2019-2020 Season

This program is a special event; it is a performance of a new work by the esteemed American composer Dr. Gwyneth Walker, who lives in Connecticut. This new work, Close to Home: Sounds of New England, was commissioned by Alturas Duo as part of its Vox Americana project with funding from New Music USA and support from the Connecticut Guitar Society. In reference to her piece, the composer has written the following program note: These duets for Viola and Guitar were composed in a New England folk music style characterized by simplicity of language, and sparseness of texture. The rural landscape speaks through the notes. As the music was composed during the Autumn of 2018 there is a youthful purity to the opening movement. Praised by The Washington Post as playing with “marvelous virtuosity,” Alturas Duo is recognized as one of the most engaging ensembles performing chamber music today. Bringing together the worlds of South American folk, western classical, and contemporary music; guitarist Scott Hill and violist and charango player Carlos Boltes have performed throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe as well as Central and South America to great acclaim. As Christopher Zimmerman, Music Director of The Fairfax Symphony, notes: Scott Hill and Carlos Boltes as “the Alturas Duo are the quintessential 21st century artists.”  With its unusual [...]

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A full day devoted to Guitar with workshops in classical, jazz, Brazilian styles, sight-reading, open stage, CGS Ensemble performance, luthier demo and plenty of guitar comradery. Guitar Day 2019 is an event sponsored by the Connecticut Guitar Society, the activities are open to the general public and guitar enthusiasts. Join us for a complete day of workshops and a performance by fingerstyle artist Joe Carter. Guitar Day 2019, Saturday, October 19, 2019 beginning at 9:00 AM at the Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, CT. Tickets for the full day, are $45 for non-members, $40 for CGS Members and $20 Students. The Guitar Day ticket includes the evening performance by the Joe Carter Intercontinental Duo.  Please pre-register by calling 860.249.1132 or emailing: info@ctguitar.org. Without doubt, Guitar Day 2019 will offer a sensational music experience for the public!! The full day of events features master classes, workshops and lectures by some of today’s top performers.9:15 AM Joe Van Doren — daily warm-up exercises and practice technique 10:15 AM Randy Spaulding — left hand chord fingering 11:15 AM Ron Calabrese — music theory applied to complex jazz chords  12:15 PM Open stage and lunch12:45 PM Richard Young and Froc Filipetti — luthier workshop 1:45 PM Performance by CGS ensemble 2:00 PM Joe Carter — fingerstyle [...]

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The Trio performs the music of Brazilian guitarist, Roberto Baden Powell de Aquino aka Baden Powell (1937- 2000), long recognized as one of the most important guitarists in Brazilian music history. He combined classical techniques with popular harmony and swing. He performed in many styles, including bossa nova, samba, Choro, Brazilian jazz and música popular brasileira. Special emphasis will be placed on songs from the Afro Sambas, a series of songs composed by Baden and Vinicius de Moraes combining Samba rhythms with African religious rhythms. These songs have long been recognized as the first example of Afro Brazilian culture being brought into Popular Brazilian Music. The Trio features: Joe Carter – guitar Nilson Matta – bass Graciliano Zambonin - drums Guitarist Joe Carter, Director of the Sacred Heart University Academic Music Programs, has studied Baden’s style and music extensively, met Baden in Rio in the 1990s and upon his death, was asked to contribute to an article in Americas magazine, entitled, Bidding Baden Good-bye by Mark Holston.  Joe Carter also taught and was the Chair of the Guitar Department at the Hartford Conservatory for 20 plus years. Bassist Nilson Matta performed with Baden Powell for several years before relocating to the U.S. In the mid 1980s.  Additionally, Nilson Matta has long been considered one of the [...]

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Born in 1996, Raphaël Feuillâtre starts classical guitar lessons at the age of nine with Hacène Addadi at Cholet Conservatory. In 2012, he enters Michel Grizard’s class at the Conservatory of Nantes. Three years later, he is accepted to Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music and Dance (CNSMDP) into the class of Roland Dyens and obtains his Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in 2017 with highest honors. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Classical Guitar Performance with Tristan Manoukian. Simultaneously, Raphaël is taking classes with Judicaël Perroy, who plays a very important role in his artistic development. Alongside his studies, Raphaël takes part in various international guitar competitions, obtaining several major awards. In 2017, he wins the 1st prize in the International Guitar Competition Jose Tomas – Villa Petrer in Spain. This enables him to record his first album with JSM Guitar Records in 2018 (Bach, Granados, Tansman, Assad, Dyens) and be invited to multiple festivals in and outside France (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Holland, Montenegro, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, etc.). Winner of the highly prestigious competition Guitar Fondation of America (GFA) in 2018, Raphaël is preparing the recording of his second opus (Naxos Label, 2019) and a six month tour around USA and [...]

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Paying homage to Django Reinhardt. The Hot Club of Black Rock plays hot swing, or jazz manouche, the kind of jazz that was popular in Paris in the 1920s and 1930s. Think the Moulin Rouge, or a cafe at four in the morning. Guitar (R) - William Earley William attended Naugatuck Community College, where he studied with Joe Beck (Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra) and later pursued guitar at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA, where he studied with renowned guitarists like Scott Henderson, Dan Gilbert, and Allen Hinds. Will is a virtuoso guitarist who is quickly becoming a local celebrity and well-sought-after session guitarist.  Guitar (L) - Matt Dempsey Matt received a B.S. in Music and Sound Recording from the University of New Haven. He has also traveled to The Collective School of Music in NYC to continue his education. Believing that we are forever students, Matt feels strongly that to be a good educator one must be open and constantly learning. He currently teaches at the Fairfield/Trumbull School of Music and the Fairfield School of Rock.  Upright Bass - Frank Brocklehurst Based out of Western CT, Frank Brocklehurst splits his busy schedule between performing throughout New England and building/repairing musical instruments.  Clarinet - Mike Piraneo Mike has a master's degree in music education from the Hartt School of Music.  He performs classical as [...]

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Doug Maher is originally from Windsor, CT. He has over 40 years of experience as a professional guitarist performing throughout New England, Washington, D.C. and South Florida. He began his career with "The Army Blues," the Jazz Ensemble of the U.S. Army Band in Washington, D.C. performing at The White House and in concert throughout the United States. Doug is currently the Adjunct Instructor of Guitar and Jazz Combo at the University of Connecticut. At UConn, Doug has backed notable guest jazz artist/clinicians Dick Oatts, Jeff Hamilton, Ernie Watts, Scott Wendholt, John Mosca and Rudy Royston. His notable recent performances include The Hartford CT Jazz Festival, the Ikutsk Jazz Festival in Ikutsk, Siberia, the Bozeman (Montana) Symphony Orchestra March 2015 premier of “Glacier”, a Concerto for Electric Guitar and Orchestra composed by Dr. Kenneth Fuchs. He has performed in Connecticut with “Blue” Lou Marini, Earl MacDonald, Ellen Rowe, Joe McCarthy, Ed Fast, Kris and Jen Allen, John Mastroianni, Matt and Atla DeChamplain, Matt Dwonszyk, Jonathan Barber, the New London Big Band, the Other Orchestra, the United States Coast Guard Academy “Guardians” Jazz Ensemble, and the UConn Faculty Jazz Quartet. Doug earned his B.M. (Jazz Guitar Performance) from Berklee College of Music, M.M. (Jazz Pedagogy) from The University of Miami, [...]

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Eric Elias is one of America's outstanding young guitarists. Whether performing as a soloist or with small combos, Eric's music represents a blend of jazz, blues, and folk music. He has been described as having a folk and worldmusic sound with a "straight ahead" style. Touring experience has taken Elias from London to Toronto and across the eastern and central United States, playing at clubs and festivals. He has opened for Maynard Ferguson, performed live with world-renowned guitarist Phil Keaggy and played at the Cornerstone Festival. Eric has also been featured on two CDs for the Connecticut Classical Guitar Society as well as recordings with guitarists Robert Messore and Luke Nelson. As a result of Eric's musical skills, his compositions have been used for two PBS television shows and have been recorded by other artists. Mr. Elias is also a columnist for Just Jazz Guitar magazine and has authored 11 instructional books in the area of jazz and bass guitar performance. In concert Eric is a remarkable performer. His use of effects and percussive guitar techniques allow him to create interesting textures of guitar, that often sound like a several instruments being played at once. His jazz arrangements for solo guitar are unique and sophisticated yet down to earth. He was described by Free Time Magazine as one of the funkiest acoustic guitarists in Rochester, NY. Currently, [...]

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MARK NOMAD’S music has been heard on radio stations all over the world and has been used in commercials and in film. Nomad’s blues have been tempered by years of living and experience; expressed by the plaintive cry of a bottleneck on acoustic guitar or the driving funk of his electric band. The Nomad moniker was born in Chicago when he sat in with the Jimmy Johnson Band at B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted Street. Nomad began playing the blues in the 1960’s and by the 70’s, was sharing the concert stage with many of the biggest names in show business. He was co- founder of the original Little Village. Their debut album is considered a collector’s item and the band was legendary in the Northeast. Nomad penned a jingle for the Subway fast food chain in their early days. Another composition was used as the theme for WBAB, a major New York radio station, for 10 years. Nomad has performed at venues such as the Bottom Line, House of Blues, Bushnell Memorial, Toad’s Place, China Club, Iron Horse, Palace Theater, New Haven Coluseum and scores of colleges and blues festivals. Nomad has been acclaimed as a master slide guitarist, a singer-songwriter and a bandleader. Whether performing solo or with his band, Nomad passionately takes the listener on a journey from where the blues have been, to where they’re going.Note: All tickets will be held at the door [...]

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