Guitar Quartet to Show Off Fancy Fret Work

California-based Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) brings its Grammy-winning sound to the UT Dallas Conference Center at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.

The quartet has a wide-ranging repertoire, and while the guitarists strive to keep a classical element to their programs, they also like to incorporate other genres. With 12 recordings and 27 years on the concert stage, John Dearman, Scott Tennant, William Kanengiser and newcomer Matthew Greif demonstrate a mastery of the classics while allowing themselves to explore other styles, such as jazz and the music of Brazil.

Quartet Plans Master Classes for UT Dallas Guitar Students In addition to the performance, the LAGQ will share its guitar expertise with UT Dallas Guitar Studies students during a master class at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16. Undergraduates from Music History and graduate students from the Aesthetic Studies course will use the LAGQ’s time on campus as a learning workshop, studying the group’s performance and music selections. The public may observe the class on a space-available basis.

“The LAGQ is the most outstanding guitar quartet in the world,” said Russell Cleveland, chairman of the UT Dallas Guitar Advisory Board. “The group has produced a number of outstanding albums over the years, and always delights the audience with their music.”

The UT Dallas performance is scheduled to begin with 19th- and 20th-century compositions by Gioacchino Rossini, Gerald Garcia and Manuel de Falla. The second half of the program features the music of Brazil, with works by Hermeto Pascoal, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Paulo Bellinati. The evening concludes with “American Classics” by composers such as John Phillip Sousa and Aaron Copland.

“Beginning the guitar season with such as outstanding ensemble such as the LAGQ and ending it with the 8th Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival in March provides a perfect set of Grammy-winning ‘bookends’ for the 2008-2009 Guitar Concert Series,” said Enric Madriguera, director of the guitar studies program.

Tickets are $25. Discounts are available for the following groups: UT Dallas students, faculty, staff, alumni association members and retirees; children under 18; students of other universities; seniors; outside groups of 30 or more and Tiers of Friendship donors. Buy tickets in person or by phone from the UT Dallas Box Office (972-883-2552). The Conference Center is located near the corner of Drive A and Rutford on campus; for further directions and parking options, visit http://www.utdallas.edu/map.

For information about the many musical, arts, theatre, dance and other performances and exhibitions held throughout the year at UT Dallas, visit http://ah.utdallas.edu/news_events/events_calendar.html or call 972-UTD-ARTS (972-883-2787). Persons with disabilities needing special accommodations may call 972-883-2982, Texas Relay Operator: 1-800-RELAYVV.

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