WCGS Member Newsletter – March 2022

Greetings WCGS Members!

I knew Xavier Jara was going to put on a great show for us, and after two+ years of waiting I was not disappointed. The Dowland he played was especially beautiful, and was a nice contrast to the Ponce, Takemitsu, and Gubaidulina in his program. I hope you were able to join us.

The WCGS Board Needs YOU!
The WCGS board will be seeing some turnover at the end of the season in June, so if you’ve been thinking about becoming a board member and lending your expertise and skills to help steer the direction of WCGS, there’s no better time than now. Our board members are the heart of WCGS, and in addition to defining our mission, board members play an active role in making sure our events go smoothly, coordinating our memberships and fundraising, and getting the word out through marketing and social media, among many other things. Board members typically serve for a term of 3 years. If you’re interested in shaping the future of WCGS, we’d like to talk to you. Please contact me at president@wilmingtonguitar.org.

WCGS Presents the GFA Winner’s Tour featuring Johan Smith!
We have one more visiting artist concert in the works for April 23rd, the GFA Winner’s Tour featuring 2019 winner Johan Smith from Switzerland. If you’ve never been to a GFA Tour concert, don’t miss this chance. The performances are always breathtaking, and the artists very well rehearsed after playing 30-50 concerts prior to ours. I hope you’ll be able to join us for what will surely be a terrific concert with an amazing young artist. Tickets for all events are for sale now in our Online Store.

Don’t forget, proof of vaccination will be required at all concerts and masterclasses this season, and mask wearing is required while inside the building. Before attending, please familiarize yourself with our COVID policies by reading our COVID FAQ which are updated periodically.

Tickets are on sale now in our online store, and will be available at the door. For your WCGS Member Discount (provided you’re a current member), place a General Admission ticket in your cart and use code ‘johamem’ at checkout to get $10 off the price of your admission. For family members, please follow the same instructions and use code ‘johafam’. We’re limiting attendance to concerts, so don’t risk being left out in the rain.

If your membership isn’t current, now is a great time to renew!

Johan Smith will also be teaching a masterclass on April 23rd at 1:30 pm in the West Room of Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, and we still have 3 performance slots available. Performers can be of any ability level, so don’t miss what might be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to study with Johan. Johan has studied with some of the most important pedagogues for classical guitar, and is himself an accomplished teacher, not to mention a multi-genre virtuoso (he also plays guitar in a popular Swedish death-metal band – I kid you not). He has a world of experience and he’s ready to share it with you. Tickets for the masterclass, either to audit or perform, are also available in our online store.

10th Annual WCGS Members Concert
Our 10th annual Members Concert is just around the corner. Are you going to play this year? Let me know if you’re interested, thinking about it, or need more information. president@wilmingtonguitar.org

Upcoming Salon Sunday March 27th at 6:00 pm at PCOC
Our next salon is coming up this Sunday, March 27, 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 may not have the capability to interact 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 April 24. 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 per CDC recommendations.

2021 Salon Schedule
March 27
April 24
May 29

February Zoom Meeting Recap
Thanks to the few who made it out for our February salon, and thanks for the wonderful playing. It was a real treat. Special thanks to Robert Guerrero and Heidi Wert for performing the pieces from their upcoming CGC Academy exams!

January performers included:

Robert Guerrero – Birds Flew Over the Spire by Gary Ryan, El Negrito by Antonio Lauro, Bourree in e minor by J.S. Bach, and Estudio in b minor Op.35 No.22 by Fernando Sor
Jason Myerson – Españoleta and Zarabanda Al Ayre Español by Gaspar Sanz
Matthew Lavanish – Foggy memory excerpts from Julia Florida by Augustin Barrios and Landslag No.1 by Gulli Björnsson
Heidi Wert (via Zoom) – Etude No.7 by Matteo Carcassi, Bourree in e minor by J.S. Bach, Estudio in b minor Op.35 No.22 by Fernando Sor, and El Negrito by Antonio Lauro.

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