December Meeting Recap and News

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Greetings guitar fans,

Happy holidays and Winter solstice to all! We look forward to next year, which will be our 25th anniversary as of October 2026.

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, notes on the Michael Partington concert, and upcoming guitar-related events.

 

The Monthly Meeting

The gathering on December 11 was cozy and full of holiday spirit.

PROGRAM

Arturo Ville – Christmas medley that included Silent Night, Jingle Bells, Feliz Navidad

Steve and Marge Bismarck (guitar/bassoon) – Silver and Gold by Johnny Marks, Gesù Bambino by Pietro Yon, El Noi de la Mare (traditional Catalonian Christmas song)

Brian Paris – Missing You by Raul Malo, Past The Point Of Rescue by Mick Hanly, Please Come Home For Xmas by Charles Brown
 
Neil and Elizabeth Holland – Christmas medley on guitar and flute, End of the Day (original)
 


Michael PartingtonThe concert by Michael Partington on November 21 at the SOU Music Recital Hall was a big success. We had about 100 people in attendance, and Michael masterfully played a varied set ranging from earlier works to contemporary composers. The more modern piece by Bryan Johansen of Portland and Michael’s Latin American set were a big hit with the crowd.

Michael was happy to be back in Ashland after 24 years. He’s the only musician we’ve had back after all this time. (There’s an embarrassment of riches in guitarists out there!) He got to reconnect with Joe Thompson (pictured above), who met Michael at a guitar conference in 2003 and made the initial contact with the guitar society.

Michael also visited two of Mark Hampton’s guitar classes at South Medford High School. He reported that interestingly, the early morning class seemed more engaged than the later class, although both were appreciative.AnnouncementsGrant Ruiz will play solo guitar at Liquid Lounge in Ashland on Friday, December 26 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM.

Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play duets at Belle Fiore Winery in Ashland on Sunday, January 11 from 5:00 to 7:00  and at the Paschal Winery Happy Hour in Talent on Sunday, January 18 from 3:30 to 5:30 PM.GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:

Monthly Recap and News for October 2025

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AnnouncementsCanto Sol (Dan Fe
Greetings guitar fans,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting and upcoming guitar-related events.
 


The Monthly Meeting

Last Thursday’s meeting was well attended. We had a handful of local artists and a remarkable, unique performance by Brazilian guitarist Álvaro Henrique.

PROGRAM

John Swinnerton – Hummingbird (original)

Michael Van Ausdall – Stuck on You (original), Summertime by George Gershwin, Down in Costa (original)

Brian Parris – I Can’t Tell You Why by Timothy Schmidt, Brown Eyed Girl by Van Morrison, Softly and Tenderly by Will Lamartine Thompson

Grant Ruiz – Raindrops by Neno Mutinic, Soleares modernos (flamenco)

Mark Turnbull – The Leaves Are Changing, You Can’t Go Home Again (originals)

~ Intermission ~

Álvaro Henrique, currently pursuing his doctorate in Minneapolis, played a set of regional Brazilian music by composers such as Dilermando Reis and César Guerra-Peixe, as well as a Bach prelude from BWV 995. If you were not fortunate enough to get one of his CDs, you can hear him on Spotify and YouTube.




Announcements
Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play an intimate house concert on Saturday, November 8. Please email Grant Ruiz to get more information and to make a reservation.

The guitar society will host the extraordinary Welsh guitarist Michael Partington at the SOU Recital Hall on Friday, November 21 at 7:00pm. Michael was part of our first concert series back in 2004! We will send more details in the near future.

GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGON
The GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:

Monthly Meeting Recap and News for September 2025

/in , , , /by
Greetings guitar fans,

Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting and upcoming guitar-related events.
 The Monthly Meeting

Thursday’s meeting had fewer artists but was full of music and camaraderie.

PROGRAM

John Swinnerton – Jazz #1, Nostalgia (originals)

Francesco Bard – Insomniac Artists (original)

Peter Jespersen – Tiempo de vals lento by Julio Sagreras, The Pilgrim by Nikita Koshkin, Barcarole by Aleksander Tansman, Landslag III by Gulli Björnsson

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – Farewell Angelina by George Scrogie/Bob Dylan, Travelers by Tim O’Brien/Alessandro Massa, She’s Leaving Home by Paul McCartney/John Lennon

Neil Holland – Paschal Boogie, Easy Does It (originals)

Grant Ruiz – Estrellita by Manuel Ponce, Scherzino Mexicano by Ponce, La Paloma by Sebastian Iradier
AnnouncementsThe house concert on Tuesday, September 23 by Antoine Boyer and Yeore Kim has sold out. You can send an email if you’d like to be on the waitlist.

Grant Ruiz will play solo guitar at Belle Fiore Winery (100 Belle Fiore Ln., Ashland) on Thursday, October 2 from 5 to 7 PM, as well as at the Springs at Veranda Park (1641 Veranda Park Dr., Medford) on Friday, October 10 from 4 to 5 PM.

Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will be playing at a special gourmet food and fine wine tasting at Schmidt Family Vineyards in Grants Pass by chef Alexandra Delaris Hannah of Ashland Gourmet Catering. The event has been moved from September 20 to Saturday, November 15. You can get more information and make reservations by contacting AGC directly at 951-587-7333 or ashlandgourmet@outlook.com.GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations: