Greetings WCGS Members!
Salon coming up this Sunday! Concerts coming up all over the place! It’s an embarrassment of riches.
Upcoming Concert: Junhong Kuang
Our second concert of the season is coming up Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 pm at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant, with the young virtuoso Junhong Kuang from China. Junhong has already performed in over 100 concerts, and recorded his first Naxos album at age 14. I’ve been watching Junhong for a few years now, and have seen him mature from a the pigeonhole of the child prodigy to a very thoughtful and considerate musician. When I saw him perform for a BCGS fundraiser last year, I was floored, and knew we needed to get him to Wilmington right away.
We’ve been sharing a lot of videos on our Facebook page and Facebook WCGS Members Group page, so if you’re not already following us or joined in the group, be sure to Like our page and join our group page to be a part of the buzz. This concert is going to be awesome.
Tickets are on sale now in our Online Store. For your WCGS Member discount, place a General Admission ticket in your cart, and input the code ‘kuan’ for $10 off your General Admission ticket. If you’re a family member, use the code ‘kuanfam’ for $10 off up to 4 tickets. To help me avoid intestinal distress, please be sure to use the appropriate code. You can of course get your discount at the door as well. Yes, we will check your membership status before granting you the discount, so please be sure your membership is current.
Works by Sans, Bach, Sor, Granados, Torroba, and Castelnuovo-Tedesco.
Guest opening artist: Haoyang (David) Pan, second prize winner in the PCGS Competition, Junior Division
A reception featuring MyHouse Cookies will follow the concert.
Concert Recap: Andrea González Caballero
What a night (at least that’s what I hear). By all accounts, Andrea González Caballero brought the house down, and left everyone wanting more. We couldn’t have asked for a better kick off to our eleventh season. If you noticed I was conspicuously absent, good eye! I unfortunately was in the ER with some very angry tonsils, but massive amounts of steroids and antibiotics have set me right again. Of course, I’m super disappointed having had to miss everything, but I’m elated everyone had a great time. Special thanks to our board members Robert Guerrero, Simon Varley and Graham Williamson for picking up my slack.
Concert attendance was 90+, which included a lot of new faces, many of them from our Showcase Concert at the Delaware Art Museum. It’s great to know that our outreach efforts are having an effect.
During the day, Andrea also gave a masterclass for our society. Ralph Dominica, Simon Varley, John Nguyen and Graham Williamson all performed and had a great time. If you haven’t made it out to a masterclass yet, we’ve got more coming up. Check them out in our Online Store.
Wilmington Classical Guitar Season 2019-20
I’m going to leave this in the newsletter as a constant reminder of the fantastic concerts we have coming up this season. Take advantage of your member discounts and come out to some great shows! Check our our artists on YouTube and share some of your favorite videos with us on the Facebook group too. Tickets are on sale now for all shows in our Online Store, and Member Discount Codes are posted in our Facebook Group.
September 15 – WCGS Members Showcase at The Delaware Art Museum (FREE admission)
October 19* – Andrea Gonzalez Caballero, classical guitar with special guest Peter Delaplane at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
November 16 – Junhong Kuang, classical guitar with special guest Haoyang (David) Pan at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
February 22* – Bokyung Byun, classical guitar with special guest Tom Potts at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
March 21* – Patrik Kleemola, classical guitar with special guests Un/Strung Guitar Duo (Greg Hayes and Jacob Lyerly) at Presbyterian Church of the Covenant
April 18* – GFA Winner’s Tour featuring Raphaël Feuillâtre, classical guitar with special guests Robert Richey, composer and Matthew 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.
October Salon
Our next salon is coming up this Sunday, October 27th at 6 pm (doors open at 5:45). This may be a great time to have a performance salon in the sanctuary, so if it’s available we’ll be meeting there. 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 November 24th. Mark your calendars!
2019 Salon Schedule
- October 27
November 24
December 15
September Meeting Recap
Thanks to everyone who came to our August salon. We had a great turnout, and some great performances in anticipation of our Members Showcase Concert. Stop by this coming Sunday for more fun!
Here’s a list of last month’s performers:
Simon Varley: Schottish-Chôro from Suite Populaire Brésilienne by Heitor Villa-Lobos
Ralph Dominica: Sarabande from Violin Sonata No.1 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Carl Abramson: Gavotte No.1 & 2 from Cello Suite No.6, BWV 1012 by Johann Sebastian Bach, Andantino No.1 by Fernando Sor, and Waltz by Mauro Giuliani
Gregg Tashker: Padre by Tommy Emmanuell
Joanna Daneman and Matthew Lavanish: Duet No.6 by Fernando Carulli
Graham Williamson: Endecha y Oremus by Francisco Tárrega
Seth Hammonds: Study No.44, Book 2 by Julio Sagreras
John Nguyen: Study, Op.60 No.22 by Fernando Sor and Milonga by Jorge Cardoso
Other Events
The concert season is back in full swing, and the concerts look great. 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.
- Saturday, October 26 at 10:00 am – Masterclass with Meng Su (BCGS)
Saturday, October 26 at 7:30 pm – Eliot Fisk – Fundraising Concert for the Bill Viola Memorial Fund (PCGS)
Sunday, October 27 at 6:00 pm – WCGS Salon (WCGS)
Wednesday, October 30 at 7:30 pm – Mayes Guitar Duo (RU)
Wednesday, October 30 at 8:00 pm – Junhong Kuang & Háng Liǘ, cello
Sunday, November 3 at 3:00 pm – Adam and John Kossler (PCGS)
Thursday, November 7 at 12:30 pm – Thursday Noontime: Kevin Cope, classical guitar (MSMC)
Sunday, November 10 at 1:00 pm – Kevin Cope (DAM)
Wednesday, November 13 at 8:15 pm – Guitar Ensemble (WCU)
Friday, November 15 at 7:00 pm – Masterclass with Marcin Dylla (BCGS)
Saturday, November 16 at 7:30 pm – Junhong Kuang with special guest Haoyang (David) Pan
Saturday, November 16 at 8:00 pm – Marcin Dylla (BCGS)
Sunday, November 24 at 6:00 pm – WCGS Salon (WCGS)
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.
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Best,
Matthew Lavanish
President & Artistic Director – The Wilmington Classical Guitar Society