Busy week - on Tuesday at noon David Russell is offering a Master Class at USC, free to auditors, a rare opportunity to see this brilliant performer as a teacher. On Wednesday evening the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society holds its free monthly meeting in Camarillo, featuring David Rogers, and on Friday Josinaldo Costa (one of the OCGC's Featured Artists last year) offers a free recital at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa. Then all day Saturday, Vanguard will be holding its Guitar Festival offering master classes ...Continue Reading

This Saturday is the Orange County Guitar Circle's monthly meeting at Chapman, this one featuring the young French phenomenon Thibaut Garcia. Garcia was the winner of the 2015 Guitar Federation of America's International Concert Artist Competition, his appearance on Saturday is one in his year-long concert tour which was part of his first prize award. This should be a stellar recital! On Friday afternoon the students in Chris Parkening's guitar program at Pepperdine offer a free program at the Malibu public library, an ...Continue Reading

Just one event this week on Saturday evening when former OCGC prez Lee Zimmer offers a benefit recital for the Kids Rock Free program at the Civic Center in Corona. And I was recently informed that the Music Teachers' Association of California (MTAC), who have long had student Certificate of Merit programs in number of instruments and voice, are currently in the testing phase of a new program for guitar as described in a letter you can find here: http://www.ocgc.org/links/MTACLetter2017.pdf Registration for the pr ...Continue Reading

On Thursday evening the young Spanish virtuoso Pablo Sáinz Villegas appears at Pepperdine in Malibu, he was the Gold Medal winner at the first Parkening International Guitar Competition in 2006. Then two evening events which are part of the Guitar Festival at Cal State Northridge, on Friday Bryan Fasola and Steven Thachuck will join up for a recital, and on Saturday the stellar Bill Kanengiser performs, he's always a joy to hear. Also on Saturday the American Guitar Society holds its free monthly m ...Continue Reading

Just one event on this week's schedule, on Wednesday evening the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society holds its monthly meeting in Camarillo, free as always. This meeting will feature three wonderful performers, Michael Nigro , David Grimes and Gregory Newton, who have performed together for some time as the "Trio Camino". Things change fast, always check the SoCal Classical Guitar Events schedule at: http://www.ocgc.org/pages/SoCalEvents.htm Cheers, George Gutman gagutman@uci.edu --------------- ...Continue Reading

This Saturday evening at Chapman is the Guitar Circle's first meeting of the new year, a Members' Showcase in an unusual venue - Crean Hall is is in Oliphant Hall which is right next to Bertea Hall, our usual meeting venue. Sounds confusing but it will be easy to find, come enjoy your fellow members' talents! Also this week, on Friday afternoon at Loyola Marymount the French virtuoso Judicael Perroy is offering a Master Class (free to auditors), and on Sunday afternoon the young Brazilian star Josinaldo Costa (he appe ...Continue Reading

Just one scheduled event in this first week of the new year, on Saturday evening the American Guitar Society holds its free monthly meeting in Valley Glen, featuring as guest artist the talented young Olivia Chiang. And the Guitar Foundation of America recently announced that its annual convention and competition for 2017 will be held June 19-24 at Cal State Fullerton, it's always a treat to have this as a southern California event. Things change fast, always check the SoCal Classical Guitar Events schedule at: ...Continue Reading

A bit late, but the first of two events on this week's schedule is tonight (Wednesday) in Pacific Palisades when the Ensemble Fret (guitar, mandolin, fretless and bowed guitars...) joins several friends in their Winter Solstice Fest for what should be a fascinating evening of food and music, free, but Musician's Fund donations will be accepted. And on Thursday afternoon Andrew Sierra and his students offer a free holiday recital at the Rosemead Public Library. Don't forget to mark down our next Members' Showcase on Jan ...Continue Reading

We approach the holidays with four events on this week's schedule, the first on Thursday evening when the Campanella Quartet (graduates of the stellar CSUF program) offer a free concert at the Cerritos Public Library. Then two free events on Saturday, with Almer Imamovic and Susana Elena in a noontime program of flamenco music and dance at the Long Beach Main Library, and David Margolis in an afternoon recital in San Gabriel. And on Sunday evening Almer Imamovic re-appears as half of the wonderful AlmaNova flute/guitar ...Continue Reading

After a hectic time last week we only have a couple of events on this week's schedule, Wednesday evening the Cal State Fullerton classical guitar program is holding its end-of-year recital, and on Saturday afternoon Howard Le offers a free performance at the Cudahy Public Library (I had to look it up, Cudahy is between Downy and Southgate - I'm a provincial Costa Mesa local.) Things can change fast, always check the SoCal Classical Guitar Events Schedule at: http://www.ocgc.org/pages/SoCalEvents.htm Cheers, George ...Continue Reading