Dear Subscriber,
As 2021 comes to a close, I find myself looking forward to what the next year might bring, and hope, as we all do, for a continued return to the sense of normalcy we once shared.
2021 has been a mixed bag for sure. I’m thankful that, despite the hardships, we’ve been able to come together as a community and continue to bring music into the world. Reopening our doors for in-person concerts was perhaps one of the hardest decisions WCG has ever had to make. I worried (and still worry) endlessly over the ramifications, but I have been so heartened and encouraged by the show of support we’ve received. I knew hearing those first notes from a live guitar would stir my emotions, but I was unprepared for how deeply moving reconnecting with our community would be. Many in the audience sought me out to share their stories or a simple thank you, and their words reminded me why we do this, and why what we do as a community is so important. Music is light in the darkness; music brings us together; music is healing — and we have never needed all that music is more than right now.
Thankfully we have more music planned for 2022. In February we’ll continue our concert season with the exciting debut performance of the New York City Guitar Quartet, in March with the long-anticipated return of 2016 GFA Winner Xavier Jara, and in April with the GFA Winner’s Tour, featuring Swedish guitarist Johan Smith. We’ll conclude in May, as always, with our 10th Annual WCGS Members Concert, our annual celebration of music and community. I hope you’ll be able to join us for these performances, and experience with us all that music can be.
Membership dues and donations make everything we do at Wilmington Classical Guitar possible, and since WCG is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations are fully tax deductible. Our sincere thanks are extended to all who have donated so far this season. THANK YOU! As you make your year-end donations for the 2021 tax season, please consider a gift to WCG to see us into the new year.
Your gift this season will help support:
- Our Wilmington Classical Guitar concert series and masterclasses, featuring world-class guitarists from all over the world.
- Our Opening Artist Program, when it returns, which gives aspiring artists opportunities to gain experience by performing brief sets at the start of our concerts.
- Our monthly in-person and virtual salon series, designed as a friendly forum for our members to practice performing and receive feedback from their peers. This no-pressure environment is a safe space for a first performance, and an invaluable source of inspiration and helpful critiques.
- Our outreach performances, bringing classical guitar out of the concert hall to inspire listeners throughout the Greater Wilmington area and share our love of the classical guitar with new audiences.
Would you consider a year-end gift of $100 to help make all of this possible? You may donate online at https://www.wilmingtonguitar.org/donate by December 31st, or mail a check payable to “Wilmington Classical Guitar” to our Treasurer, Simon Varley, at 8 Sawmill Rd., Glenn Mills, PA 19342.
Thanks for being part of Wilmington Classical Guitar!
Matthew Lavanish
President & Artistic Director – Wilmington Classical Guitar