VCU to Host 20th Guitar and Other Strings Concert Series

By Tom Gresham

The Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music will continue a summer tradition with the 20^th annual Guitar and Other Strings Concert Series this July.

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

Scheduled concerts this year include:

• “Quatro na Bossa,” July 13, 7:30 p.m. General admission: $15. Drawing from Brazilian composers and performers, Quatro na Bossa’s repertoire includes familiar classics, rare or forgotten pieces and original material. The group, which performs frequently in Central Virginia and at the Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola in New York City, consists of Laura Ann Singh (vocalist), Kevin Harding (guitarist, VCU alumnus), Rusty Farmer (bassist, VCU alumnus) and various drummers and percussionists. The group’s innovative arrangements and unique style result in music that is fresh, engaging and authentically Brazilian.
• “Love Canon,” July 20, 7:30 p.m. General admission: $15. Love Canon is a 1980s cover band that arranges and performs all of its tunes on traditional bluegrass instruments. The group of conservatory-trained musicians crosses raucous bluegrass with the megahits of the 1980s. Members include vocalist/guitarist Jesse Harper (formerly of acoustic super 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).
• “VCU Community Guitar Ensemble,” July 22, 4 p.m. Free admission. The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble, which was founded in 1986, consists of 25 talented classical guitarists from Central Virginia. This ensemble has performed as part of the Richmond International Music Festival and Richmond’s Big Gig summer festival. It is the resident ensemble for VCU’s Guitar and Other Strings Series.

For tickets and additional information about Guitar & Other Strings, email musictix@vcu.edu or call the VCU Department of Music Box Office at (804) 828-6776. Tickets can be purchased at www.vcumusic.org.