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Greetings Subscriber!
Big news. Our first in-person salon in quite a while is coming up on Sunday, our summer BBQ (August 14) is a go, and in-person concerts will start back up in October! That is, if you’re vaccinated…
Upcoming Salon Sunday 7/25 at 6:00 pm at PCOC
After over a year of virtual salons, we’re finally at a point where enough Americans are vaccinated and case counts are low enough that we can hold an in-person salon!
PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ATTEND SALONS IN PERSON. 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.
Our next salon is coming up this Sunday, July 25, at 6 pm (doors open at 5:45). Monthly salons take place in the West Room 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.
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 will not have the capability to interract with you, or to enable you to participate via Zoom this salon. 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 August 29. Mark your calendars!
July Challenge Piece
Our challenge piece this month is an advanced challenge piece, Rosita by Spanish/Argentinian composer Antonio J. Manjón (1866 – 1919). Thanks to Joanna Daneman for turning me on to this piece! Manjón had quite a remarkable life. A contemporary of Albeniz, this highly-literate blind guitarist apparently started his guitar studies with a pupil of Aguado, and enjoyed a high reputation. So skilled was he that it is said Agustín Barrios asked him for lessons, and a young Miguel Llobet was so impressed after hearing him that he decided to dedicate himself to the guitar.
Rosita is available in the announcements section of our Facebook Group. Be sure to click “See All” in the announcements section at the top of the “Discussions” feed when you log in. PLEASE NOTE: there is a discrepency in this edition compared to others, where the pedal tone e in the middle voice in the first two beats of measures 35 & 39 should probably be an f. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to verify with an original source copy, but I do like the f better.
Future, present, and past challenge pieces are also available in our Facebook Group in the “Guides” section, so check back there for updates. You can even check off the pieces as you complete them!
2021 Salon Schedule
July 25 (in person!)
August 29
September 26
October 24
November 21
December 19
WCGS Potluck BBQ 2021
Summer is upon us, and now that it’s safe(ish) to venture forth from our hidey-holes, we’re looking to celebrate! It’s time for our mostly annual WCGS Members Potluck BBQ. The potluck BBQ will be held the afternoon of August 14th (rain date August 21st), from noon – 5:00 pm, so get it on your calendar! We will provide hamburgers, hotdogs and light refreshments. Please bring along your favorite dish to make it complete! We’ll have some beers on hand as well, but please feel free to bring and share your favorite!
PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST HAVE A CURRENT COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ATTEND THE POTLUCK BBQ. 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.
Fun for the whole family, so bring your loved ones along (provided they’re vaccinated). If the weather is nice, the pool will be open for swimming and other aquatic shenanigans. It’s not uncommon to play some music at these shindigs as well, so why not bring a guitar?
The WCGS Members Potluck BBQ will be held at The Varley residence – 8 Saw Mill Rd, Glen Mills, PA 19342.
If you’re planning on coming, please RSVP in the event on our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/events/156315016594593/ or send me a quick message to president@wilmingtonguitar.org to let me know you’re coming and how many you’ll be bringing. Thanks!
WCG Season 2021-22
Great news: Wilmington Classical Guitar will return in the fall! I’m currently in talks with artists to put together an entire season. I hope you’re as excited as I am! I’ve tentatively confirmed all of the artists I was hoping to book, including Jordan Dodson (October 23), Phil Goldenberg (November 13), Hao Yang (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 artist 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.
Concerts are confirmed for Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, as in the past few seasons. The Church can’t wait for us to return, and we can’t wait to be back in such a wonderful-sounding hall.
PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE A CURRENT COVID-19 VACCINATION TO ATTEND 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.
June Meeting Recap
Glad if you were able to make it to our last (hopefully) virtual meeting in June. As I was unable to attend, I don’t have a writeup for you this month, but thanks to everyone who tuned in. I’m looking forward to seeing you all in person this Sunday!
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
