Agnew McAllister Duo Edinburgh

A little note about a concert coming up in February at the National Gallery in Edinburgh.

'The Agnew McAllister Duo are making a welcome return to the National Galleries of Scotland to perform works from the Italian and German Baroque in keeping with the collections on display in the gallery.'

Agnew McAllister Duo
Thursday 3rd February 2011 - National Gallery, Edinburgh
Time: 6pm
Tickets: Free
Hope to see you there!

Best wishes,

Aisling & Matthew

Message from Carlos Bonell

Bolivar Hall, London, Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm

I am very pleased to invite you to the Bolivar Hall, London on Friday 22nd October at 7.30pm where I will be playing in the first concert of the Transformations Music Series.

Also appearing will be my special guest Esteban Antonio playing the astounding ha-shem, a 3-necked guitar, plucked and bowed, an instrument of his own invention. We will be playing our own compositions and music by Gordon Mizzi, Queen, The Beatles and Renaissance composers. Admission is free.

We hope to make this a special occasion not to be missed!

Full venue details: Bolivar Hall, 54 Grafton Way, London W1T 5DL. For more info visit https://mail.lgflmail.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=feab0c4ad0ac4c8d85fc42af88f1c266&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.carlosbonell.com%2f

Manuel Barrueco Concert -Wigmore

I am contacting you on behalf of Wigmore Hall. On 24 October, Cuban guitarist Manuel Barrueco performs a recital of works, including compositions by Ardévol, Piazzolla, Tarrega and Malats (full programme information at http://www.wigmore-hall.org.uk/whats-on/productions/manuel-barrueco-guitar-25854).

Would the members of your guitar society be interested in this concert? If so, would it be possible to either post details of the concert on your website, or email your members about it? It should be a very good concert and it would be a shame not to pack out the hall!

Thanks for your time and help.

Best wishes

Chris Pickett

Marketing Assistant
Wigmore Hall
36 Wigmore Street
London W1U 2BP

Tel: 020 7258 8276

Fax: 020 7258 8201

Email: cpickett@wigmore-hall.org.uk

Listen to Manuel below

Štěpán Rak at the BCU

Štěpán Rak - genius of the guitar, will be performing a solo concert at the recital hall of the Birmingham Conservatoire on Saturday 22nd May, 2010. It is one of only two dates he will be playing in this country and this concert is being produced by the WCGS in association with the guitar department of the conservatoire.

"There is no real purpose in the course of this brief review for juxtaposing adjectives acclaiming his brilliance, technical mastery, and what-not. Those who have heard Rak 'live' in concert will know what I mean, while those who have not heard him in such a setting cannot fully appreciate the magic and wizardry involved. Go to his concert, listen with your ears and with your heart, and you'll understand."

David Norton, California 1990

Visit Štěpán Rak page for more details of the concert at BCU http://www.worcesterguitar.co.uk/acts/Rak/Stepan_Rak.php
You can reserve tickets for Štěpán Rak at BCU by calling 01886 832715 or by emailing us at tickets@worcesterguitar.co.uk

Download the poster » http://www.contact.worcesterguitar.co.uk/downloads/Stepan_Rak_poster.pdf

Please note that a limited number of seats are available and you should reserve your tickets early if you wish to avoid disappointment.

Štěpán Rak and Neil Smith at Whalley Abbey

This will be followed on the Sunday 23rd May with a 7.30 concert at Whalley Abbey in Lancashire in which Štěpán will team up with Neil Smith for a concert of two of Europe's most respected elder statesmen of the guitar.

The story goes that Štěpán contacted Neil and suggested they should do something special together to celebrate their 65th birthday's. For those of you who may remember Štěpán from his last visit to the UK at the West Dean festival almost a decade ago, and for those of you who will have heard Neil play in the meantime, you will appreciate the irony of imagining these two magicians of the guitar as anything like "retiring gentlemen".

If you are interested in attending the Whalley Abbey concert (as well, we hope) then please note that tickets will NOT be available on the door at Whalley Abbey and that they can only be purchased beforehand, directly from Neil.

You can find directions to Whalley Abbey here » http://www.whalleyabbey.co.uk/location.asp
Download the poster » http://www.contact.worcesterguitar.co.uk/downloads/Whalley.pdf

In the meantime please visit Štěpán's MySpace page which features several tracks including, 'Irish Tea' (in praise of tea), 'Saltarello' from 6 Early Dances, 'Song for David' and 'Digeridoo'... a small sample of this prodigous and highly imaginative composer's output.

You can buy tickets for Štěpán Rak and Neil Smith at Whalley Abbey by contacting Neil on 07818 431575 or by email at » guitarsmith@sky.com
www.myspace.com/stepanrak
http://www.guitaristuk.com/

Lewisham Mandolin Concert Review

(Thanks to Shirley Russell for this update)

In my head, the sound of mandolins always seems to conjure up pictures of warm mediterranean landscapes and so last sunday, a rainy day in London was transformed into a brighter day when I went along to the London Mandolin Festival. An orchestra of about 20 plus mandolins, 8 guitars, and 2 double basses gave an inspiring performance with a variety of pieces, traditional and modern. The festival was seeking to get more people interested in playing the mandolin and as well as some information about the music, there was a light hearted commentary on playing mandolins, the players and their societies.

I was particularly impressed by the sequined ties that formed part of the uniform of one of the mandolin societies. Ian Sequi who came to one of our meetings last year with the Lewisham Mandolin group, seem to belong to most of the London mandolin societies and was given a well deserved round of applause for being the main organiser of the festival.

Should you be a composer of music - the festival is looking to showcase new pieces for mandolins at their next event.

Shirley

London Mandolin Concert 17th May

The First London Mandolin Festival is holding its first concert celebrating London's rich history of mandolin and guitar orchestras. With over 40 players this may be the largest mandolin orchestra to perform in London. 

The program will show case the range and beauty of mandolin music from baroque to contemporary, irish to greek.

Conducted by mandolinist and double bassist Dave Griffiths and featuring guest mandolinists Paul Marquisse and Frances Taylor and guitarist Steve Smith.

Performance will  take  place on Sunday 17th May

Two concerts 4:00-5:30pm and 7:00 to 8:30pm at the Church of our Most Holy Redeeemer, 24 Exmouth Market, Clerkenwell EC1R 4QE

Studnets £5, Concession £7, Non Concession £9

For further information please email londonmandolinfestival@googlemail.com. Check http://londonmandolinfestival.org.uk for more details

 

GUITAR FRANCE 5 - 10 AUGUST 2009

BOOKING OPENED!


We are delighted to announce the official launch of Guitar France 2009, now in its fourth year!

The Guitar France website at www.guitarfrance.com is now fully updated. Please visit it for information on this year's course and an excellent selection of photos from 2008 in the new Gallery section.

Following on from the great success of Guitar France 08, internationally renowned guitarists Gary Ryan (Director), Craig Ogden and the Guitar France team are really looking forward to returning to Bagnoles de l'Orne in Southern Normandy this summer. Last year a wonderful group of guitarists came together from all over the world to study and perform in a tranquil and artistically inspiring setting, have fun socialising with fellow enthusiasts and enjoy the French way of life in the delightful town of Bagnoles de l'Orne.

Guitar France is a unique event in the guitarist's calendar with a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in which all students are helped and encouraged to improve their playing with world-class tuition and regular chances to perform. At Guitar France 2009 there will also be the Gala Concert given by Gary Ryan and Craig Ogden and, the grand finale to the course, the Student Concert, which last year was attended by over 200 people in the superb acoustics of the Église Sacré Coeur.

We really hope that you will consider coming to Guitar France this year. If you could forward this message to anyone else you know who might be interested in the course we would be very grateful. Early registration is recommended as there are a limited number of places.

If you would like to know any further information about Guitar France please contact Louise Holmes, the Guitar France Administrator, at info@guitarfrance.com
or call +44 (0)1689 840 076.

Juan Martin Flamenco Ensemble

Saturday 31st January 7.30pm
Town Hall Lewes

Voted the top flamenco guitarists in the world, Juan Martin is set to perform his own compositions, supported by a line-up of the finest musicians and flamenco dance.
Martin's ensemble is at the vanguard of modern flamenco, with a unique style of music that succeeds in embracing classical, jazz and modern harmonies while upholding the great flamenco tradition.

The guitar and the singing create an explosion of energy and passion that finds expression through raw and dazzling displays of dance.

The show at Lewes is part of a short UK tour that includes such illustrious venues as the Bridgewater Hall Manchester, the Grand Opera House York, Queens Hall Edinburgh, the newly refurbished Town Hall Birmingham, and London's Barbican.

Seats: £19.50....AND CAN ONLY BE BOOKED AT THE HAILSHAM PAVILION 01323 841414

Christmas Crackers: News from Aurora

(Thanks to Maria Sanger)

Aurora present a Tudor and Early Music Christmas Concert at St Mary's Church, Stoke d'Abernon, Surreyon Saturday 20 December 2008 at 2.30pm

Dawn and I are giving the above concert in Stoke D'Abernon and will be joined by Jane Searle (soprano) and Peter Wells (bass)

I attach a flyer with details about the concert.

We hope you can make it.

Best wishes,

Amanda Cook- Guest Performer for the BGS

Make sure that you keep the diary free for October the 18th 2008, as Amanda Cook will be giving a recital for the Bromley Guitar Society on that evening.

Amanda's Bio

Amanda began her studies with Alexander Levtov before receiving a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music Junior Department as a pupil of Charles Ramirez. In 1994 Amanda became a full time BMus degree student at the college as a foundation scholar, where she continued to study with Mr Ramirez and later with Gary Ryan and Jakob Lindberg, graduating in 1998.

While at the college she was awarded several prizes including the Jack Morrison Guitar Prize, the Peter Pears Duo Prize and the Madeline Walton Guitar Prize. In the spring of ‘99, Amanda spent 2 months in New York studying with Ben Verdery with the help of the Countess of Munster Musical Trust.

Her competition successes have included 1st Prize in the 1995 Admira Young Guitarist of the Year Award, the 1997 Ivor Mairants Guitar Award and the 1998 Carol Evershed Martin Award, along with 3rd Prize in Krynica International Guitar Competition, Poland 2000.

Her concerto work includes the Aranjuez Concierto by Rodrigo in Arundel Cathedral and the Vivaldi Concerto in D with the Edinburgh Chamber Orchestra. Amanda has performed throughout England, Ireland and Scotland, including two performances at the Wigmore Hall and recitals for the Classical Guitar Festival of G.B and the Bath International Guitar Festival.

She has given concerts in New York, Sicily, Belgium, Switzerland, Hawaii, Brazil and Northern Ireland, where she played a specially commissioned piece by William Lovelady for the 1st Anniversary of the bombing in Omagh (featured on " Debut ").

For those of you wanting to learn more about this dynamic performer please visit the following sites

http://www.amandacook.co.uk/main.html

http://www.guitarcds.net/store/viewItem.asp?idProduct=1592

Unfortunately there are no You Tube snippets but I found a sound clip of her in action