VCU to host 24th Guitar and Other Strings Series

By Leila Ugincius and India Pervall

Award-winning duo Al Petteway and Amy White will kick off the Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music’s 24th annual Guitar and Other Strings Series this July.

Since its inception in 1992, the annual concert series has grown every year, bringing world-renowned artists to the stage of the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall at the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts in Richmond. This year’s lineup consists of Petteway and White, Among Friends, Quatro na Bossa, and the VCU Community Guitar Ensemble, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2016.

 

Scheduled concerts this year are:

Al Petteway and Amy White, Friday, July 8, 7:30 p.m. General Admission: $15.

Al Petteway, a Grammy Award-winning guitarist, and Amy White are an Indie Award-winning duo.

The critically acclaimed pair is featured on several of Ken Burns' documentaries, including “Mark Twain” and “The Roosevelts.” They blend original, traditional, contemporary Celtic- and Appalachian-influenced music with occasional nods to rock and jazz in an intoxicating manner. Their performances feature acoustic guitar, mandolin, Celtic harp, piano, banjo, lap dulcimer, world percussion and a touch of vocals.

 

Among Friends, Friday, July 15, 7:30 p.m. General Admission: $15.

Among Friends is an aggregation of some of the finest acoustic musicians in Central Virginia. As the name implies, George Turman, Billy Lux, Chris Fuller, Jackie Frost, Libby Dunton, Sheryl Warner, Richard Ward, Danny Hughes, Frank Coleman, Spencer Hughes and Tim Timberlake are longtime friends.

The group performs musical styles ranging from singer-songwriter and traditional folk music, to bluegrass, blues and beyond. Their special relationship infuses the music with a genuine warmth and positive energy that is shared with the audience.

 

Quatro na Bossa, Friday, July 22, 7:30 p.m. General Admission: $15.

Drawing from Brazilian composers and performers, Quatro na Bossa adds the rich and satisfying flavor of Brazil to the Richmond music scene. Members Laura Ann Singh, Kevin Harding, Rusty Farmer and Andy Brockmann perform a repertoire that includes familiar classics, rare or forgotten pieces, and some original material. Quatro na Bossa’s innovative arrangements and unique style result in music that is fresh and engaging while remaining authentically Brazilian.

 

VCU Community Guitar Ensemble, Sunday, July 24, 4 p.m. Free admission.

VCU Community Guitar Ensemble celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. The 25-member guitar orchestra, directed by John Patykula, has performed as part of the Richmond International Music Festival and Richmond’s Big Gig summer festival. The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble has also been featured on local television and on WCVE-FM’s “An Hour with the Guitar.”

 

For tickets and additional information, visit vcumusic.showclix.com, email musictix@vcu.edu or call the VCU Department of Music Box Office at 804-828-1169.