run by Jacob Ripley.

Our next monthly meeting is on Monday, May 6th, 7:15pm – 9:15pm
Venue: Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St, Corvallis
Free & Open to the Public

Featured Artist DRAGOS ILIE

You can observe Dragos online here: https://www.dragosilie.com/

Romanian guitarist Dragos Ilie has delighted audiences across Europe, Asia and the United States with his charismatic and dynamic interpretations. At an early age, Dragos fell in love with the instrument after listening to his father play. Soon he enrolled at the Popular School of Arts and later the National College of Arts in his native city Iasi, with professor Marius Timpau. During that time, Dragos also studied with Dr. Daniel Dragomirescu at the National Music Conservatoire of Iasi.

After receiving the prestigious “Wooddruff Award”, Dragos went on to complete his Bachelor studies at “Schwob School of Music” – Columbus State University, at the class of composer and pedagogue Andrew Zohn.

Dragos has participated in over 40 international competitions, with more than 20 Grand Prizes. Some of these include the Koblenz International Festival, Changsha International Guitar Festival, the Tokyo International Guitar Competition, Culiacan International Competition, Indiana Guitar Festival, the Columbus Guitar Symposium, Texas A&M Guitar Competition, and Florida Guitar Festival. He has performed, taught masterclasses and workshops across the United States and Europe, and has been featured in Classical Guitar Magazine, Gendai Magazine, Acoustic Guitar Magazine, as well a series of lessons and workshops on Tonebase. Performances with orchestras include the “Transylvania” State Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Radio Orchestra of Romania. 

Passionate about integrating Romanian repertory within the global scene, Dragos recorded a project that blends both arrangements (works of Porumbescu, Bartók ​) and works of living Dragos is currently completing his Doctoral studies at the University of Austin Texas, with the renowned performer, recording artist, and teacher Adam Holzman. Concomitantly, he is serving as Teacher Assistant for the same institution –  Bravo 😊

Open Guitar Ensemble
Isaac Engel is running the Open Guitar Ensemble in which anyone is welcome to participate. When you look at the pieces, decide which part you wish to play, and maybe let Isaac know ahead of time – his email is [email protected] and bring the music with you to the Guitar Society meeting.

Here are the Three pieces of music for the ensemble session:
All of the three pieces for guitar ensemble have been produced by members of the Corvallis Guitar Society, and they are attached to this newsletter – YAY!  Two of the pieces have online recording that is also available here on the newsletter.


Online Recordings of The Ensemble Pieces
1) First Lullaby – Attached here:


2) Prelude in E Minor – Attached here:

Jacob Ripley and Isaac Engel are continuing the After School Guitar Program free and open to the public. Focusing on mid and high school students, the goal is to raise their awareness and understanding of the guitar instrument by featuring group lessons, private lessons and ensemble music.

Jacob also provides Community Beginning Lesson for people of all ages, so anyone can come for this lesson.

Feel free to come along and meet up with Jacob and Isaac at their sessions if you are interested, and if you don’t have a guitar, we can lend you one!

For more information contact Jacob on [email protected]  or phone 541 357 2513, or contact Isaac Engel [email protected] or phone 971 718 4535 and you can view his website: https://isaacengelmusic.com/

Times are as follows:
First Monday of the month at Odd Fellows Hall – Isaac Engel
6:00pm to 7:00pm is the After School Guitar Program (group lesson and ensemble)
Third Monday of the Month at Odd Fellows Hall – Jacob Ripley
6:00pm to 6:50pm is the After School Guitar Program group lesson.
7:00pm to 7:30pm is the Community Beginning group lesson.

Entrance to the above events is free and open to the public (donations gratefully received). Location:Odd Fellows Hall, 223 SW 2nd St, Corvallis, OR 97333. The entrance door is between New Morning Bakery and Sedlaks Boots and Shoes.

Best Regards
Jon Sharp, President Corvallis Guitar Society