Thursday, September 4, 2008, at 7:00 pm

Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center, Studio 2 (on the 8th Floor)
311 West 43rd St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (see map)
New York City

In September, we will be joined for a special presentation by flamenco and classical guitar master Dennis Koster.

While still in his teens, Dennis Koster began his career as a flamenco guitarist. Today's flamenco has become a jazz-influenced and infused art, but Mr. Koster carries on the tradition of concert-classical flamenco guitar first introduced to the music-loving public in Paris in 1927 by the great Don Ramón Montoya and brought to the world by his followers Niño Ricardo, Mario Escudero and Sabicas. Mr. Koster is one of the few guitarists ever to have learned this music directly from both Mario Escudero and the legendary Sabicas. He has celebrated this legacy in radio and concert performances throughout the United States, Japan, Spain and Latin America. A great virtuoso performer, Mr. Koster is widely regarded as this country's leading authority on flamenco guitar, being the author of the internationally best-selling three-volume flamenco method The Keys to Flamenco Guitar, now in a newly revised second edition released this year by Mel Bay Publications.

NYCCGS Meetings are free and open to all members and first-time guests.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Mattias Jacobsson plays music by Tarrega and Sor, hosted by David Dubal. Live broadcast on WQXR.

www.wqxr.com

Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Presented by The Roger Smith Hotel
Co-Sponsored by New York City Classical Guitar Society

Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City (see map)

Tickets: $15

The Olson/De Cari Duo, a husband-and-wife ensemble, is dedicated to performing and expanding the repertoire for classical guitar and voice. Their unique and intimate approach to song performance comes from soprano Gioia De Cari's background as both a film/theater actor and a classical singer, and guitarist John Olson's sensitive and intelligent approach to both new and traditional repertoire. NYlon Review described a recent performance as "superb . . . served up with style and elegance."

They recently released their debut CD, Quiet Songs, which features the world premiere recording of David Leisner's song cycle Outdoor Shadows, as well as the first American recordings of John W. Duarte's Five Quiet Songs and his arrangements of Gershwin songs. In addition, the CD includes music by Frederic Hand, Heitor Villa-Lobos, and J. S. Bach. The Duo has performed throughout the United States at venues and series that include the MIT Chapel Concert Series, The Monkey in New York City, and the Hamptons Guitar Festival.

The Olson/De Cari Duo is actively creating new music for voice and guitar through their Science/Music Commissioning Project, which seeks to further public understanding and appreciation of science by exploring the process of scientific discovery and the human side of science through song. The Project's first commission, Abyss of the Stars: A Mass for Voice and Guitar, was written by noted composer Terry Champlin, faculty member at Mannes College of Music and Vassar College. The piece sets texts by renowned scientists Albert Einstein, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Richard Feynman in the context of the traditional mass, and underscores the sense of wonder that can accompany scientific understanding.

Read an interview with the Olson/De Cari Duo at Urban Guitar.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Mattias Jacobsson plays music by Llobet, hosted by David Dubal. Live broadcast on WQXR.

www.wqxr.com

Thursday, October 2, 2008, at 7:00 pm

Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center, Studio 3 (on the 8th Floor)
311 West 43rd St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (see map)
New York City

In October, our special guest will be luthier Aaron Green.

NYCCGS Meetings are free and open to all members and first-time guests.

Sunday, October 12, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Presented by The Roger Smith Hotel
Co-Sponsored by New York City Classical Guitar Society

Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City (see map)

Tickets: $15

American-born guitarist Scott Sanchez has been recognized by audience members, concert presenters and reviewers for his artistry and solid musicianship. Referring to his British debut Classical Guitar Magazine (London, England) said, "Sanchez drew the audience into his playing with his excellent performance . . . a performance which at times was introspective and at others extrovert. Sanchez made light work of playing what at times looked like some fearsomely difficult passages." Soundboard Magazine (U.S.A.) has referred to Sanchez's playing as "colorful and poignant." Some of the highlights of Mr. Sanchez's past concert seasons have included recitals and masterclasses for London's St. Bride's Church; Dorset, England's Bournemouth University; Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center; Boston's King's Chapel and the California's Ventura Classical Guitar Society.

Mr. Sanchez currently has three CDs to his credit on the Intraspect label. His recordings have often been featured on various Public Radio stations in the United States.

Scott Sanchez earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Denver as a student of the Cuban classical guitarist, Ricardo Iznaola. He graduated with a Master of Music degree from Yale University where he was a student of the American classical guitarist, Benjamin Verdery. As a student, he also performed in masterclasses for renowned guitarists including Eliot Fisk, David Russell and Scott Tennant.

Mr. Sanchez has taught at Wesleyan University in Middleton, Connecticut; Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. He currently teaches guitar at Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire.

Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Music by Albeniz, Brouwer, Bach, Tarrega and Metheny

Kaufmann Concert Hall
92nd Street Y
Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City

Thursday, November 6, 2008, at 7:00 pm

Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center, Studio 1 (on the 8th Floor)
311 West 43rd St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (see map)
New York City

In November, we will be joined by Frank Wallace, guitarist, vihuelist, baritone and composer. Along with Nancy Knowles, Frank also performs as Duo LiveOak, a guitar-and-voice ensemble. In addition, Frank is Artistic Director of the Boston Classical Guitar Society.

NYCCGS Meetings are free and open to all members and first-time guests.

Sunday, November 9, 2008 at 4:00 pm

Presented by The Roger Smith Hotel
Co-Sponsored by New York City Classical Guitar Society

Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City (see map)

Tickets: $15

"I have rarely been as captivated and enchanted. . . This is a first-rate chamber music duo with a new and refreshing twist." -- Classical Voice North Carolina

Duo LiveOak offers a fresh, visionary voice in alternative classical music, creating and performing their own new body of lyrical contemporary art song with classical guitar. Frank Wallace is one of the most prolific and creative guitarist composers of our time. Frank Oteri of NewMusicBox.org has called his music "contemporary musical emancipation". As time travelers mining our cultural heritage, Nancy Knowles and Frank Wallace collaborate as poet and composer in writing songs that reflect both a temporal and an ethnic diversity, with echoes of blues, medieval, jazz, Latin, and classical music from Ravel to avant garde. Rare composer/performers with a flair for the stage, Knowles and Wallace engage the audience with meltingly beautiful vocals, Wallace’s guitar wizardry and a natural sense of drama. Duo LiveOak has toured for decades throughout North and South America and Europe. They have numerous recordings and publications on the Gyre label.

Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 7:00 pm

Manhattan Theatre Club Creative Center, Studio 2 (on the 8th Floor)
311 West 43rd St. between Eighth and Ninth Avenues (see map)
New York City

In December, guitarist Ana María Rosado will give a lecture/recital on "Latin American Rhythms in Guitar Music." The presentation will include music by Jorge Morel, Agustín Barrios, Paulo Bellinati, Abel Carlevaro, Roland Dyens and others.

Guitarist Ana María Rosado has concertized extensively in the United States, Europe, Latin America and the Far East. A dynamic performer of contemporary and classical music, the Puerto Rican artist has a growing number of works written for her by prominent composers including Jorge Morel, Tania León, Laura Kaminsky, David Fetherolf, Roque Cordero, Rafael Aponte-Ledée, Francis Schwartz and Edmundo Vásquez. Her solo compact disc on the Albany Records label, We've Got (Poly)Rhythm, has been critically acclaimed and her interpretations praised for "each cunningly placed note, chord and expression mark" (Classical Guitar, U.K.)

Dr. Rosado is an Assistant Professor of Music at the New Jersey City University, and also teaches at the Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division. She has studied guitar with Juan Sorroche in Puerto Rico, Alberto Ponce in Paris, Sharon Isbin and Jerry Willard as well as in masterclasses with Segovia and Manuel Barrueco in New York.

NYCCGS Meetings are free and open to all members and first-time guests.

Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 8:00 pm

With Rie Schmidt, flute

Music by Bach, Janacek, Marshall, Verdery and Strauss

Kaufmann Concert Hall
92nd Street Y
Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City

Friday, January 16, 2009, at 8:00 pm

Details to be announced.

Friday, February 13, 2009, at 8:00 pm

Details to be announced.

Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8:00 pm

50th anniversary concert.

Kaufmann Concert Hall
92nd Street Y
Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City

Wednesday, March 25, 2009, at 7:30 pm

Grammy Award winner John Williams, "the reigning master of classical guitar" (Newsday), returns to the Zankel Stage.

Tickets $65, $75

Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
West 57th Street at Seventh Avenue
New York City

carnegiehall.org
212-247-7800

Saturday, May 2, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Sharon Isbin, guitar, with Gemma Coma-Alabert, mezzo-soprano

Kaufmann Concert Hall
92nd Street Y
Lexington Avenue at 92nd Street, New York City