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Guitar Series

Held throughout the academic year, the VCU Guitar Series presents outstanding classical and flamenco guitarists in concerts and master classes. Guest artists featured in this series are widely recognized throughout the United States and around the world. Past performers have included British guitarist Simon Dinnegan, flamenco guitarists Paco de Malaga and Richard Marlow, the Alexandria Guitar Quartet, William Kanengiser, Larry Snitzler, Dennis Koster, Lily Afshar, the Lafayette Trio, and Italian guitarists Lorenzo Micheli and Aldo Minella. All of the concerts and master classes are free to VCU students.

Classical Guitar Concerts and Events
2007-2008

Flamenco guitarist Torcuato Zamora with dancer Maria

Concert: Saturday, September 22, 8pm
Vlahcevic Concert Hall
General Admission: $10

Torcuato Zamora was born amidst the rhythms and legends of Granada in Spain. At the age of five he moved to Barcelona where he began studying classical guitar. At age fifteen he began giving concerts professionally with his professors Ramon Delgado and Graciano Tarrago. In college he was a solo guitarist with La Tuna, the traditional Spanish college music ensemble. He has performed for the King and Queen of Spain. His international credits include concerts in Luxembourg, France, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands and Canada. Mr. Zamora came to the United States in the 1960’s and since that time has devoted himself to presenting the music of his country, flamenco, as well as classical and South American music and his own compositions. He has toured the U.S. with the Jose Molina Spanish Dance Company. He now resides in Washington, D.C. where he has dominated the Spanish music scene. Mr. Zamora has his own academy of Spanish and classical guitar in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Classical guitarist Timothy Olbrych

Concert - Saturday, October 27, 8pm
Vlahcevic Concert Hall
General Admission: $10

Timothy Olbrych , Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical Guitarist, has performed throughout the Central and Eastern United States in solo, chamber, and orchestral settings, including Merkin Hall, Club A, and Club 54 in N.Y.C., and has been a featured performer on both radio and television.  He has shared his enthusiasm for and expertise about the Early guitar with students and audiences through concerts and lecture recitals in both historical and university settings.

His local ensemble work includes performances with the Virginia Symphony, Richmond Symphony, The Virginia Opera, The Norfolk Chamber Consort, CREO, and The Shanghai Quartet. Tim has also performed on a wide variety of fretted instruments including banjo, mandolin, electric guitar, bass, and ukulele for touring Broadway shows, opera, ballet, and symphony programs.

Classical guitarist Ana Vidovic

Concert: Friday, January 25, 8pm
Vlahcevic Concert Hall
General Admission: $10

Ana Vidovic is an extraordinary talent with formidable gifts taking her place amongst the elite musicians of the world today. Ana comes from the small town of Karlovac near Zagreb, Croatia and started playing guitar at the age of 5, and by 7 had given her first public performance. At the age of 11 she was performing internationally, and at 13 became the youngest student to attend the prestigious National Musical Academy in Zagreb where she studied with Professor Istvan Romer. Ana’s reputation in Europe led to an invitation to study at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, USA, with Manuel Barrueco, from where she graduated in May 2003.

At the age of only 23 Ana has won an impressive number of prizes and international competitions all over the world. These include first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor competition in Rome, Italy and the Francisco Tarrega competition in Benicasim, Spain. Other top prizes include the Eurovision Competition for Young Artists, the Mauro Giuliani competition in Italy, the Printemps de la Guitare in Belgium and the Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York.

Ms. Vidovic will give a free guitar master class on Saturday, January 26, at 11a.m. in the Business Building Auditorium, 1015 Floyd Avenue.

From Villa-Lobos to the Present – featuring the VCU Guitar and Community Ensembles, VCU Guitar Faculty and Guest Artists

Concert: Saturday, March 29, 3:30pm
Vlahcevic Concert Hall
Admission: $10

As part of the Experiencing Villa-Lobos International Festival, this special concert will feature guitar music either compose or inspired by Heitor Villa-Lobos. Performers will include VCU guitar faculty members, the VCU Guitar Ensemble and the VCU Community Guitar Ensemble, and guest artists. Among the works to be performed will be an arrangement of the Aria from Bachianas Brasileiras #5 (for soprano with guitar ensemble), and Choros Modernos, a new work for guitar ensemble by VCU alum Frank Mullen III.

All of the VCU Guitar Series concerts will take place in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue. VCU students, faculty, and staff admitted free with valid VCU ID.