VCU Guitar and Other Strings Series to Celebrate 21st Year

By Ben Meade

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music in the School of the Arts presents its lineup for the 21^st annual Guitar and Other Strings Series this July.

The series will feature four concerts in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the W.E. Singleton Center for Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave.

Scheduled concerts this year include:

“A Celtic Tapestry,” Friday, July 12, 7:30 p.m. General admission: $15

Enjoy a celebration of the many sides of the Celtic experience. Combining the energy and spirit of traditional music with the harmonies and depth of classical interpretation, A Celtic Tapestry creates its own dynamic sound often called “chamber folk.”

Maggie Sansone (hammered dulcimer), Andrea Hoag (fiddle) and Sharon Knowles (Celtic harp) each provide a diverse thread of sound that when interwoven contribute to the beauty of the whole.

Using a variety of instruments and influences from world music to American folk, their music has something for everyone.




“Quatro na Bossa,” Friday, July 19, 7:30 p.m. General admission: $15

Drawing from early Brazilian bossa nova composers and performers, Quatro na Bossa’s repertoire includes familiar classics, rare or forgotten pieces and original material.

Since forming in 2003, Quatro has performed at many music festivals and universities, as well as frequently appearing at the Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in New York City.

Quatro na Bossa members Laura Ann Singh (vocalist), Kevin Harding (guitarist, VCU alumnus), Rusty Farmer (bassist, VCU alumnus) and Andy Brockman (drummer/percussionist) possess a unique style that aims for authenticity while showcasing the power of Brazilian music to transcend culture and language.

“Love Canon,” Friday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. General admission: $15

Love Canon is a group of conservatory-trained musicians who combine the megahits of the 1980s with traditional bluegrass instruments to provide a one-of-a-kind musical experience.

The Charlottesville-based band includes vocalist/guitarist Jesse Harper (formerly of acoustic group Old School Freight Train), upright bassist Darrell Muller (also of OSFT), Adam Larrabee (jazz guitar/banjo, VCU faculty member) and Andy Thacker (bluegrass mandolin).


“The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble,” Sunday, July 28, 4 p.m. Free admission.

Established in 1986 by John Patykula, the VCU Community Guitar Ensemble consists of 25 talented classical guitarists from Central Virginia.

The resident ensemble for VCU’s Guitar and Other Strings Series has performed at the Richmond International Music Festival and Richmond’s Big Gig summer festival as well as being featured on local television and WCVE-FM’s “An Hour with the Guitar.”

For tickets and additional information about Guitar and Other Strings, visit go.vcu.edu/julystringseries or call the VCU Department of Music at 804-828-6776.