Donate your used strings – The Second Strings Project

Posted on 21 September 2010 by canberraguitar

The Second Strings Project, started in 1999, is a campaign to collect and distribute used guitar strings to needy musicians throughout the world. This effort will help keep musical creativity alive in countries that might otherwise die.  Details about the project are online at secondstringsproject.org.

The website asks that guitar strings be donated as a set in the original packaging, so save those too. Local member Col Bernau is the point of contact and is looking into setting up collection boxes. Contact Col by email if you want to participate.

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Lance Litchfield guitars

Posted on 16 September 2010 by canberraguitar

Brisbane-based, Australian luthier Lance Litchfield will be bringing some of his superb instruments to Canberra in October.¬† Guitar Society members and guests will have an opportunity to talk with Lance and listen to his guitars at our monthly meeting on 10 October at Wesley Uniting Church. If you would like more information about the Litchfield guitars, visit Lance’s website at www.litchfieldguitars.com.

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ANU “Rhythm ‘n Blooms” free concerts at Floriade

Posted on 11 September 2010 by canberraguitar

Once again the ANU School of Music is presenting a series of concerts throughout Floriade every weekday at 12.30PM to 1.30PM on Stage 88 Рa perfect way to spend the lunch hour.  The concerts take place between 11 Sep and 8 Oct.  See Great Guitars of ANU on stage on Tuesday, 14 Sep.  More info available from www.music.anu.edu.

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John Couch and Judith Hickel – CD available

Posted on 9 September 2010 by canberraguitar

For those of you who missed the recent Canberra concert  (and also for the lucky ones who enjoyed the excellent performance) by the renowned duo of New Zealand guitarist John Couch and Australian violinist Judith Hickel, you can get a taste of the music from their collaborative CD “Andre’s New Shoes”  Click here for information.

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COZMO in Concert – BACH to the FUTURE!

Posted on 9 September 2010 by canberraguitar

Enjoy a Saturday afternoon musical treat! A delightful concert featuring the beautiful works of popular Baroque composers Bach, Vivaldi, Corelli and Handel. Bach to the Future also includes works by Australian composers Robert Kay and Robert Schulz and popular melodies from the European “zupforchester” repertoire.

What: COZMO ~ A Canberra-based ensemble of mandolins, mandola, domra, bass and guitars
When: 2.00pm Saturday 9 October 2010
Where: Wesley Music Centre 20 National Circuit, Forrest ACT
Bookings: Ph 0421 043 082
or Tickets at Door: $20 Adult & $15 Concession
Refreshments available at Intermission

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McDonalds Sydney Eisteddfod 2010 winners

Posted on 1 September 2010 by canberraguitar

Congratulations to Andrew Blanch and Victor Matthews for respective first prize wins in the Classical Guitar (open age) and Classical Guitar (12 and under) categories last month.¬†¬†¬† In addition, Victor received a “highly commended” mention in the 16 and under category, while Cal Henshaw received a “highly commended” mention in the open category.¬†¬†¬† Well done!!¬† The full results are on the official website (pluck here).

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Landscape – Australian Guitar Duets

Posted on 26 July 2010 by canberraguitar

LANDSCAPE: Australian Guitar Duets by the Brew Guitar Duo is out now. Canberra guitarists Bradley Kunda and Matthew Withers perform all Australian works by composers Nigel Westlake, Phillip Houghton, Richard Charlton & Robert Davidson, as well as Canberra’s own guitarist/composers Bradley Kunda & Harold Gretton. Copies can be purchased from www.brewguitarduo.com/cd.html

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Gretton wins first prize at Mertz competition

Posted on 24 July 2010 by canberraguitar

Harold Gretton has won 1st prize in the 7th International Guitar Competition of J.K. Mertz. The contest was held in Bratislava, Slovakia at the end of June 2010.  The prize is 6 concerts, 1000 euros and the complete works of Mertz as published by Chantarelle.Well done Harold!
Harold Gretton holds the first PhD in Performance from the ANU School of Music and is living and studying in Europe with his fiancée, Belgian guitarist Veronique Van Duurling.  Another well done!

Earlier this year, Harold¬† released his CD “the 20th century guitar,” which is a result of his PhD research at ANU into performance practice.¬† Visit Harold’s website to learn more and to order a copy. www.haroldgretton.com.¬† (I’m sure his next CD will include a bit of Mertz!)

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Le-Tuyen Nguyen – lecture/recital

Posted on 21 July 2010 by canberraguitar

A NEW VOICE: Australian guitar music with Vietnamese cultural influences

Le-Tuyen Nguyen will present a lecture-recital of new Australian guitar compositions inspired from the Vietnamese music culture at ANU’s Llewellyn Hall on 31 August at 10am. Traditional folk songs, melodic and rhythmic idioms from various regions of Vietnam are brought to life in harmony with art music of the twenty-first century. Each composition displays the explorations of musical and technical possibilities for the guitar. Creating and finding its own paths to a new stylistic identity, this genre of music has emerged as a new voice in contemporary Australian music.

You can find Le-Tuyen’s program and biography at the School of Music website.

Free admission.

Continue reading →

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Performers Concert

Posted on 1 July 2010 by canberraguitar

Here are two photos from our 27 June Performers Concert.  Leslie Spencer leads the orchestra and Matthew Towicz performs Tango en Skai by Roland Dyens.

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