David Starobin   Oct 16, 1987, Williamsurg Regional LIbrary Theater; October 17, 1987, Chrysler Museum Theater, Norfolk

Italy's Il Fronimo recently wrote of David Starobin, "His is a truly influencial artistry, a great personality, who does honor to music and to the guitar." Born in New York City in 1951, Starobin has pursued an unusually varied career. Mr. Starobin has toured as a recitalist throughout Europe and the United States. More than 150 works (solos, concerti, vocal, chamber and electronic) have been composed for him, including recent works by Elliott Carter, Lukas Foss, Milton Babitt, David Del Tredici, Roger Reynolds, Mel Powell and Tod Machover. Much of this repertoire is recorded on Mr. Starobin's award-winning series, New Music with Guitar (Bridge Records).

Mr. Starobin is also the Director of Artists and Repertoire for Bridge Records, and he has produced recordings for a wide range of soloists and ensembles, including Garrick Ohlsson, Jan DeGaetani, Speculum Musicae and the Columbia String Quartet. He is a member of Speculum Musicae and the Theater Chamber Players of the Kennedy Center, and participates frequently in the Marlboro Music Festival. Mr. Starobin is currently a Professor of Music at SUNY at Purchase, and at Sarah Lawrence College. His latest solo recording is "A Song from the East" (Hungarian and Russian music).

John Patykula and Teresa Radomsky   November 7, 1987, Contemporary Art Center of Virginia

Teresa Radomski appears widely as a recitalist and soloist with choral, orchestral and chamber ensembles. A versatile soprano, she is equally at home in the traditional art song repertoire and in popular and folk idioms, oratorio, opera and musical theater. She is noted for her authoritive renditions of early vocal music and for her interpretations of difficult avant-garde works, many of which have been composed especially for her. She has recorded for the contemporary Opus One label, and has given numerous premiere performances, including the Rochester, NY, first-ever presentation of George Crumb's Ancient Voices of Children.

John Patykula, currently Head of the Guitar Department at Virginia Commonwealth university, has gained a reputation as "the area's foremost classical guitar teacher and player". A protegé of maestro Jesús Silva for sixteen years, Mr. Patykula has performed in masterclasses of Andrés Segovia, John Williams and Alirio Diaz, and has been the recipient of many scolarships and honors, including North Carolina Visiting Artist-in-Residence (1973-74). He has concertized extensively throughout the southeast as a soloist and chamber musician, and has given recitals in Washington, DC, and in Italy.

Los Angeles Guitar Quartet   December 13, 1987, Wells Theater, Norfolk

The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet brings together the talents of four gifted solo artists to form a unique and exciting new chamber ensemble. With a fascinating repertoire that runs the gamut from lively Renaissance consorts to fiery Spanish ballet, from noble Baroque concerti to ground-breaking contemporary works, the Quartet presents programs that consistently enthrall guitar aficianados and general audiences alike. This dynamic repertoire, combined with an electrifying stage presence, meticulous precision and stunning virtuosity, has earned them a reputation as America's premier guitar ensemble.

The four members of the Quartet, Anisa Angarola, John Dearman, William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant, joined forces in 1980 at the University of Southern California. (Note: Anisa has since been replaced by the equally talented Andrew York). Each has been recognized as a talented soloist, all four having been chosen to perform in the historic 1981 Andrés Segovia Master Class at USC. In 1986, the Quartet became the first ensemble of its kind to be named a prize winner in the 35th Concert Artists Guild International Competition held at Carnegie Hall. Members of the quartet have won further recognition as prize winners at major international competitions in Toronto and Paris.

The Quartet's debut album on Opharion Records has met with wide critical acclaim. Stereo Review called it "remarkable ... one of the most intriguing new chamber groups I've heard in a long time", while Guitar Review remarked, "one of the most delightful guitar recordings to come my way ... this is a disk worth seeking, and a group to watch".

Annual Members' Concert   February 12, 1988, Williamsurg Regional Library Theater; Feb 13, 1988, Chrysler Museum Theater

To quote from the advertisement for this long ago event, "This year's concert promises to be the most ambitious and exciting [Members' Concert] yet, featuring a TCGS ensemble of no less than eight - count 'em - eight guitars playing Bach chorales, a Vivaldi Concerto Grosso and Ravel's Empress of the Pagodas. Among the scheduled solo players will be Timothy Olbrych, John Boyles and Sam Dorsey - guitar instructors at, respectively, William & Mary, Christopher Newport College and Norfolk State University."

Mark Mobley of the Ledger-Star covered the Norfolk version of the event and wrote, "[Sam Dorsey's] performances were the strongest in a pair of duets with Robert Ayers, and in Thea Musgrave's slight but inventive 'Sonata for Three' ... Also enjoyable was Fats Waller's 'Alligator Crawl' as played by John Boyles"

I must admit that none of the people depicted in this rather poor quality photograph actually arrived to perform. I think there may have been scheduling problems :-). Also note that some of the people listed on the program below also did not appear. Mobley refers to the fact that other attendees filled in, but no record exists of the substitutions. Thus the following is the "As Planned" concert.

Toyohiko Satoh   March 25, 1988, Norfolk State University

Toyohiko Satoh was born in 1943 in Japan and studied guitar, cello and composition at home. In 1968 he went to Europe to study lute with E. Dombois at the Schola Cantorum Balilensis. In 1970 he made the world's first baroque lute solo album, and has since recorded extensively for Philips, Telefunken, EMI and other labels. Since 1973 Mr. Satoh has been lute professor at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Holland. He leads the "Alba Musica Kyo" and is also a member of the "Little Consort Amsterdam".

Mr. Satoh will conduct a Master Class for area guitarists on Sunday, March 27 at 10 AM in the Fine Arts Building at Norfolk State University. Although the performing slots are filled, this is an exceptional opportunity to audit a master teacher in action. Without exception, leading guitarists world-wide say that auditing a Master Class is one of the most rewarding and beneficial of learning experiences. Auditing fee: $10.00.

Paco Peña   Lecture/Demonstration: April 29, 1988, ODU, Batten Arts and Letters Auditorium;     Concert: April 30, 1988, Chrysler Museum Theater, Norfolk

Paco Peña was born in Cordoba, Spain, and made his first professional appearance at the age of 12. On his first visit to London in 1963, he found a receptive audience which greatly encouraged his career. The London press acclaimed his debut and his popularity has grown to the extent that his concerts in Europe and North America regularly sell out.

In 1981 he founded the Centro Flamenco Paco Peña in Cordoba, a center offering aficionados from all over the world the opportunity to experience the art of flamenco in its native environment. The Center now organizes an annual Guitar Festival that covers other other types of guitar music as well as flamenco.

In keeping with the genre, no program was provided. I am sure that Paco touched on each of the standard flamenco styles and displayed each with enviable technique as usual. As Mark Mobley of the Virginian-Pilot wrote, "Saturday night, guitarist Paco Peña gave a packed Chrysler Museum Theater audience a fascinating lesson on the subject of flamenco music." And so it was.