The Cleveland Classical Guitar Society (CCGS) announced the appointment of Brian Gaudino as their first director of education on August 30th 2017. Gaudino will be focusing on expanding and deepening the CCGS program that currently teaches guitar to over 200 students every year. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: Sérgio & Odair Assad at Plymouth (Apr. 30)
by Daniel Hathaway
Departing from its normal Saturday evening time slot, the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society closed its International Series with a duo recital by Sérgio and Odair Assad on Sunday afternoon, April 30 at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights. Though their styles of playing are different, the Brazilian-born brothers have been performing as a duo for 52 years, and know each other so well that they could probably play a recital blindfolded.
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: Xuefei Yang at Plymouth (March 25)
by Daniel Hathaway
Chinese-born guitarist Xuefei Yang’s program on Saturday, March 25 at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights paralleled the life cycle of a flower — budding at the beginning with a lute suite by Johann Sebastian Bach, opening up its petals in pieces by Niccolò Paganini and Xu Changjun, then coming into full, fragrant bloom with a set of Brazilian tunes by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Dilermando Reis, Antônio Carlos Jobim, and Aníbal Augusto Sardinha. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: a conversation with Xuefei Yang
by Jeremy Reynolds
“In China, I was the very first guitarist to enter a conservatory,” said Xuefei Yang. “Now some people call me a pioneer because, looking back, it was a very brave thing to do, even though I didn’t really realize it at the time.” On Saturday, March 25, Yang will play on the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society’s International Series at Plymouth Church UCC in Shaker Heights at 7:30 pm. Her program features music by Bach, Paganini, Changjun, and Brazilian composers including Villa-Lobos.
Yang, who has performed in Cleveland twice before, began studying classical guitar shortly after the Cultural Revolution’s ban on Western music was lifted. She is the first Chinese guitarist to have launched an international career and has performed in more than 50 countries. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: Kanengiser to make Cleveland solo debut
by Mike Telin
“The guitar is an amazingly expressive instrument,” William Kanengiser said during a telephone conversation. “I’ve learned from my years with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet that without the right program, the instrument can begin to sound a bit monochromatic. That’s why it’s important to present a lot of different styles — to show that it’s actually a chameleon-like instrument.”
On Saturday, February 18 at 7:30 pm at Plymouth Church, the two-time Grammy-winning guitarist will perform a program featuring music from Spain and North America. The concert is presented as part of the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society’s International Series.
In addition to programming works that will highlight the “chameleon-like” characteristics of the guitar, Kanengiser said that he also likes to connect the works with a theme. “The first half features music expressing the essential Spanish elements that are such a big part of the repertoire.” [Read more…]
Jorge Caballero & Jean-Baptiste Monnot: Pictures two ways (Nov. 12 & 13)
by Daniel Hathaway
Maurice Ravel’s orchestration of Modest Mussorgsky’s 1874 piano suite Pictures at an Exhibition is ear-baggage for anyone who encounters Pictures in other arrangements. Thus guitarist Jorge Caballero and organist Jean-Baptiste Monnot gave us the intriguing opportunity to hear solo versions of Mussorgsky’s music adapted for plucked and winded instruments within 24 hours. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: a conversation with Jorge Caballero
by Carlyn Kessler
“I like to believe that music speaks for itself. People can derive their own meaning from the sounds they hear,” classical guitarist Jorge Caballero said during a recent phone interview. “It’s like writers who find that it’s best not to say anything about their own work — they prefer readers to form their own opinions. I feel the same way about performance.”
On Saturday, November 12 at 7:30, the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society will present Jorge Caballero in his Cleveland debut. The recital is part of the Society’s International Series at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights.
Born in in Lima, Peru, Caballero is the youngest person and only guitarist to have won the Naumburg International Competition. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society: a conversation with Marcin Dylla
by Mike Telin
When Polish guitarist Marcin Dylla performed in Cleveland in April of 2013, James Flood, writing for this publication, said that “Dylla is a player of the utmost refinement. His tone is beautiful, his phrasing lovely and heartfelt.” On Saturday, October 15 at 7:30 pm at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights, the award-winning artist will return to the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society stage.
His program will feature Mauro Giuliani’s Sonata in C, Op. 15, Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Five Preludes, Roberto Sierra’s Sonata, Manuel Maria Ponce’s Theme, Variations and Fugue on Folia de España, and Benjamin Britten’s Nocturnal, Op. 70. Click here for more information. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society Showcase Concert at Plymouth (Sept. 24)
by Robert Rollin
On Saturday, September 24, the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society kicked off its season at Plymouth Church with a Showcase Concert featuring the Gruca White Ensemble, Duo Allant, and soloist Adam Larison. The highlight of the evening was the set performed by flutist Linda White and guitarist Robert Gruca. Their performance of Chick Corea’s landmark composition Spain absolutely sparkled. [Read more…]
Cleveland Classical Guitar Society begins season with a showcase concert
by Mike Telin
The Cleveland Classical Guitar Society begins each season with a free Showcase Concert. This year that event will be held on Saturday, September 24 at 7:30 at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights. The evening will feature performances by Adam Larison, Duo Allant (Kathryn Thomas Umble, flute, and François Fowler, guitar), and the Gruca White Ensemble (Robert Gruca, guitar, and Linda White, flute, left). [Read more…]