WCGS Member Newsletter – August 2019

Greetings WCGS Members!

I’m so excited that we have a another salon coming up this Sunday! We’ve been getting a great turnout at recent salons, and some really excellent playing, and it’s so inspiring to see how far we’ve all come. I’ve been sitting in the wings recently, but I’m planning on playing a bit this salon as well, in preparation for our upcoming Members Showcase Concert. More about that below…

4th Annual Members Showcase Concert
The season will start with our fourth annual WCGS Members Showcase concert on Sunday, September 15 at 1 pm. This year’s Showcase, presented with the Delaware Art Museum, will be held in the Art Museum’s East Court, just outside the gift shop. As you know, the WCGS Members Showcase features professional and amateur members of the Wilmington Classical Guitar Society, and is our way of introducing ourselves and the classical guitar to more of our Wilmington community. This is our chance to take our music into the community, and get more members of the community interested in the classical guitar and our concert series. Previous showcases at Brandywine Library and Old Town Hall were amazing successes, and we’ve seen many faces from those events return for other events over the past seasons. This years showcase could prove to be an even greater success, given the popularity of the art museum.

Please put this one on your calendars and come out and support our WCGS performing artists! Performers will include Bill Simmons, John Nguyen, WCGS Secretary Graham Williamson, PCGS President Kevin Cope, WCGS Treasurer Simon Varley, Dulcet Guitar Duo (Caroline Kubach & Alex Pollock), Joe & Kathleen Mayes, Alan Ens & WCGS President Matthew Lavanish, and Brendan Evans.

This is a BIG ONE, and we’ve got a ton of great music in the works. Don’t miss it! The Museum is a fantastic place for a classical guitar concert with great acoustics and Free admission to both the concert and the Art Museum! As part of the distinguished artist series you can also combine an interest in art and music and experience the art exhibition “Mitch Lyons: The Hand Translated” currently on display. Hope you will join us!

Wilmington Classical Guitar Season 2019-20
I’m really excited to finally be able to announce our lineup for next season. We have some amazing artists stopping by for concerts and masterclasses next season. Check them out on YouTube and share some of your favorite videos with us on the Facebook group!
September 15 – WCGS Members Showcase at The Delaware Art Museum (FREE admission)
October 19* – Andrea Gonzalez Caballero, classical guitar with special guest TBD at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
November 16 – Junhong Kuang, classical guitar with special guest TBD at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
February 22* – Bokyung Byun, classical guitar with special guest TBD at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
March 21* – Patrik Kleemola, classical guitar with special guest TBD at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
April 18* – GFA Winner’s Tour featuring Raphaël Feuillâtre, classical guitar with special guests Bob Richey, composer and Matt Kaplan, classical guitar at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
May 23 – 8th Annual WCGS Members Concert at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant

*We’ll also be hosting a masterclass with this artist. Please check our website for masterclass dates and times.

August Salon
Our next salon is coming up this Sunday, August 25th at 6 pm (doors open at 5:45). Monthly salons take place at the Church of the Covenant, 503 Duncan Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809. The church is easily accessible from 95 and has ample parking on the street and in a private parking lot. Our entrance is in the corner of the building right off the West side of the parking lot (see link).

Google directions to the Church: Presbyterian Church of the Covenant

**If you are coming to the salon, please arrive between 5:45 and 6:00. I will LOCK the door at 6:00 so it is not left open and unattended. If you arrive later than 6:00, please ring the black doorbell labeled “Lavanish guitar only” next to the West Entrance or text me at (302) 650-8797 and I will be happy to let you in. Knocking loudly may also work.

*NOTE: The following salon will take place on September 29th. Mark your calendars!

2019 Salon Schedule

August 25
September 29
October 27
November 24
December 15

July Meeting Recap
Thanks to everyone who came to our July salon. We had a great turnout, and some really interesting discussions, some of which have continued on the Facebook group. If your not already a member of the Members Facebook Group, let me know so we can get you connected.

Here’s a list of last month’s performers:
Ralph Dominica – Adelita and Lagrima by Francisco Tarrega
Scott Kuykendall – Op.60 Nos. 6 by Fernando Sor and Allemande from Suite in Dm by Robert de Visee
Debbie Mulrooney – Simple Mambo by Thierry Tisserand
Nathan Ames – Julia Florida by Agustin Barrios
Graham Williamson – Sarabande and Allemande from Cello Suite No.1 by Johann Sebastian Bach
DuoDelphia (Derek Madsen & Robert Guerrero) – Menuet by Johann Sebastian Bach
Joanna Daneman – Etude in E minor by Francisco Tarrega
Jim Kirby – Luthier show & tell
Simon Varley – I. Mazurka – Chòro from Suite Populaire Brasilian by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Carl Abramson – Waltz by Mauro Giulliani and Walzer by Meissonnier

Other Events
The concert season will be back in full swing come October, and there are several great concerts coming up in the preseason as well. Check out all the listings in our regional calendar, and if you learn of other classical guitar events in the area please let us know so we can get them up. Apologies for the incompleteness of this calendar at the moment. I still have to find the time to enter the new events (including PCGS).

Sunday, August 25 at 6:00 pm – WCGS Salon (WCGS)
Monday, September 23 at 7:30 pm – Faculty Recital: David Cullen, guitar
Sunday, September 29 at 6:00 pm – WCGS Salon (WCGS)
Sunday, October 6 at 3:00 pm – Andrew Zohn (PCGS)
Saturday, October 19 at 8:00 pm – Sharon Isbin (BCGS)
Saturday, October 26 at 7:30 pm – Elliot Fisk – Bill Viola Memorial Education Fund Inaugural Concert (PCGS)
Sunday, October 27 at 6:00 pm – WCGS Salon (WCGS)
Sunday, November 3 at 3:00 pm – Adam and John Kossler (PCGS)
Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 pm – Marcin Dylla (BCGS)

For more information on upcoming events, please visit our event calendar at https://wilmingtonguitar.org/calendar.

To submit an event, please Email our event calendar coordinator at events@wilmingtonguitar.org.

We just surpassed 2,200 likes on Facebook! Make sure you’re one of them, and help us break the 2,500 mark! https://www.facebook.com/wilmingtonguitar

Best,
Matthew Lavanish
President & Artistic Director – The Wilmington Classical Guitar Society