Past Events

 

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The Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society

presents 

The Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Quartet 

Sunday, June 12, 2022, 3 PM

Morton Library, Rhinecliff, NY 

Admission $10

Unvaccinated individuals are strongly encouraged to wear masks

 

The Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Quartet was formed in the fall of 2021 by several members of the MHCG Society, Greg Dinger, Russ Austin, Maureen Newman, and Richard Udell, who had worked and played with one another in various configurations over the years. Their repertoire is drawn from Greg's arrangements of music originally written for solo guitar or other instruments (including voice) and adapted for guitar ensembles. Genres range from classical to Tin Pan Alley to rock.

The quartet's program for June 12 is their second concert, and will feature an array of compositional forms, including sonata, etude, and fugue by Scarlatti, Sor, and Mozart; contrasted with songs & vocal pieces by Sor, Gibbons, Gershwin, McCartney, and others.                           

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                     MHCGS Presents

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Sunday, November 14, 2021

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

MHCGS Pops Concert Theme Program

Members of the society perform popular works from film, the American song book and more.

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 Sunday, November 17, 2019

MHCGS PRESENTS:

Philip Goldenberg and Hannah Murphy

3pm at the Morton Memorial LibraryRhinecliff, NYAdmission $10 at the door

Hannah Murphy is active performer and teacher throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. She holds a Master of Music degree in Classical Guitar Performance from Mannes School of Music in New York City.Ms. Murphy plays both solo concerts and in ensemble with Phil Goldenberg. Ms. Murphy plays a guitar made by David J. Pace.

Phillip Goldenberg graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance and went on to receive a Master of Music degree in guitar performance with honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music, studying with Grammy Award winner Jason Vieaux. Phillip also holds a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes guitar program.

In 2018 Phillip won first prize in the 2018 Philadelphia Classical Guitar International Competition and was awarded the 1st prize at the Charlottesville International Classical Guitar Competition. In October 2019 won first prize in the Florida International Guitar Competition.

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MHCGS Theme Program:

The Italians

Society members will perform works from the Italian guitar tradition

Sunday, September 22, 2019 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

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MHCGS Presents Paul Sweeny, guitar

with guest artist Barbara Kaufman, recorder

Sunday, June 9, 2019 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Paul Sweeny earned a BA in music from Harpur College, presenting the first student classical guitar recital in the history of the school. He later returned to earn his MA in Music History. Paul has taught at BCC for 25 years where he created the school's guitar program, its sequence of music history classes, as well as a very popular class in the history of popular music. Over the years Paul has taught music history and guitar lessons at BU and is currently teaching the Pop, Rock and Soul Class. Paul is the Vice President of the Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York and is a frequent performer in the area both as a soloist and as a member of the duo Simple Gifts with recorder player Barbara Kaufman. He also maintains a private guitar studio in Binghamton.

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MHCGS Presents: Music of France

Our theme program this year features society members performing works by French composers: Robert de Visee, Debussy, Faure, Ravel and more.

Sunday, September 30, 2018 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

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Emerging Artist Concert

 Adam Hug and Congyi Zhang

Sunday, November 11, 2018 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY
Admission: $10 at the door

Adam Hug is a classical guitarist and multi-instrumentalist based in New York City.

Adam holds a Master of Music degree in classical guitar performance from the Mannes School of Music at The New School in New York City, where he was a scholarship student in the studio of Michael Newman. Adam holds a Bachelor of Music in guitar performance and graduated Sigma Cum Laude with an academic scholarship, also receiving the Joseph Turnau Graduation Award. Adam has also studied jazz guitar with Craig Boyd and Michael Belajonas, and he has performed in master classes conducted by Jorge Cabellero, Oren Fader, Rene Izquierdo, João Luiz, Gohar Vardanyan, and Fabio Zanon.

Congyi Zhang is from Beijing, China, and is currently living in New York City. Congyi first learned to play classical guitar under his father’s instruction at age 8. He attended Central Conservatory of Music of China Middle School, graduated from Central Conservatory of Music of China in Beijing in 2016 with his Bachelor of Music degree, and is now a first year Master of Music scholarship student at Mannes School of Music in New York City. Congyi was a finalist in the 2018 JoAnne Falletta Guitar concerto Competition and was awarded the Griener Prize.

Mr. Hug and Mr. Zhang will perform a program of solos and duets for guitar.

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MHCGS Presents: Scott Sanchez - Guitar

Sunday, April 22, 2018 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $20 at the door

Originally from Colorado, Scott Sanchez's playing has been described as "Colorful and poignant" (Soundboard Magazine, U.S.A.)  and “Very engaging, virtuosic and spirited” (David Leisner, Chair of the classical guitar program at the Manhattan School of Music).  Referring to his British debut Classical Guitar Magazine (Great Britain) said, “Sanchez drew the audience into his playing with his excellent performance… a performance which at times was introspective and at others extrovert.”  Past concert seasons have included recitals and masterclasses for the New York City Classical Guitar Society; New England Guitar Society in Milford, Connecticut; St. Bride’s Church in London, England; Bournemouth University in Dorset, England; King’s Chapel in Boston, Massachusetts; University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky; and Ventura Classical Guitar Society in Camarillo, California.

Sanchez's four cds on Intraspect Productions cover a vast repertoire spanning the music of the Baroque era to modern day masterpieces. He also recorded two concert etudes by Ricardo Iznaola, for the Contemporary Anthology of Solo Guitar Music for Five Fingers of the Right Hand, published by Mel Bay Publications. In a review of his most recent cd, entitled Lattice Work, Classical Guitar Magazine stated: “It must be said that throughout this hour's worth of music, Scott Sanchez shows himself in a very good light: he has the finesse and the musicianship to bring out the best in his chosen programme: his rich-toned phrasing and 'colouring' is very expressive and finely calculated yet having a naturalness to it. The disc is superbly recorded and the playing throughout is exemplary with Sanchez taking great care with details such as tone and phrasing and he has a charming way of fashioning the melodic lines from his guitar.” In addition to his solo concerts, Sanchez has also frequently performed with chamber musicians, choral groups, and as soloist with orchestra. Scott Sanchez is also active as a writer on music and his articles have frequently been published in international periodicals such as Soundboard Magazine (U.S.A.) and Classical Guitar Magazine  (Great Britain).

He has taught at Wesleyan University, Trinity College, UMass Amherst, and Springfield College.  He is currently on the music faculty at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Denver as a student of the Cuban classical guitarist, Ricardo Iznaola, and graduated with a Master of Music degree from Yale University where he was a student of the American classical guitarist, Benjamin Verdery. As a student, he also performed in masterclasses for renowned guitarists such as Eliot Fisk, David Russell, Scott Tennant and Pepe Romero, among others.

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MHCGS Presents: Harry George Pellegrin - Guitar

Sunday, June 10, 2018 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Harry George Pellegrin is an author of mystery novels, a musician , composer and recording artist.
Harry has been teaching in New York  since 1978 (in the Capital Area since 1997).
After graduating high school in 1974, he began studying music at the college level when he enrolled at Bronx Community College. Two years later he transferred to the prestigious Mannes College of Music in Manhattan, earning a BA in music.

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Music of the British Isles Part II

Sunday September 18, 2016 @3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Members of the Society will perform works from England, Ireland and Scotland. We uncovered so much great music when we selected this theme last February, that we decided we need another couple of hours to play a good representative sample.

Local area guitarists who wish to perform on this theme program should contact us at: midhudsoncgs@gmail.com

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Eric Roth, Guitar

Sunday October 9, 2016 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Eric Roth has played guitar since age twelve. His interest in period instruments began at SUNY New Paltz, where he graduated in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance. He has received lessons from David Temple, David Starobin, Patrick O’Brien, Bill Matthews, Bonnie Meadow, Gregory Dinger, and Paul Sweeny. Eric frequently performs on the guitar and lute at public and private events throughout the Hudson Valley and beyond. Venues have included Mohonk Mountain House, SUNY Orange, and numerous libraries. Eric’s interest also extends to modern classical music. He has performed avant-garde music on the lute and electric guitar with the Eric Ross Ensemble, based in Binghamton, NY, and serves as president of the Poné Ensemble for New Music, New Paltz, New York. He holds a Master’s Degree in Library Science from SUNY Albany and has worked for Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz. Eric currently holds the position of Manager of Grants & Organizational Funding at Mohonk Preserve in New Paltz, NY. Website: www.ericjrothmusic.com. 

Concert Description

As part of the Mid-Hudson Guitar Society's performance series, Eric will present a program of guitar music from the nineteenth century, which was a time of striking innovation and development of this familiar instrument. The program will include works from Vienna, Italy, England, and Spain, and feature music of Mertz, Matiegka, Legnani, Shand, Arcas, and others. Music will be performed on a beautiful, authentic reproduction instrument modeled after one built in 1830. Eric will also provide information about the instrument, repertoire, composers, and history.

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Terence Hall, Guitar

Sunday, October 25, 2015
At Morton Memorial Library
Rhinecliff, NY
Admission: $10 at the door
Classical guitarist Terence Hall will give a recital in the Segovia tradition, featuring pieces by Sor, Bach, Ponce and others. Terence was inspired to dedicate himself to classical guitar at age seventeen, upon hearing Segovia play Bach, and has since studied with Fred Draper and Oscar Ghiglia, both students of Segovia.

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John Lehmann-Haupt, Guitar
Sunday, November 15, 2015
At Morton Memorial Library
Rhinecliff, NY
Admission: $20 at the door

John Lehmann-Haupt received his first guitar on his fifth birthday. His childhood exposure to the recordings of guitarist Andrés Segovia alongside those by country, blues, and jazz artists brought him an early understanding of the guitar's extraordinary expressive range. John's intensive study of classical technique, harmony, and musical structure gave him the tools to embark on the twin paths of classical interpretation and song arrangement he has dedicated himself to ever since.

Over four decades of concert activity, John has found that his programs (usually with spoken commentary) appeal to an unusually broad audience, interweaving classical works with his fluently voiced arrangements of popular and traditional songs in a way that delivers both contrast and continuity.

John has written extensively on music and the guitar. He was a staff instructor at New York's American Institute of Guitar from 1982 until its closing in 2008, and he has served on the Board of Directors of the New York City Classical Guitar Society since 2006.

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Sunday September 13, 2015 @3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Guitar goes to the Movies

Members of the Society will perform works that have been featured in film.

Local area guitarists who wish to perform on this theme program should contact us at: midhudsoncgs@gmail.com

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Sunday May 3, 2015 @3pm
Benjamin Beirs, Guitarist, Composer

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $20 at the door

With an education marked by his tutelage under the renowned Julian Gray at the Peabody Conservatory, Benjamin Beirs is the incarnation of the 21st century musician who teaches, composes, concertizes, records, produces videos. His competition awards include – 1st at the National Guitar Workshop Competition, 1st at the Appalachian Guitarfest Competition, 1st at the UT Dallas Competition, at the Schadt Concerto Competition (2nd and the Audience Choice award), and 3rd prize at the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition.

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Sunday February 22, 2015 @3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door
A Tribute to the Art of Flamenco
Members of the Society will perform flamenco solos and other works inspired by the flamenco tradition.

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Sunday March 22, 2015 @3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door
HEARTSTRINGS - Songs of Love, Longing and LossWorks by Paisiello, Schubert, Brahms, Granados, Britten. Katherine Johnson, soprano and Richard Udell, guitar 

In the words of one reviewer, Katherine Johnson is "the absolute singing actress".  During her career she has been heard at some of the finest opera houses of the world, including the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Houston Grand Opera, L’Opéra de Nice, L’Opera de Québec,  and Canterbury Opera in N.Z., in a wide range of repertoire including the title roles of Tosca, Elektra, and Jenufa. Ms. Johnson has presented her solo Kurt Weill cabaret throughout North America and at the London Opera Festival.  In 2005 Kate Johnson founded and directed Music Theater Italy, in Conegliano Italy.  She is on the faculty at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ, having taught at the University of Miami for several years.

   RICHARD UDELL studied Music at the University of Wisconsin. He has studied both classical and flamenco guitar with Dennis Koster in New York and Benito Palacios in California where he performed with the Yorgo Grecia Flamenco troupe and Ester Moreno. Throughout the 1990s he worked with the flamenco dancer Mari1quita Flores. Locally, Richard has performed with pianist Adelaide Roberts and singer Danielle Woerner. He participates regularly in the performances of the Mid-Hudson Valley Classical Guitar Society.

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Sunday December 7, 2014 @3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $20 at the door
Dennis Koster, Classic and Flamenco Guitar Virtuoso

While still in his teens, Dennis Koster began his career as a flamenco guitarist .  Today’s flamenco has become a jazz-influenced and infused art, but Dennis Koster carries on the tradition of concert-classical flamenco guitar first introduced to the music-loving public in Paris in 1927 by the great Don Ramón Montoya and brought to the world by his followers Niño Ricardo, Mario Escudero and Sabicas.  Koster is one of the few guitarists ever to have learned this music directly from both Mario Escudero and the legendary Sabicas.   He has celebrated this legacy in radio and concert performances throughout the United States, Japan, Spain and Latin America.  A great virtuoso performer, Koster is widely regarded as this country’s leading authority on flamenco guitar, being the author of the internationally best-selling three volume flamenco method the Keys to Flamenco Guitar, its newly revised second edition was released this year by Mel Bay Publications.              Dennis Koster’s 1975 Carnegie Recital Hall debut as a classical guitarist, was hailed in the New York Times as “ a considerable success... a brilliant, aptly fantastic performance”, earning special attention because of his transcription of Zoltan Koldaly’s Sonata for Solo Cello, Op. 8.  Since that time, Dennis Koster has earned a considerable reputation for the quality and depth of his original transcriptions for guitar, carrying on the tradition of Francisco Tárrega and his followers.  “Tárrega’s transcriptions are a corner stone of guitar literature” says Mr. Koster.  “In successfully translating to the guitar great masterworks from the violin, piano and even string quartet, Tárrega not only expanded the technical vocabulary of the guitar, but also demonstrated to music-lovers worldwide the expressive weight and depth of the guitar’s voice”.  Dennis Koster’s Alice Tully Hall concert in November 2002  included selections from his new Musical Heritage Society release Mozart Fantasy on Guitar – Dennis Koster Plays Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Brahms.  Also available on the MusicMasters label of the MHS is Koster’s landmark recording Flamenco Clásico – Concert Solos for Flamenco Guitar.

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Sunday September 21, 2014 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Mannes Hot Shots

MHCGS will Showcase the work of Guitar and Composition students of Maestro Terry Champlin, featuring Liz Faure and Joe Landi (guitars), Koby Williamson and Shannon Calandrillo (guitar and soprano), Matt Kaplan and Mathew Pidi (guitars).

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Sunday October 26, 2014 @ 3pm

At Morton Memorial Library

Rhinecliff, NY

Admission: $10 at the door

Guitar Goes to the Opera

Members of the Society will perform transcriptions of famous operatic works on the guitar.

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Sunday, March 16, 2014 @ 3pm
Guitarist/Composer Terry Champlin
Morton Memorial Library and Community House

82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY
Admission: $10

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Sunday, April 27, 2014 @ 3pm

MHCGS presents a program of original compositions and arrangements by members of the society.
Morton Memorial Library and Community House
82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY
admission: $10

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 Sunday, May 18, 2014 @ 3pm
Guitar Virtuoso Frederic Hand
Morton Memorial Library and Community House
82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY
admission: $20

Grammy-nominated composer Frederic Hand is one of the most versatile guitarists performing today. His programs feature his own works which have brought him renown as an Emmy-winning television and film composer and recording artist. In addition to serving as the Metropolitan Opera's guitarist and lutenist, he is a highly sought-after teacher at the Mannes College of Music, Purchase College at the State University of New York, and Bennington College.

“Mr. Hand produced a strikingly clean and penetrating tone. Making a strong impression with his musicianship on each instrument, he played unerringly, with all the verve and spirit that one could ask.” New York Times

“Always fully in control and in sublime musical form...a brilliant performance.” Het Laatste Nieuws, Brussels

“Hand is an extraordinary player. His speed seems to have no limit. He plays with intelligence and finesse, and every aspect of the line and individual sound is lovingly shaped.” Milwaukee Journal

“Classical guitar recitals don’t get much better than this. Frederic Hand is a tremendously skilled and expressive guitarist. But what makes him unique is that he is also one of today’s most fascinating composers, able to weave together a variety of influences, from jazz to Dowland to the avant-garde.” Guitar Review

“Hand’s technique is second to none. His technical prowess is dazzling and he possesses a strong lyrical sense achieved through a variety of tonal colors.” Kansas City Star

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Sunday, February 16, 2014 @ 3pm
Koh Kazama, Guitar Concert
Morton Memorial Library and Community House
82 Kelly St., Rhinecliff, NY
admission $10

Koh Kazama is currently pursuing an Artist Diploma in guitar performance at the Yale School of Music, where he is studying with Benjamin Verdery. He recently received his Master of Music degree from Yale and was enrolled in a combined five-year Bachelor of Arts/Master of Music program, earning his Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Yale College.  He started his guitar studies at the age of six, after being inspired by watching a music video of a Japanese rock musician.   He was a finalist of the Third Street Music School Concerto Competition, being the first guitarist in the school’s history to achieve this. He has been selected to play in master classes and workshops of renowned artists including Yo-Yo Ma, Manuel Barrueco, David Russell, Carlo Domeniconi, and Jorge Caballero.  Koh attended LaGuardia Arts High School in New York City, where he majored in cello and was a part of the LaGuardia Symphony Orchestra.  

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MHCGS 2013 SEASON


Sunday, October 6, 2013 @ 3pm
Guitar Virtuoso Jerome Mouffe
Admission: $20 at the door

Jérôme Mouffe is a virtuoso guitarist from Belgium who has dazzled international audiences with his
passionate and spontaneous playing. Jérôme has toured throughout the United States and Western Europe as a soloist and chamber musician.
Recent performances include recitals for the Omni Concert Series in San Francisco, the New York
Classical Guitar Society Second Sunday Series, the Guitar Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the MIT Little Kresge auditorium, and the International Brussels Guitar Festival, among others. In November 2009, Jerome was invited to perform at the Agustin Barrios Mangore Festival in Brussels, where he shared the stage with his mentor, Eliot Fisk. In March 2011, he performed Rodrigo’s celebrated Concierto de Aranjuez with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Sonora conducted by Hector Reyes, in Mexico. Jerome has released his debut CD—Capriccio— on the VGo Recordings label in 2009.  In May 2012, Jerome graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the New England
Conservatory of Boston. His doctoral dissertation analyzes how collaboration between composer and soloist achieved an optimization of the guitar’s capabilities in Robert Beaser’s Guitar Concerto (2009). Jerome was invited to teach masterclasses or lecture at various universities including San Jose State University (CA), University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (WI), Acadia University (Canada), Dalhousie University (Canada), University of Sonora (Mexico), and Music Conservatopia.
Jerome earned his Master of Music degree at 20 at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles, and a
Postgraduate Diploma at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg. For more information about Jerome’s
performances, research, and teaching, please visit: http://www.jeromemouffe.net

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Sunday, October 27, 2013 @ 2pm
Gala Benefit and Concert
featuring acclaimed Guitarist Daniel Stevens
Join us at the Historic Elmendorph Inn in Red Hook, NY
wine, hors d'oeuvres, silent auction and concert
Admission: $35
Make reservations at midhudsoncgs@gmail.com

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Sunday, November 24, 2013 @ 3pm
The Guitar in 3/4 Time
Members of the guitar society will perform waltzes, mazurkas and choros;
the guitar at it's most sensuous.
Admission: $10 at the door