Martha Masters in Concert and Masterclass

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Concert: Friday, January 14, 2005
Masterclass: Saturday, January 15, 2005

Click here to visit Ms. Masters Website

The Jefferson Classical Guitar Society is proud to present the critically acclaimed international concert guitarist, Martha Masters. Ms. Masters will perform on Friday evening, January 14th, 2005, at the First Methodist Church, 165 N. Main Street, in Ashland. Concert time is 8:00pm. Tickets are $15 general admission, $5 for students and free for children 12 years old and under. Advanced tickets can be purchased at CD or Not CD in Ashland or at Central Art Supply in Medford. Tickets will also be available at the door on the evening of the performance. The Southern Oregon University music department will host the artist in a master class the next day, Saturday, January 15th from 10:00am-noon in the Recital Hall of the music building. The class will be open to the public. Auditing fees are $10.00 general and $5.00 students.

Martha Masters is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after guitarists of her generation, being described as “artful, virtuosic and sophisticated,” (Palos Verdes Peninsula News) with “poise, maturity and clean technique” (San Antonio Express-News). In October of 2000 Martha won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Solo Competition, including a recording contract with Naxos, a concert video with Mel Bay, and an extensive North American concert tour. In November of 2000, she also won the Andrés Segovia International Guitar Competition in Linares, Spain and was a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland. Prior to 2000, Martha was a prizewinner or finalist in numerous other international competitions, including the 1999 International Guitar Competition “Paco Santiago Marín” in Granada, Spain, the 1998 Tokyo International Guitar Competition and the 1997 GFA International Solo Competition.

Currently, Martha is on the guitar faculty at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant.

Critical Acclaim

“[Masters] is the winner of last year’s Guitar Foundation of America Solo Guitar Competition. That honor, combined with movie-star looks and a natural showman’s charisma, puts Masters at the forefront of her generation of guitarists.”
– Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Elements in her performance style, a relatively short few years off the launching pad as classical careers go, suggest Masters is on a swift and certain trajectory to star territory.”
– Illinois Times

“Poise, maturity and clean technique Masters put her ample dexterity to good use Her control of instrumental color was exemplary.”
– San Antonio Express-News

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.