Dave Rogers In Concert
Eugene guitarist and Ashland legend, David C. Rogers played on the evening of Saturday, June 19th, 2004, at Headwaters Gallery, 84 Fourth Street, in Ashland.
David Rogers
World Classical Guitar
Combine virtuoso classical guitar technique with a wide knowledge of world music, and the result is the amazingly versatile guitar music repertoire of David Rogers. Here are settings of Balkan Gypsy dances, Irish harp music, and pieces from Spain and South America, punctuated with amazingly lively rhythm and beautiful, expressive quality of tone. Here also are driving renditions of American fingerstyle masterworks by Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Duck Baker and originals, done with full presence on nylon string guitar using classical technique but leaving out none of the driving style. Add to this the polished performances of selected classics by Bach, Weiss, Sor, Tarrega, Villa-Lobos and others, plus adaptations from such jazz masters as Django Reinhart and Thelonious Monk. Rogers’ setting of Scott Joplin’s “Maple Leaf Rag” has received no less praise from his fellow guitar soloists than his high-Baroque harmonizations of airs by the Irish harper Turlough O’Carolan, and the Scottish composer James Oswald. Dave provides wide stylistic variety to provide listeners with the most varied listening experience possible.
Jaxon Williams at the Craterian Theater
Jaxon Williams, along with six other outstanding music students from Ashland High School, was invited to perform at the Ginger Rogers Craterian Theater in Medford in their “Celebrating State Soloists” recital. The concert was on Sunday, April 4th, 2004 at 7:00 pm. As a result of the Southern Oregon Music Educators Solo and Ensemble Festivals, held on March 13, Jaxon earned an invitation to the Oregon School Activities Association State Solo Music Championships on May 1st at Oregon State University in Corvallis.
Jaxon is the son of Doug and Ronda Williams, guitar student of Joseph Thompson and is a member of the Jefferson Classical Guitar Society. He performed Prelude No. 1 by Heitor Villa lobos.
Matt Dorris Senior Recital
Matt Dorris played his Senior Recital on solo Classical Guitar on Saturday, April 3rd, 2004 in the Southern Oregon University Music Building Recital Hall.
Matt is a member and former board member of the Jefferson Classical Guitar Society. This recital was a requirement for the completion of his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music from SOU where he is a student of David Rogers. Matt performed pieces by Fernando Sor, Isaac Albeniz, Dusan Bogdanovic, Andrew York and others.
Jaxon Williams with AHS Orchestra
Jaxon Williams Performs
Vivaldi Guitar Concerto
with AHS Orchestra
JCGS member, Jaxon Williams was the featured performer with the Ashland High School Orchestra in a performance of Vivaldi’s, Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra in D Major. The event was the school’s annual Winter Fine Arts Festival. The performance was on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, 2004 and took place in the AHS Theater, 201 S. Mountain Ave., in Ashland. Jaxon, a 15 year old sophomore honors student at Ashland High School, has played the guitar since the age of 7. He is involved in the AHS sports program, participating in football, swimming and track and field. He is the son of Ashland residents Doug and Ronda Williams and a guitar student of Joseph Thompson.
Brad Richter concert and workshop
The Jefferson Classical Guitar Society presented an evening of classical guitar with National Finger-picking Champion Brad Richter. Mr. Richter performed a program of mostly original works for guitar on Tuesday, January 13, 2004 at the Unitarian Center, 87 Fourth St., Ashland. He also taught a combined master guitar class and composition class at the SOU music department recital hall. Brad’s website is at bradrichter-guitar.com
Biography of the Artist:
Brad began teaching himself to play guitar and compose at age 12. At 18, having had no formal musical training, he was awarded the Presidential Scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago where he began performing, composing, and teaching professionally. After completing his undergraduate degrees in performance and composition, Brad accepted a scholarship to the Royal College of Music in London where he began studies with guitarist Carlos Bonell. While there, Brad became the first guitarist to win the Thomas Morherr Prize for voice accompaniment and went on to win the Royal College of Music guitar competition before completing his Master’s degree and returning to the US to continue his concert career.
Brad has performed throughout North America and Europe as a soloist, with renowned chamber ensembles and orchestras and in duos with artists such as soprano, Nancy Davis Booth and cellist, David Finckel of the Emerson String Quartet. His performances and compositions are frequently heard on NPR and PBS stations around the United States as well as in films such as Cuando Circa la Sonida and public television programs such as the Emmy award winning The Desert Speaks. Brad has been featured as a performer/teacher at guitar and music festivals around the world. Festival appearances have included the Guitar Festival of Great Britain and the Walnut Valley Festival, where he won the National Finger-picking Championship, a competition that features some of the world’s finest guitarists from all genres.
While at home in Tucson, Arizona, Brad teaches at the University of Arizona. He enjoys hiking, running, biking and playing his guitar in th
