The Georgia Guitar Quartet began in 1996 in
Athens, Georgia
Athens, officially Athens–Clarke County, is a consolidated city-county and college town in the U.S. state of Georgia. Athens lies about northeast of downtown Atlanta, and is a satellite city of the capital. The University of Georgia, the sta ...
at the behest of John Sutherland, instructor of guitar studies at the
University of Georgia
, mottoeng = "To teach, to serve, and to inquire into the nature of things.""To serve" was later added to the motto without changing the seal; the Latin motto directly translates as "To teach and to inquire into the nature of things."
, establ ...
and pupil of
Andrés Segovia
Andrés Segovia Torres, 1st Marquis of Salobreña (21 February 1893 – 2 June 1987) was a Spanish virtuoso classical guitarist. Many professional classical guitarists were students of Segovia or their students.
Segovia's contribution to the m ...
. The quartet still comprises all four original founding members: Kyle Dawkins, Brian Smith, Phil Snyder, and Jason Solomon.
Musical styles and recordings
The Georgia Guitar Quartet is known for performing a wide array of musical styles, including classical,
experimental music, jazz, rock, bluegrass, celtic, etc. The quartet has released four CDs. Their first, self-titled CD (1997) contains standard compositions and arrangements for four guitars. Their second CD, "A Live Portrait" (1999), showcases the group's energetic live performances and demonstrates their emerging propensity for inventive arrangements and original compositions. This trend is fully fleshed out in the group's third release, entitled "Mosaic" (2004). This recording features one original composition and arrangements made either by or for the quartet. The ensemble's latest release, "Puzzle" (2007), features all-original compositions by the members of the group, including several collaborative compositions and structured improvisations. Among the composers who have recently written music specifically for the quartet are Russian composer
Nikita Koshkin and American composer Leonard V. Ball.
Performances
The Georgia Guitar Quartet performs regularly throughout the United States. In 2006, the quartet performed
Joaquín Rodrigo
Joaquín Rodrigo Vidre, 1st Marquess of the Gardens of Aranjuez (; 22 November 1901 – 6 July 1999), was a Spanish composer and a virtuoso pianist. He is best known for composing the '' Concierto de Aranjuez'', a cornerstone of the classical gu ...
's Concerto Andaluz with the
Utah Symphony Orchestra
The Utah Symphony is an American orchestra based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The orchestra's principal venue is Abravanel Hall. In addition to its Salt Lake City subscription concerts, the orchestra travels around the Intermountain West serving c ...
at the Deer Valley Music Festival in
Park City, Utah
Park City is a city in Utah, United States. The vast majority is in Summit County, and it extends into Wasatch County. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back. The city is southeast of downtown Salt Lake City and from Salt Lake Cit ...
. In 2001, the Quartet was invited by
Christopher Parkening
Christopher William Parkening (born December 14, 1947) is an American classical guitarist. He holds the Chair of Classical Guitar at Pepperdine University under the title Distinguished Professor of Music.
Biography
Parkening was born in Los Angel ...
to perform as the guest artists at his twenty-seventh annual masterclass in
Bozeman, Montana. A review of their Piccolo Spoleto Festival performance in
Charleston, South Carolina, described the concert as "a dazzling display of technical prowess, versatile programming, and audience rapport." The town of Athens, which boasts a rich musical heritage, has honored the ensemble by awarding them "Best Classical Artist" in Athens five years in a row at the Flagpole Music Awards presented by
Flagpole Magazine
''Flagpole Magazine'', often abbreviated to simply ''Flagpole'', is an American alternative newsweekly that focuses on the cultural, liberal scene of Athens, Georgia, and its surrounding communities. Athens is known in Georgia and nationally ...
.
Discography
The Georgia Guitar Quartet (1997)
A Live Portrait (1999)
Mosaic (2004)
Puzzle (2007)
GGQ/Sims (2010)
See also
References
{{reflist
External links
The Georgia Guitar Quartet Official WebsiteThe Georgia Guitar Quartet Facebook Page
Musical groups from Georgia (U.S. state)