Monthly Meeting Recap and News for January 2026

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Greetings guitar fans,

Happy New Year to all! We look forward to the year, when we will celebrate our 25th anniversary in October 2026.

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

PROGRAM

John Swinnerton – Solitude and Paschal (originals)

Brian Parris – Calling Me Home (traditional), Who’ll Stop the Rain by John Fogerty, I’m Not Over You by Carl Jackson, Cowboy Sweetheart by Patsy Montana, Gypsy Soul by Van Morrison, Blackeyed Cajun Woman by the Doobie Brothers

Arturo Ville – Moscow Lights (original), Venezuelan folk medley (traditional)

Neil Holland – Keep Opening Dawes (original)

Matt Dorris – Levantine Suite by Dusan Bogdanovic

Mark Turnbull – Love is in Charge, Emerson’s Song, What Does Love Say? (originals)
 
AnnouncementsGrant Ruiz will play solo guitar at Paschal Winery for their happy hour this Sunday, January 18, from 3:30 to 5:30 PM. He’ll also play at Belle Fiore’s wine club release party on Sunday, February 1, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and at Trium Wines in Talent on Friday, February 6, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Mark Turnbull will play at La Baguette Music Cafe (340 A St.) in Ashland on Saturday, January 24, from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM.

Canto Sol (Dan Fellman and Grant) will play for a salsa dance party at Cedarwood Barn (7912 Wagner Creek Rd.) in Talent the evening of Wednesday, January 28.Guitar for saleFrom Dan Mish, danmish51@gmail.com:

1975 Hermanos Conde Flamenco Guitar 
This guitar is a Gravina model made by Faustino Conde.
It is the same model played by Paco de Lucia.
The guitar is extremely rare in that it has a French polish.
It has been appraised twice at $14,000.
I am selling it locally for $10,000, so as to not deal with shipping. GUITAR SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN OREGONThe GSSO is grateful to receive support from the following organizations:ShareTweetForward

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: