GSSO Announces New Mission and Vision!

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Dear Guitar Fans:

At the August Paschal meeting, we announced that GSSO had expanded its mission to include outreach to our wonderful community in southern Oregon, with particular focus on youth and on community members who are underrepresented or disconnected from the transformative power of music.  See our new mission and vision here:  GSSO’s New Mission.

What does this look like in practice?  GSSO’s first community partnership is with the Ashland Senior Center, and on August 30th Grant Ruiz presented a free program of Flamenco songs, stories, and history to a large and appreciative crowd.  We received the following message from the director of the Senior Center:  

“Dear Grant and fellow members of GSSO,

Thank you so much for offering an amazing classical flamenco guitar concert at Ashland Senior Center yesterday!  Grant’s playing and singing was so beautiful and moving. It was so wonderful to bring such joy to everyone at the Senior Center yesterday.”

Grant Ruiz performing at Ashland Senior Center

We have also partnered with Britt Music & Arts Festival  to provide music education in local schools.  Our first joint artist in 2023 was Jâca, to be followed by Rene Izquierdo in November and Boyd Meets Girl next March. 
 
New in 2024, GSSO is exploring additional opportunities to assist with guitar education for at risk youth in Rogue Valley, as well discussing opportunities to play acoustic guitar for hospice patients and their families.  We also plan to provide a series of free guitar music performances at rural Jackson County Library branches.
 
In addition to our outreach efforts, we will continue to celebrate the acoustic guitar through our monthly open-mic meetings at Paschal Winery, as well as offer world-class guitar concerts in our region. 
 
Look for future announcements regarding adding new board member positions and collaboration with new partners in the region. We are actively pursuing grants to support our new mission, and we are excited to take this journey with you, our members and supporters.
 
Respectfully submitted,
The Board of the Guitar Society of Southern Oregon
     Matt Dorris, President
     Grant Ruiz, Secretary
     Jennifer Babineaux, Treasurer
     Peter Jespersen
     Ryan Alexander

Monthly Meeting Recap – September 2023

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Dear Guitar Fans:

On Thursday, Sept. 14, we had another lovely evening of guitar music at Paschal Winery.

PROGRAM

Milton & Laurel Bloombaum – O Sole Mio (Italian), Garoon (Armenian folk dance)

John Swinnerton – Untitled original

Steve Bismarck – The Way You Look Tonight by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields

Brian Parris – Murder on Music Row by Larry Cordle, Dark Eyed Cajun Woman by Tom Johnston

~ Intermission ~

LaRui Duo (Mary La & Grant Ruiz) – Fragile by Sting, Harvest Moon by Neil Young (both arranged by Grant)

Grant Ruiz – Prelude No. 1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Paso del Norte by Stefan Schyga

Francesco Palmer – Lágrima/Adelita and Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega

Mark Turnbull – Sew the Flags Together, The Willow by the Well, Let Go of That Thing (originals)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Tickets are now on sale for the GSSO Fall concert featuring classical guitarist René Izquierdo (with special guest Elina Chekan) on Saturday, November 11 at the SOU Recital Hall. The concert starts at 7:30pm. You can get your tickets from our website, guitarsocietyso.org. This concert is supported in part by a grant from the Jackson County Cultural Coalition funded by the Oregon Cultural Trust. It’s one of our big events of the year, so don’t miss out, and please tell (or bring) a friend!

Remember that elections for the Board of Directors will be held at our monthly gathering on December 14 at Paschal Winery. You can learn more about our mission and charter at guitarsocietyso.org/pages/about-us/. (Please refer also to our email sent on Sept. 15.) Note that you don’t have to be a guitarist to be on the board! All you need is a love of the guitar and an interest in helping the GSSO get more quality guitar music into the community.

Grant Ruiz and Dan Fellman will play at Gallerie Karon for First Friday on Oct. 6 from 5-8pm. The gallery will be closing before the end of year, so come in for some guitar music and special deals on their eclectic collection.

Respectfully submitted,

Grant Ruiz

Flamenco and classical guitarist

Secretary, GSSO

flamencopacifico.com

duoflamenco.com

541-261-3811