December Wrap-Up

12/31/2024

December was an eventful month of teaching, giving concerts, and giving private performances. I am so proud of my students for putting in good work and making excellent progress!

In the way of concerts, we had a lovely concert with very many guitarists at the Good Shepherd Center on Dec 12. This concert joined two guitar groups, the Seattle Guitar Orchestra and the Seattle Guitar Circle. As a guest of the Seattle Guitar Orchestra, we played two canon pieces by Mark Hillard Wilson, and Sophie's Castle by Joe Hisashi. Both groups also came together to play the pop-song Kothbiro by Ayub Ogada and the classical study Estudios Sencillos no. 1 by Leo Brouwer. The Seattle Guitar Circle played improvisational pieces, including pieces with movement of musicians around the audience, and structured rhythmic pieces incorporating short solos, with a fusion or bluegrass influenced sound. They also performed "circulations", improvisations quickly passing sustained notes between players. We concluded the concert with a circulation that incorporated both of the ensembles.

At the Seattle Classic Guitar Society Holiday Concert Dec 13, I performed with Mark Hillard Wilson and Seattle Guitar Orchestra, first in the ensemble, then just Mark and I for a duo piece. Wilson and I  played the second movement of the Leo Brouwer duo sonata "Sonata de los Viajeros" — meaning Sonata of the Travelers. This frozen-themed sonata depicts a journey to the north, and the second movement The Venus of Praxíteles refers to the Cuban trova folk style Brouwer grew up listening to. As with many newer Brouwer works, the sonata is challenging, but the nostalgic tone makes it a very memorable composition.

I was also pleased to accompany Sylvia Jones in the recital, Christmas with Sylvia, at the Seed of Abraham Pentecostal Church in Renton. I accompanied her for the lullaby Dormi Jesu and the spiritual Mary Had a Baby, both arranged by Jacqueline B. Hairston. Jones is a very talented and accomplished singer, and also performed gospel and pop songs on the program.




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