Guitarraganza 2015 – Guitar Festival scheduled for March 12-15

Guitarraganza 2015 – Guitar Festival scheduled for March 12-15

(Modesto) – The Music Departments of Modesto Junior College, San Joaquin Delta College, University of the Pacific and Sacramento State University present the Guitarraganza 2015 – Guitar Festival with six concerts scheduled from March 12 through March 15, including two performances by the critically acclaimed Texas Guitar Quartet.

The festival will begin with a Flamenco Guitar Concert featuring the artistry of Albert Marques on Thursday, March at 7:30 p.m. in the MJC Recital Hall – Music 108 on East Campus, 435 College Avenue in Modesto. Mr. Marques will also give a lecture demonstration on Flamenco performance and dance techniques earlier that day at 4 p.m. in Music Room 111.

A free Alumni Guitar Recital will be held on Friday, March 13 at 1 p.m. in the MJC Little Theatre on East Campus. This concert features Modesto Junior College, UOP and Delta College graduates who began their music careers as far back as 2001.

That Friday evening, world renowned Cuban guitarist Manuel Espinás will perform at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity United Presbyterian Church (TUPC), located at 1700 Carver Road in Modesto. Espinás will also give a free lecture and demonstration on the interpretation and performance of Cuban guitar music on Saturday, March 14 at 11 a.m. in the MJC Recital Hall – Music 108 on East Campus.

The festival will shift gears as pianist Karolina Syrovatkova and MJC professor of guitar Dr. David D. Chapman, performing as the internationally received duo Mus a’Dous, will give a concert on Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. at TUPC.

Later on Saturday “An Evening with Texas Guitar Quartet” will be offered. The concert will feature the acclaimed Texas Guitar Quartet members as soloists as they perform selected jewels from their repertoire. This shared concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the TUPC.

The “grand finale performance” of the festival will be the Texas Guitar Quartet Concert on Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m. at the Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I Street in Modesto. The quartet is composed of Isaac Bustos, Jonathan Dotson, Alejandro Montiel and Joseph Williams II. As soloists, they have garnered acclaim on concert stages around the world and prizes in dozens of international guitar competitions. Together, they bring their unique passions and talents to an ensemble dedicated to presenting chamber music of the highest quality. Their critically acclaimed 2012 debut recording, RED, was featured on the internationally syndicated radio show Classical Guitar Alive.

Aside from the workshops mentioned above, the Guitarraganza Festival will also offer MJC music students and members of the community the opportunity to participate in technique workshops, master classes and a performance competition.

For concert tickets contact the MJC Box Office at (209) 575-6776, Tuesday through Friday, 12 noon to 5 p.m. Additional Guitar Festival information is available at www.guitarraganza.com.

-MJC-

Note: A photo of the Texas Guitar Quartet is attached for media use.

Guitarraganza 2015 – Concert Ticket Prices:

Flamenco Guitar Concert
Thursday, March at 7:30 p.m.
Music Recital Hall, East Campus
$10 General Admission      $5 Students/Seniors
Alumni Guitar Recital
Friday, March 13 at 1 p.m.
Little Theatre, MJC East Campus
Free!
Manuel Espinas Guitar Concert
Friday, March 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Trinity United Presbyterian Church (TUPC), 1700 Carver Rd.
$10 General Admission    $5 Students/Seniors
Mus A’Dous Concert: Karolina Syrovatkova and David Chapman
Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m.
TUPC
$10 General Admission    $5 Students/Seniors
An Evening with Texas Guitar Quartet – Shared Concert
Saturday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m.
TUPC
$12 General Admission    $10 Students/Seniors
Texas Guitar Quartet Concert
Sunday, March 15 at 4 p.m.
Gallo Center for the Arts, 1000 I Street
$20 – $35 ($20 tickets available at the MJC Box Office. $35 tickets available at the Gallo Center Box Office and online: www.galloarts.org)