Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Music

Judy and Timothy Olbrych, voice and guitar duo

Sunday, Sept. 18, 4 p.m. 
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

Judy Olbrych (soprano) has performed in concert series and at historic sites throughout the East Coast. Local venues in which she has performed include the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, Bacon’s Castle, the College of William and Mary, the Muscarelle Museum, Abington Episcopal Church, York County libraries, the Kimball Theatre, the Candlelight Concert Series at Bruton Parish Church, the Music in the Woods concert series at Hidenwood Presbyterian Church, the Marshall House, the Great Bridge Presbyterian Church Candlelight Concert Series, and the concert series at St. Matthias’ Episcopal Church. Her new recording with classical guitarist Timothy Olbrych, “Arise:  Music of the Americas for Soprano and Guitar,” was recently featured on public radio. Judy has studied voice with Genevieve McGiffert, Linda Mabbs, Martha Connolly, and Ron Boucher. She studied music at The College of William and Mary (B.M.) and at The University of Maryland (M.M.).

Timothy Olbrych (classical, Baroque and Renaissance guitarist) has performed throughout the United States in solo, chamber and orchestral settings, including Merkin Hall, Club A and Club 54 in New York City, and has been a featured performer on both radio and television. Olbrych has shared his enthusiasm for and expertise about the early guitar with students and audiences through concerts and lecture recitals in both historical and university settings. He has performed locally with the Virginia Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Virginia Opera, Norfolk Chamber Consort, CREO and the Shanghai String Quartet. He is an active performer on a wide variety of stringed instruments – including banjo, mandolin, electric guitar, bass and ukulele – for touring Broadway shows, opera, ballet and symphony programs. Olbrych is the founder and past president of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society and a member of the Performing Arts Faculty at The College of William and Mary. 

Sam Dorsey, classical guitar

Sunday, Oct. 16, 4 p.m. 
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

Sam Dorsey is a professor of music and chair of the music department at Norfolk State University. He has studied guitar with Jesus Silva and Michael Lorimer, and has attended master’s classes with Andrés Segovia.  As president of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society, he has been a catalyst in bringing artists of international acclaim to the Tidewater area. He has performed with the Virginia Symphony, Virginia Opera, Virginia Stage Company, and the Virginia Beach Symphony, and is the founder of the Tidewater Guitar Orchestra. As a solo artist, he has performed throughout the United States, Europe and Latin America. Mr. Dorsey has performed recitals at the Teatro Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica, and at the Cento Nacional de las Artes in Mexico City, Mexico. Mr. Dorsey recently completed his Ph.D. in musicology from the Catholic University of America, where he was the recipient of the Paul Furfey Hanley Scholarship.

The Richmond Guitar Quartet
with Ian Browning, percussion

Sunday, Jan. 29, 4 p.m. 
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

Four of the finest classical guitarists this side of the James River comprise the Richmond Guitar Quartet — an ensemble that crosses boundaries. Most recently, the quartet crafted new arrangements for a concert to complement a highly successful exhibit of works by Picasso at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Over six years, the quartet has performed at venues across the state of Virginia. Each member of the group is an active performer and music teacher in the Richmond area. As VCU alumni, they are excited to share an all-new program for their third appearance as professional concert artists on the VCU Guitar Series. Hailed for their creative programming and refined virtuosity, The Richmond Guitar Quartet provides listeners with an intricate patchwork of sound. The quartet's concerts blend original compositions with new arrangements in a compelling diversity of styles. Twenty-four nylon strings weave common threads between great pieces of music from every age, including the current one. Expect to hear the instrument and music you love in ways you've never heard them.

VCU Flamenco Festival III

Friday, March 23 - Sunday, March 25

Flamenco Completo, with guitarist Marija Temo and dancer Ulrika Frank

Friday, March 23, 7:30 p.m.
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

The dynamic duo of Ulrika Frank and Marija Temo present a collaborative showcase of flamenco, classical and contemporary styles in guitar, singing and dance. Frank’s exceptional skills in both flamenco and contemporary style dance have merged with Temo’s exquisite talents in singing, classical and flamenco guitar to form a deep and sincere connection on stage.
The amazing part of watching the duo perform is their unique ability to catch each other’s moments, support and guide one and other until the final crescendo which leaves artists and audiences with only one wish — to continue.

Flamenco Fiesta, with guitarist Miguelito, dancers, and singer

Saturday, March 24, 7:30 p.m.
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

Michael “Miguelito” Pérez originally studied classical guitar at California State University, Fullerton but stumbled upon flamenco at a party in his senior year. Upon graduation, he was offered a job accompanying flamenco classes at George Washington University. Being that flamenco dance accompanists are very rare, he eventually found himself playing for every flamenco dance company in the Washington, D.C. area. Currently, Miguelito performs five nights a week in various venues in the D.C. metropolitan area. He is considered one of the premier flamenco guitarists in the United States, whose “nimble picking alternates between propulsive rhythms and delicate melodies.” He is also well-known for his website, www.dcflamenco.com,that keeps the D.C. area up-to-date on the local flamenco scene.

Miguelito will give a flamenco guitar master on Saturday, March 24, at 2 p.m. in the James W. Black Music Center Recital Hall, 1015 Grove Ave. Admission is free for this master class.

Flamenco Finale, with ensembles Sueños Gitanos and Flamenco del Sur

Sunday, March 25, 4 p.m.
Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts.
General admission: $15, students: $10

Sueños Gitanos is an ensemble that features flamenco and flamenco-inspired music. At its core are guitarists Denver Walker and Leah Kruszewski, trumpet player Mary Lawrence Hicks and percussionist CJ Alicea. The music of Sueños Gitanos draws inspiration from flamenco vocal melodies, Spanish guitar traditions and popular Latin American and South American tunes. Sueños Gitanos has performed throughout the Richmond area, including at VCU's 2010 Flamenco Festival II and, most recently, as soloists with the VCU Community Guitar Ensemble on VCU's Guitar and Other Strings Series.

Formed in 2010, Flamenco del Sur performs original compositions, traditional forms and works by other musicians in the genre. Inspired by the music of great artists such as Paco de Lucia and Tomatito, Flamenco del Sur incorporates other styles such as jazz, samba and tango into their music. This synthesis creates a sound that is forward-looking yet tradition bound, helping to create the trio's unique musical voice. Known for their highly-energetic performances and electrifying musicianship, Flamenco del Sur is the joint effort of Andy Brockman (cajon), Derek Englert (bass), and Clarke Hedgepath (guitar).