Greetings Subscriber!
Happy holidays! Hope you’re having a great holiday season, and are looking forward to our upcoming Holiday Salon.
Normally we’d be planning something big for our December salon, inviting speakers and holding a potluck dinner, but this year, in the interest of safety, we’re going to keep it small. As in our normal salons, everyone is welcome to perform some music for the group, so dust off your holiday sheet music (or whatever) and share some tunes with us! Based upon who attends and how much time we have, we may or may not also critique everyone’s performance as we normally do.
In addition, we’ll also take the opportunity to share some holiday cheer. We’ll have some treats provided for the group by our good friends at My House Cookies, and perhaps some beverages (non alcoholic) of some sort. Please feel free to bring along some of your own favorite holiday comestibles to share! However, don’t let lack of treats prevent you from attending. I’m sure we’ll have plenty of cheer to go around without everyone bringing something.
Please remember you must have a current COVID-19 vaccination to attend our Holiday Salon. And please please please, if you are experiencing any symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, runny-nose, short of breath, etc.), please do not come. Nobody wants to be taking colds/flu to their family gatherings, let alone COVID. We’ll catch up with you in the New Year.
Here are the details:
Upcoming Salon Sunday 12/19 at 6:00 pm at PCOC
Our next salon is coming up this Sunday, December 19, at 6 pm (doors open at 5:45). Monthly salons take place in the West Room or the Sanctuary 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 text Matthew at (302) 650-8797 or Robert at (610) 212-5317 and we’ll will be happy to let you in. Knocking loudly may also work.
If you are unable to attend our in-person salon, but would still like to watch, you may join us via Zoom (← click for link). We will endeavor to have a camera and mic set up for you to passively observe, but we may not have the capability to interact with you, or to enable you to participate via Zoom. If there is interest, we will look into making active Zoom participation possible at future meetings. Please let us know!
*NOTE: The following salon will take place on January 30. Mark your calendars!
PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ATTEND WCGS EVENTS IN PERSON, including salons, and PROOF OF VACCINATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND MASTERCLASSES AND CONCERTS. If you are not fully-vaccinated, or are experiencing any symptoms of illness (coughing, fever, runny-nose, short of breath, etc.), please do not come.
PLEASE WEAR A MASK. We will also be requiring mask wearing at salons and concerts and other events per CDC recommendations, specifically: “If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are in an area of substantial or high transmission.”
2021 Salon Schedule
December 19
January 30
February 27
WCG Season 2021-22
We’ve still got a lot in store for you this season, including the debut of the New York City Guitar Quartet (February 19), Xavier Jara (March 19), and the GFA Tour Featuring Johan Smith (April 23). In addition we’ll have the 10th Annual (!) WCGS Members Concert (May 21). Can’t wait!
To sweeten the deal, we’ll be holding a masterclass with each of our solo artists while they’re here, so all of you performers, practice up. Soon it will be your chance to perform for one of our artists in a masterclass, and a great chance for the rest of us to learn from your hard work.
And for you curious onlookers, auditing masterclasses is FREE! Sign up as an auditor and join the fun.
Tickets for all events are for sale now in our Online Store. If you’d like to order tickets online with your member discount, please refer to the email I sent out with all discount codes in November, or the pinned topic in our Facebook group.
November Meeting Recap
We had quite a great turnout for our November meeting, and I think everyone played, which might even be a first – or at least a first in a long time. We also upgraded our Zoom feed, so if you’re thinking of joining us in the future virtually, you’ll be treated to better visuals and audio thanks to Simon and Matthew. Thanks everyone for coming, and for sharing your wonderful music with us.
November performers in no particular order:
Robbie Berge and Matthew Lavanish – Gnosssienne No.1 by Erik Satie, arranged for 2 guitars
Robert Guerrero – Etude 3 (Calme) by Thiery Tisserand and “Walking” by Andrew York
Matthew Lavanish – Landslög No.1 by Gulli Björnsson (November Challenge Piece)
Simon Varley – Prelude No.1 by Manuel Ponce
Debbie Mulrooney – Landslög No.1 by Gulli Björnsson (November Challenge Piece)
Jason Myerson – Waltz Op.32 No.2 by Fernando Sor, and Españoleta by Gaspar Sanz
Viet Nguyen – Etude No.2 by Fernando Sor, and a Vietnamese Romance
Scott Kuykendall – Prelude to Cello Suite No. 1 BWV1007 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Ralph Dominica – Un Die de Noviembre by Leo Brouwer (a November tradition), and “Simple Gifts” by anonymous, arranged for guitar
Check out our Facebook group for some great insight into what’s happening online with classical guitar. There are all kinds of new things popping up, from festivals, masterclasses, competitions, concerts, and lectures.
To submit an event for our event calendar, please Email our event calendar coordinator at events@wilmingtonguitar.org.
We’re at 2,450+ followers on Facebook! Make sure you’re one of them, and help us break the 2,500 mark! https://www.facebook.com/wilmingtonguitar
Best wishes, and stay safe,
Matthew Lavanish
President & Artistic Director – The Wilmington Classical Guitar Society