It’s no secret that Baltimore boasts quite a legacy for the classical guitar—and has done so for the past 25 years thanks in part to the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society. Based in a city that has produced some of the most artistically significant performers active in the world today, the BCGS has served as an example of dedication to innovation and progress through commissions and premières of important new works.
In celebration of the society’s 25th anniversary, the society—led by artistic director Manuel Barrueco—has established a commissioning project in order to promote the creation of new compositions for the guitar. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts and Michael Hersch were advisors to the project and the works premièred in March at a sold-out performance by some of Baltimore’s most promising young guitarists.
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Ronald Pearl, a guitarist, composer and Chair of the Fine Arts Department at Loyola University, hosted the event, which included on-stage interviews of each composer, preceding the première of their music.
And on October 18, the BCGS will prove once again its importance in keeping the classical guitar flame burning when it plays host to a solo concert by Odair Assad—the performance will take place in the Kaplan Concert Hall at Towson University. For information, check out bcgs.org.