Monthly Meeting Recap and News for May 2024

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Welcome to this month’s newsletter. Read below for a recap of our last meeting, the Dragos Ilie concert and outreach events, and lots of announcements and upcoming guitar events coming this month, including tonight!

The Monthly Meeting

Last Thursday was a lovely evening. We kept the doors open to let the warm, Spring breezes waft through the tasting room. We thank Paschal Winery for their continued hospitality and support, providing us with a beautiful home.

Program

John Swinnerton – Phoenix Rising (original)

Steve Bismark – Oscar’s Dream by Maria Linneman, Curaçao Vagabundo by Caetano Veloso

Richard McGrath – The Glory of Love by Billy Hill, Johanna’s Journey (original)

Neil Holland – Warm West Texas Wind, Bouzouki Laments (originals)

Francesco Palmer – Mother Nature Son by Paul McCartney, Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce, What a Wonderful World by George Wiess & Bob Thiele

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – Across the Universe by John Lennon 1968, Dark Eyed Cajun Woman by Tom Johnston

Mark Turnbull – The Spring in My Step, Branches, Roots and Vines (originals)

Grant Ruiz – Gnossienne No. 1 by Erik Satie

Dan Fellman & Grant – Nocturne by Dan, Leaving/Cuando Yo Muera by Dan (words by Pablo Neruda), Hotel California (Gipsy Kings version) by The Eagles

 Dragos Ilie visit a big success!

What a week for GSSO! Dragos Ilie arrived on Monday, April 29 and performed at four outreach events and then held a virtuosic, intimate concert for us at Grizzly Peak Winery on May 2. He had told Grant that he normally doesn’t give encores, but he treated us to one, a stunning version of Dizzy Gillespie’s A Night in Tunisia arranged by Roland Dyens.

We were so sad to see him go, but here are some pictures from our week. We wish Dragos the best of luck at the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) competition the week of June 17 and in all of his future endeavors.
 

Announcements


The Folias Duo (classical guitarist Andrew Bergeron and flutist Carmen Maret) will perform an intimate house concert in Ashland on Wednesday, May 22 at 7pm as part of their Dragonfly Tour. Please reply to this message if you’re interested. The message will go to Grant, who can provide more information, including the location. You can also write directly to Grant at grantruiz@ashlandhome.net.

Grant and Dan Fellman will play guitar duets on at the Paschal wine club pick-up party on Saturday, June 1 from 1 to 3pm. They will also play at the Lithia Artisans Market in Ashland on Sunday, June 9 from 1 to 3pm and at Liquid Lounge in Ashland on Wednesday, June 12 from 6 to 8pm.

On June 8 at 4pm, Chamber Music Concerts presents Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On: An Afternoon of Shakespeare and Guitar Featuring Anthony Heald & David Leisner. You can get more information here.

The guitar society received a sweet thank you card from Rupert Boyd of Boyd Meets Girl, who concertized for us back in March. Rupert writes, “Dear Jennifer, Grant, and everyone at the Guitar Society of Southern Oregon. Writing to thank you all so much for warmly welcoming us to Southern Oregon. We really enjoyed our time there, and performing for the society! With all best wishes, Rupert and Laura.”

For those of you who missed the Beijing Duo livestream concert presented by the Omni Foundation on April 6, you can find the full concert here.

Please consider becoming a member of the guitar society! If you attend or play at our meetings frequently, we would especially appreciate your support. Your membership helps pay for our ongoing logistical costs. Annual dues are $25 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 or more people). They are good for the calendar year, January through December.

Monthly Meeting Recap and News for April 2024

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Welcome to this month’s newsletter/meeting recap. There’s plenty going on, including our upcoming concert with Romanian guitarist Dragos Ilie on Thursday, May 2 at Grizzly Peak Winery. You can get tickets and information at our website (including a video message from Dragos). Look for a follow-up email with more details coming soon.

The Monthly Meeting

We had a very full, rich evening of guitar music on Thursday, April 11 at our monthly guitar society meeting at Paschal Winery.  We had another full house and were joined by five of Arturo Ville’s guitar students from Grants Pass, as well as several new, very skilled guitarists who played for us. Welcome Wyatt, Jesus, and Nick!

Program

Bob Bath – Claire De Lune by Debussy

Brian Lundeen – Beyond Every Wonder, Cave Junction Caveman (originals)

John Swinnerton – Springtime Suite (original)

Wyatt Thompson Siporen – Merry Go Round of Life by Joe Hisaishi, two unnamed instrumentals, A Sketch for Summer by Vinni Reilery

Jesus Rios – Two untitled originals

Nick Garrett-Powell – Garrett’s Jam & technical demo (original), Autumn Leaves by Kosma and Mercer

~ Intermission ~

Brian Parris – Home by Karla Bonoff, Into the Mystic by Van Morison

Mark Turnbull – Love is Always Young; Branches, Roots, and Vines (originals)

Komac Tapp – Registro by Antonio Lauro

Komac and Arturo Ville – Romance (anonymous)

Arturo – Danae’s Blues (original)

Arturo’s students – Guitar Trio/Andante by Leonhard Von Call, The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel (with Arturo)

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman – Chan Chan by the Buena Vista Social Club, For Sephora by Stochelo Rosenberg 

GSSO Community Outreach Corner

The guitar society has become more active in providing music to the local community, particularly to those who don’t normally have access to live guitar music. On Saturday, April 6 we presented Mark Turnbull to an attentive audience at the Talent Library (above).

Dragos Ilie will play short programs at local schools and community centers during his visit in May, and Grant Ruiz will play at the Jacksonville Library on Saturday, July 20 from 2-3pm.
Announcements

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman will play guitar duets on Friday, April 26 at the new Liquid Lounge from 6pm to 8pm. This is a new venue trying music out, so come support local business and music (and have a good time in the process). They’ll also play on Sunday, May 5 at Belle Fiore Winery from 5pm to 7pm.

Please consider becoming a member of the guitar society! If you attend or play at our meetings frequently, we would especially appreciate your support. The GSSO Board of Directors is currently discussing a set of benefits they can provide to our dues-paying musicians. Stay tuned for more information.

Your memberships help pay for our logistical costs such as ongoing network services and annual non-profit renewal fees. Annual dues are $25 for individuals and $40 for a family membership (2 or more people). They are good for the calendar year, January through December. Please visit our membership page to pay online, or respond to this message for alternate payment methods.

On a related note, we want to assure you that if you respond to our MailChimp emails, your reply will only be directed to members of the board, not to the whole email list. So, you can respond to these messages to contact us, or you can write to guitarsocietyofso@gmail.com, or you can go to the Contact Us page of our website.

Monthly Meeting Recap and More for March 2024

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Welcome to this month’s meeting recap. and announcements.

We had a wonderful evening of guitar music on Thursday at our monthly guitar society meeting at Paschal Winery.  We had another full house and a surprise guest appearance by Rupert Boyd of Boyd Meets Girl, who put on a fantastic show on Friday with his wife, cellist Laura Metcalf (see below). We also had several new guitarists join us on Thursday. Welcome Art, Peter B., Connor, and Brian L.!
 
PROGRAM

Rupert Boyd – Etude #1 by Christian Dozza. A Felicidade by A.C. Jobim (arranged by Roland Dyens) 

Brian Parris – Marie by Randy Neuman, The End of the Innocence by Bruce Hornsby and Don Hendley

Connor Reese – Muse, On Hold (originals)

John Swinnerton – The second and fourth movement of the Springtime Suite (original)

Art Baden and Peter Bland – Another Tequila Sunrise by the Eagles, They Are Killing This Town (original by Peter)

Victor Mlotok with Neil and Elizabeth Holland, a.k.a. Victor and the Misfits – Pioneer Hall (original)

Neil Holland – Blue Ridge Burn, Delta Blues (originals, the latter on the dobro)

~ Intermission ~

Mary La and Grant Ruiz (LaRui Duo) – When I’m 64 by Paul McCartney (arranged by Grant)

Grant Ruiz – Cello Etude No. 7 by Jean-Louis Duport (arranged by Grant), Farrucas (traditional flamenco)

Brian Lundeen – Antelope (original)

Mark Turnbull – Reflection, In My Cathedral (originals)

Arturo Ville – The Children of Piraeus by Manos Hadjidakis, Deep Blue by George Harrison

Boyd Meets Girl Live
BMG Residency
BMG Residency

Boyd Meets Girl a success!

In conjunction with Britt Education (an arm of Britt Music & Art Festival), Boyd Meets Girl had several successful classroom visits around the Rogue Valley in Grants Pass, Phoenix, and South Medford. Then on Friday, March 15, they put on a wonderful, eclectic show at Grizzly Peak attended by almost 100 very appreciate audience members. Our thanks go out to the duo and to Britt Education.

Rupert recently posted on Facebook, “We love you Ashland! What a gorgeous space and warm audience for our concert last night. Huge thanks to @grizzlypeakwinery, Guitar Society of Southern Oregon, and @brittfestival for making this incredible week possible. We hope to be back soon!”

Hollands at JV Lib
Hollands at JV Lib
GSSO continues community outreach

The guitar society has become more active in providing guitar music to the local community. On Saturday, February 24 we presented Arturo Ville at the Eagle Point Library, and on Saturday, March 9 we presented Neil and Elizabeth Holland at the Jacksonville Library (above). We look forward to future events, including Mark Turnbull on Saturday, April 6 at 1:30pm at the Talent Library. Come along and help support our efforts!
ANNOUNCEMENTS

Spanish flamenco guitarist Diego Amador, Jr. will perform with dancer Savannah Fuentes at the Bellview Grange in Ashland on Tuesday, April 2 from 7:30 to 9:00pm. They will also perform in Grants Pass on April 1 (no foolin’). You can get tickets and information at savannahf.com/performance. Diego is a master of flamenco from Andalucia, and his command of guitar, piano, percussion, and voice is not to be missed. Savannah is a dramatic, modern dancer with a strong stage presence.

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman will play guitar duets on Friday, April 5 at Belle Fiore Winery from 5:30 to 7:30pm and on Sunday, April 7 at Paschal Winery’s happy hour from 3:30 to 5:30pm.

Arturo Ville will perform as part of a larger ensemble with the Rogue Valley Chorale and SOU Choir. The performances will be at 3:00pm on April 6 and 7 at the Criterion Theater and the SOU Music Recital Hall, respectively. The repertoire will include Misa Criolla by Ariel Ramírez, which will include Arturo, along with several other selections. You can get tickets and information for the Criterion concert here and for the SOU concert here.

The Siskiyou Music Project is bring Duo Violão Brasil Plus One to Grizzly Peak Winery on Friday, April 19 at 7:00pm. This is a combo of two Brazilian guitarists and percussion. You can get tickets here.

The GSSO is proud to present Romanian guitar virtuoso Dragos Illie (dragosilie.com) at Grizzly Peak Winery on Thursday, May 2. Dragos will also participate in our outreach program, performing at several locations the week before his concert. Stay tuned!