Michael Partington in Concert and Masterclass

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Concert: Friday, October 29, 2004
Masterclass: Saturday, October 30, 2004

The long awaited “JCGS Concert Series” began with a concert by British classical guitarist, Michael Partington. Mr. Partington performed for us on Friday, October 29th, at 8:00 pm. The concert took place at the First Methodist Church, 165 N. Main Street, in Ashland. The Southern Oregon University music department hosted a master class with Mr. Partington the next day, Saturday, October 30 from 10:00am-noon in the choir room (room 220 upstairs) of the music building.

(Click here for Mr. Partington’s Website. http://www.michaelpartington.com/concerts.html)

Michael Partington is one of the most engaging of the new generation of concert players. Praised by Classical Guitar Magazine for his “lyricism, intensity and clear technical command,” this award-winning British guitarist has performed internationally as a soloist and with ensemble to unanimous critical praise. Audiences are put at ease by his charming stage manner and captivated by his musical interpretations. His innate rhythmic understanding and sense for tonal colour combine to form some of the most memorable phrasing to be heard on the guitar.

He began playing guitar at age 6 while growing up in Wales, gave his first public performance at age 7 and won his first competition at age 9. He has trained with many of the world’s greatest guitarists, including Oscar Ghiglia, Eliot Fisk, Eduardo Fernandez, Manuel Barrueco and David Russell, who commented on his “exquisite good taste and fluid perfection.” Partington received a performance degree from the University of Washington, where he was a Brechemin scholar and graduated magna cum laude, studying under Steven Novacek.

Since moving to the USA he has received awards in several guitar, instrumental and concerto competitions. He has appeared throughout the USA, UK and Scandanavia in solo recital, with orchestra and in chamber ensembles. He has performed along the West Coast from Los Angeles to Vancouver, and in Idaho, Arizona, Texas and Virginia, including the first solo guitar recital in Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Other US performances include the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, the Cascadia Festival, the Chelan Bach Fest, the Northwest Guitar Festival and the Portland Guitar Festival, Town Hall and Meany Theater in Seattle, Portland’s Lincoln Hall, Murphy Hall in Los Angeles, Katzin Hall in Phoenix. Concerts in England and Wales have included Blackheath Halls, St. Martin-in-the-Fields and St. James’, Piccadilly in London; St. Mary in the Castle, Hastings; Bristol Music Club; Norwegian Church, Cardiff; Russell-Cotes Museum, Bournemouth; Brewery Arts Centre, Kendall; Trinity Arts Centre, Tunbridge Wells; Nottingham; Carlisle; Derby; and others. He has performed live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune, BBC Radio Bristol, BBC Wales and Great Western Radio in the UK, as well as on KUOW, KING FM, KZAZ, and KAOS in Washington, KUT in Texas, and cable television in California and Washington. He has also performed with Orchestra Seattle, Seattle Choral Company, Seattle Chamber Players, Seattle Creative Orchestra, Wenatchee Valley Symphony, Seattle New Music Ensemble, Seattle Symphony Chorale, English organist Margaret Phillips, Grammy-winning soprano Carmen Pelton, and the Seattle Guitar Quartet. He has released four solo CDs for Rosewood Recordings.

“Consummate guitar artistry command, tonal variety and.”
Melinda Bargreen, Seattle Times

” exquisite good taste and fluid perfection. He truly makes the guitar sound beautiful.”
David Russell

“His playing was beautifully poised with all the technique and imagination to convey the textures of the work, and produce a very full, rich tone on the guitar… fine musicianship.”
Thérèse Wassily Saba, Classical Guitar Magazine

“Gorgeous playing… He does what I think is most interesting, he owns every note he plays. No muffled half played passages or over the top slurred messes of ambiguity. Every note was there and every note contributed to the shapes and forms and drama of the music unfolding. The breathing was perfect and the long crescendos with such a big sound on top took my breath away … wonderful clarity and sense of texture.” Larry Deack, Orange County Guitar Circle

Benefit Concert at the Unitarian Center

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Unitarian Center
87 Fourth St.
Ashland, Oregon
Sunday, August 29th, 2004 3pm

The Jefferson Classical Guitar Society (JCGS) will present a benefit concert on Sunday, August 29th at 3:00pm. The performance will take place at the Unitarian Center, 87 Fourth Street, in Ashland. This Benefit Concert will showcase professional guitarists from the JCGS who are also prominent members of the regional music community. It will feature solo performances by guitarists Joseph Thompson, Grant Ruiz, Steve Berman, Bil Leonhart, David Rogers, Jaxon Williams and Dan Ferris as well as an appearance by the Dark Rose Guitar Trio. The program will include music from the traditional classical guitar repertoire as well as flamenco guitar and early music on baroque guitar and vihuela.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students. Children under 12 years of age are admitted for free. Tickets will be available at the door. Advanced tickets are recommended and can be purchased at “CD or not CD”, 343 E. Main St. in Ashland or at Larry’s Music, 1105 N. Riverside Ave. in Medford. The society will also sell raffle tickets at the concert. The winner of the drawing will get a house concert in their own home for their friends and family by the Dark Rose Trio. Raffle tickets are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.

This benefit concert is the kick-off to a fund-raising drive in support of the society’s first concert series, and all proceeds will go toward the series. The series features three outstanding, internationally recognized concert guitarists. The first concert in the series features Michael Partington of Seattle on October 29, 2004. Next will be Martha Masters of Los Angeles on January 14, 2005. Jason Vieaux of Cleveland, Ohio will perform the final concert of the series on March 11, 2005. Each guitarist will also teach a master class the day following the concert. The membership of the JCGS is very excited to have the opportunity to present these gifted artists to the Rogue Valley.

The Jefferson Classical Guitar Society formed about three years ago as a small group of individuals interested in sharing their passion for the classical guitar. It has rapidly grown into a non-profit organization that has sponsored a number of concerts, master classes, and special events. The society meets on the first Tuesday of every month at Paschal Winery in Talent, attracting up to 60 people per month. The membership ranges in age from 7 to 77 and from beginners to amateurs to professionals. The society also has a special interest in outreach to young and old alike. Members have performed at local schools, retirement facilities, and charitable events. All are welcome to attend the monthly meetings to enjoy a wide array of live music played on the classical guitar.

For more info call 552-9515. Click here for a printable image of the JCGS Benefit Concert flyer.

Dave Rogers In Concert

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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.