Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia Performing Arts Center will present Orquestra de Guitarras de Barcelona on April 15 at 8 p.m. in Hodgson Concert Hall, 230 River Rd., Athens. The Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona brings together 25 of Spain’s most gifted guitarists for a unique concert experience, showcasing works by Baroque composers as well as contemporary authors, with a strong emphasis on Spanish music.
In 1989, Sergi Vicente, a teacher at the Conservatorio Superior de Mùsica del Liceo in Barcelona, formed an ensemble with eight of his students with the intention of enriching their academic studies. As time went on, the ensemble became a much more ambitious project and developed into the 25-chair guitar orchestra it is today. All members of the guitar orchestra are teachers, graduates, or master level students of the conservatorio. To date, more than 70 guitarists have passed through the orchestra’s ranks, many of them going on to international careers as soloists.
The Guitar Orchestra of Barcelona frequently appears at music festivals throughout Europe, and in 2010, the ensemble embarked on its first American tour. Following the success of the 2010 tour, the orchestra is returning to the United States, where it will make its Athens debut.
The orchestra recorded its first CD, Orquestra de Guitarras de Barcelona, in 2001. The ensemble has also released a DVD, distributed by SONY Classical in Europe, of a concert on the Pacific island of Palau.
Director Vicente has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe, America, and Asia. He has released five CDs, in addition to recording for a variety of radio and television shows. Vicente has participated in some of the most important international festivals and events, and in 1999, he was named director of the European Guitar and Mandolin Youth Orchestra.
John Sutherland, guitar professor at UGA, will present “A Conversation with…” beginning 45 minutes prior to concert.
Tickets are $20 – $42 with discounts for UGA students and groups of 15 or more. For more information, call 706/542-4400, toll free: 888/289-8497, or see www.uga.edu/pac.
Performance underwriters are Gordhan and Jinx Patel, William and Pamela Prokasy and Malcolm and Priscilla Sumner.
