2020 Schedule for Lakeside Guitar Showcase

We'll be appearing once a month at Lakeside in 2020, down from the normal two.  We're sincerely hopeful that this change will make these events even more special AND provide opportunities to expand this formula to other communities in Dane County to further our mission of creating performance opportunities and inspire players and audiences alike.

The Madison Classical Guitar Society (MCGS) hosts a night of member performances "open mic style" on select Fridays. These events give our members a chance to get some practice playing some beautiful music in public, and gives the community a chance to hear some truly great performances . Lakeside Street has great selection of beer, wine, food. There is so much talent at these shows! The performers start at 7.

Facebok events link...

https://www.facebook.com/MadisonCGS/

Acoustic Tuesday at Cafe Coda

We'll be taking our winning "Classical Guitar Showcase" open mic-style formula to Madison's premier jazz venue as part of Cafe Coda's "Acoustic Tuesdays" series. This is a chance for us to branch out into other neighborhoods and create new performance and listening opportunities for our members!
The Madison Classical Guitar Society (MCGS) hosts a night of member performances "open mic style" on select Fridays. These events give our members a chance to get some practice playing some beautiful music in public, and gives the community a chance to hear some truly great performances . Lakeside Street has great selection of beer, wine, food. There is so much talent at these shows! The performers start at 7.


Facebook event listing...

Evan Taucher In Concert, plus Luthier Showcase with Steven Walter

UPDATE!!!!  Due to a water main break, Gates of Heaven is temporarily closed.  We've had to relocate this concert to St. John's Lutheran Church at 322 E. Washington.  

We're excited to welcome award-winning guitarist Evan Taucher back to Madison for a special concert at Gates of Heaven. Evan has been extremely busy competing around the world, completing his second master's degree in Spain, and using his social media platforms to educate and connect guitarists. Sure to be an inspiring show!
https://evantaucher.com/

Before the concert (from 5-7), we'll also be hosting a visit from Steven Walter - guitarist and luthier of the fine instruments Evan is playing. There will be some time to play Steven's instruments in the amazing acoustics at GoH and he'll give a talk about his craft and experiences. Come early and stay for the concert!
http://www.stevenwalterguitars.com/about.html

This project is supported by Dane County Arts with additional funds from the Endres Mfg. Company Foundation, The Evjue Foundation, Inc., charitable arm of The Capital Times, the W. Jerome Frautschi Foundation, and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation. This project is also funded in part by a grant from the Madison Arts Commission, with additional funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board.

Our First Classical Guitar Festival!

SAVE THE DATE!

Madison Classical Guitar Society is excited to announce the date of its new Classical Guitar Festival in the Wisconsin Studio at The Overture Center on October 5th 2019. The Overture Center is at 201 State Street, Madison WI ; a full day of workshops, master classes and vendors. In celebration of women and their global contribution to the art of guitar, hosting a splendid evening performance by three incredible international female performers Frances Karim Chiroque, Ioana Gandrabur and Elina Chekan.

Watch this space for more info.

Tickets Available Now!
Festival Registration
Evening Concert Tickets


Facebook event

Wilson Center Competitor's Concert

This year, we continue our tradition of hosting special performance by a selection of award-winning performers who are participating in the prestigious Wilson Center Guitar Competition. We're fortunate to once again have FOUR great guitarists on the roster: Minh Nguyen, Samuel Hines, Frances Karim Chiroque, and Jesus Serrano. Each will be bringing their A-game with competition-honed repertoire.

ARTIST BIOS:

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Minh Nguyen was born in Ha Noi, Viet Nam. He has been living in US since he was 20. He has received his music degrees from the University of Puget Sound, the University of Wisconsin/ Milwaukee, and the University of Southern California. He has been a top prize winner in several guitar competitions, including the first prize at the Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival. Minh Nguyen has been performing concerts in Vietnam and Us, and currently he is living in Westminster, California. This is his comeback to Madison, after 5 years.
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Frances Karim Chiroque has completed a Masters Degree in Music from Conservatory of Puerto Rico with a major focus in Classical Guitar, making her the first puertorican female obtaining this diploma from this recognized institution.

She has studied with world renown musicians such as Iván Rijos and Manuel Barrueco. Awarded with a Berklee Schorlarship and selected for Wilson Center Guitar Competition as semifinalist, Frances dedicates her love and commitment to represent the classical guitar community from Puerto Rico. She has performed in different countries such as Perú, Colombia, Dominican Republic, and many parts of United States including Texas, New York, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Currently, Ms. Chiroque has been selected for a donation of a $15,000 value guitar thanks to a joined partnership with Connor Guitars and Augustine Strings family, in efforts to give hope in her musical career after Hurricane Maria(2017) in Puerto Rico. Most recently, she has also partnered as a Sales Representative with Frank Cruz Classical Guitars , located in Chicago, IL . Together, they offer quality concert guitars for sale and rentals.
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Praised for, “Virtuosity and deep musical interpretation”, Samuel Hines is an award-winning guitarist from Southern California. His passion for guitar is clearly seen by those who
experience his music. His mentor and teacher Cuban virtuoso, Rene Izquierdo has described his pupil as, “A profound musician, Samuel Hines has matured to become a remarkable guitarist. His
artistry will touch many!”
Recent invitations include the International Guitar Series, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and as a guest artist at festivals in California, Florida, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Besides a busy performance schedule, Hines has won prizes in over 30 competitions, with recent first prizes including the 2019 Houston Guitar Festival, the 2019 New Orleans International Guitar
Festival, the 2019 Appalachian Guitarfest, the 2017 Florida Guitar Festival, the 2017 East Carolina University Guitar Festival, and the 2015 Sierra Nevada International Guitar Festival, among others. Hines was also a competitor at the prestigious Parkening International Guitar Competition, selected as one of 15 competitors from around the world for participation at the 2012, 2015 and 2019 editions.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Music from Vanguard University of Southern California with Michael Nigro, a Master of Music at University of the Wisconsin-Milwaukee with René Izquierdo and is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts with Maja
Radovonlija where he is the teaching assistant.
Samuel Hines plays a 2014 Antonio Marin Montero on Augustine Regal Blue Strings
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Mexican Guitar Virtuoso Jesus Serrano described as the ‘Devil of the Guitar’ stands out for his powerful and refined performance. A winner of multiple prizes, Jesus Serrano has won over 50 prizes in America and Europe including more than two dozen 1st prizes in international competitions, including the 2015 Boston GuitarFest, the 2016 Florida Guitar Festival and the 2017 Festival et Compétition Internationale de Guitare Classique de Montréal.

Composers have written and dedicated music to him to show his extensive palette of technical abilities as well as his unique personality.His eclectic and energetic repertoire is focused on the interaction between speed and sensibility, and his artistic activity has led to him performing extensively throughout America and Europe. Jesus is also often invited to conduct Lectures and Workshops at international guitar festivals as well as being part of the jury in International Competitions.

MCGS welcomes Tengyue (TY) Zhang for a solo concert at Gates of Heaven on April 18th. Please follow us on Facebook for more details!
https://www.facebook.com/events/315221972690680/
https://www.facebook.com/MadisonCGS

Four Guitarists - One Great Concert!

MCGS welcomes four talented guitarists to Madison on April 11th for a diverse program of solo works.


Sergio Hernandez began to show musical aptitudes at age 15 when he had join an estudiantina class in Hanna High School under the direction of Raul Molano. In 2011, in the search for a more refined craft, Sergio began private guitar studies with Dr. Jonathan Dotson. That same year, Sergio participated in the UTPA Solo Guitar Competition where he received first place in the high school division.


Sergio received his Undergraduate Degree in Music Education from the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley under the tutelage of Dr. Michael Quantz and Dr. Jonathan Dotson. While there he was a member of the One O’clock Guitar Ensemble and achieved notable performances with this group. During his four years with the One O’clock ensemble Sergio performed at a national and international level including the Schönbrunn Palace and the U.S Embassy Amerika Haus in Vienna, Austria.


In 2015, Sergio was invited to participate in the International Classical Guitar Workshop in Carrion de Los Condes in Palencia, Spain where he had the opportunity to work with virtuoso Rene Izquierdo. In there, Sergio was able to perform for new audiences and give concerts for the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.


Sergio is currently studying Masters in Classical Guitar Performance degree in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee under the tutelage of virtuoso Rene Izquierdo. Sergio is a recipient of the Chancellor’s award scholarship and the Agah Classical Guitar Endowment.






Simon Farintosh is a promising young guitarist from the west coast of Canada. He earned his Bachelor of Music Degree at The University of Victoria where he was a student of Dr. Alexander Dunn, and is currently a graduate student and teaching assistant at The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he studies with Rene Izquierdo. Simon has won top prizes at several competitions, including 1st Place at the 2018 Northwest Guitar Festival, and is a three-time recipient of the British Columbia Arts Council Award. He plays a 2015 Glenn Canin guitar.






Bo Peng, a native from China, has recently graduated from University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee with a Master in Music. She was trained and practicing in classical guitar since a very young age. She was a classical guitar prodigy with great potential and was awarded several times in local and national competitions. After high school, she chose to pursue a degree in economics and later acquired a master degree from the Southeast University. The logical training during her study in economics has reflected to her guitar performance, especially her interpretation of the complexity of masterpieces composed by J. S. Bach. With her passion for the classical guitar, she became a professional soloist after leaving her economist job. She started to study with Professor Rene Izquierdo since 2015. During years of dedication to her performance, she studied from guitarists and professors including Qing He, Kenneth Kwan and Jiajiong Li and master classes with maestros including Paul O’Dette, Ronn McFarlane, Łukasz Kuropaczewski, Álvaro Pierri, Jérémy Jouve, Raphaella Smits, Sharon Isbin, Timo Korhones, Judicael Perroy, Giampaolo Bandini, and Shin-Ichi Fukuda.
Ms. Peng has shared stage with Prof. Rene Izquierdo and Prof. Elina Chekan as a guitar trio. She is currently an active performer as a soloist. Her solo repertoire includes works from J. S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Fernando Sor, Enrique Granados, Isaac Albéniz and Leo Brouwer.




Born in Bogota, Colombia, Carlos Serrano has completed a masters degree in Classical Guitar at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. During his undergraduate degree, Carlos became aprize winner of the 19th Annual FIU Concerto Competition. He completed a Bachelors Degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Florida International University. His commitment to the guitar and talent have enabled him to perform in master classes given by guitar virtuosos such as Shin-Ichi Fukuda, Aniello Desiderio, Ricardo Gallen, David Russell, Pepe Romero, Manuel Barrueco, Dimitri Illarionov, Adam Holzman, Andrew York, Xuefei Yang and Baroque music specialist Anthony Newman.

Carlos Serrano has performed in several events presented by organizations such as The Miami Classical Guitar Society, Marcus Theaters, Perla de Esperanza Foundation and Florida Guitar Foundation. Besides these events, Carlos has performed with the Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra FIU Miami Guitar Orchestra, FIU Jazz Guitar Ensemble and the FGF Guitar Ensemble. Carlos Serrano has studied with virtuoso Rene Izquierdo, Federico Bonacossa, Rafael Padron and guitarist/composer Mesut Ozgen.

Ayman Jarjour is hosting an open-admission concert on March 9th to benefit Syrian refugees. Admission is free, but all donations/proceeds will be donated to The Syria Fund, at the request of the performer. Please come to see an amazing international guitarist, and please give if you're able.

Karmen Stendler in Concert

MCGS is very excited to present Slovenian guitarist Karmen Stendler as our first official concert of 2019. Please check out some of these links for more info and I hope to see you there!
https://www.youtube.com/user/Nikkyrocks
http://karmenstendler.com/index.php/biography/