I had been promising to make up such a page for some time, but never getting to it. Recently I received some E-mail asking if anyone in our guitar society played professionally - like for a wedding in the area. Well of course there are plenty of such folks, and there's no reason why they shouldn't be mentioned here.

Of course, if I waited for them to send me all the requisite information, we'd still be looking for the page into the next century. So I'm just going to start. First just with names and numbers, and we'll make this more fancy as time goes on. This is primarily a list of guitarists (and related instrumentalists) who live and play professionally in and around Tidewater, Virginia. Say, area code 757, with maybe a bit of 804 thrown in. For the moment, the assumption is that all of them accept casual gigs for weddings, bar mitzvahs, etc, and probably can be paid to teach others as well.

Guitarists, if your name doesn't appear here and you think it should, please contact me to remedy the situation. If it does appear here and you're really too swamped to take on any more work, let me know and I'll remove your name. And, of course, please correct any misinformation I might have provided. Ultimately, if you'll send me a bio and a photo we can start making this fancy. Check out the Conn. CGS for a really fancy layout!

Abbreviations that may be used for brevity:

• Instruments: B - banjo, BG - baroque guitar, CG - classical guitar, JG - jazz guitar, L - lute, M - mandolin, R - requinto.
• Others: APW - also plays with, MBHA - may be heard at, TA - Teaches At, GO - TCGS Guitar Orchestra

The List:

• Lindsay Arndt   - Newport News (757) 223-0249   CG, JG, R
      APW GO; TA Authentic Guitars, Newport News & Williamsburg

• Chris Basford   - Newport News (757) 380-8413   CG
      APW: GO

• Stephen Bennett   - Hayes (804) 642-6974   CG, JG, Harp Guitar

• John Boyles   - Newport News (757) 249-3144   CG
      APW: GO

• Sam Dorsey   - Norfolk (757) 625-2411   CG, R
      APW: The Lafayette Trio, GO; TA: NSU, Governor's School for the Arts

• Amy Ferebee   - Norfolk (757) 456-1446   Voice, G, BG
      APW: Steve Snyder, GO

• Steve Jolemore   - Norfolk (757) 853-8222   CG, JG, R
      APW: GO; TA: Alpha Music (757) 486-2001

• Tim Olbrych   - Williamsburg (757) 229-2618   BG, CG, JG, B, M
      MBHA: The Williamsburg Inn; TA: William and Mary

• John Patykula   - Richmond (804) 353-4303   CG
      APW: John Bullard; TA: VCU

• Robin Welch   - Hampton (757) 826-2921   CG
      MBHA: The Jewish Mother (VB), The Williamsburg Lodge

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