Guitar and Other Strings Series
The Guitar and Other Strings Series, held every July, features all styles of music — jazz, bluegrass, folk, Celtic, flamenco, classical and blues.
Begun in 1992, the series has presented nationally and internationally acclaimed artists in concerts and workshops. Artists who have performed on this series include Leo Kottke, Mark O’Connor, John Hartford, John Jackson, the Washington Guitar Quintet, Charlie Byrd, the Tony Rice Unit, the Del McCoury Band, the Nashville Bluegrass Band, Pierre Bensusan and Stephen Bennett. The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble also performs annually on this series.
2011 Guitar and Other Strings Series – 19th season
Duck Baker
Fingerstyle guitarist
Friday, July 8
7:30 p.m.
General admission: $15
“Quite simply, Duck Baker is the premier American fingerstyle guitarist.” Sing Out 2005
“He can go from the Mississippi Delta to the rings of Saturn.” The Village Voice 2006
Duck Baker is one of the most highly regarded fingerstyle guitarists of his generation. His repertoire ranges from traditional Irish music through old-time mountain music and bluegrass to blues, gospel, ragtime, swing and modern jazz. Baker has a reputation as a virtuoso but his performances depend as much on his humorous and informative stage manner and relaxed, tuneful vocals as on technical bravura. Baker’s greatest success has come in the guitar world; his arrangements have influenced hundreds of players who have learned from his books and recordings, and his compositions have been recorded by other pickers like Stefan Grossman, John Renbourn, Pat Kirtley and Joe Miller.
“..one of the most highly regarded fingerstyle guitarists of his generation."
Duck Baker will also give a guitar workshop on Saturday, July 9, at 10 a.m. in
W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, Room B-15.
General admission: $20 at the door.
Quatro na Bossa
Brazilian bossa nova and samba
Friday, July 15
7:30 p.m.
General admission: $15
Quatro na Bossa, Richmond’s favorite bossa nova band, has been performing Brazilian standards, obscurities and original material throughout Virginia since 2003. Drawing from Brazil’s most popular composers and performers, Quatro na Bossa includes familiar classics as well as esoteric gems in their vast repertoire and some original material in the bossa nova style. Quatro na Bossa has performed for private functions, film and cultural festivals, bars and restaurants. Quatro na Bossa comprises some of the region’s most prominent musicians, including vocalist Laura Ann Boyd, guitarist Kevin Harding and bassist Rusty Farmer.
“…they add the rich and satisfying flavor of Brazil to the Richmond music scene.”
Love Canon
String band performing rock hits from the 1980s in a bluegrass style
Friday, July 22
7:30 p.m.
General admission: $15
What do you get when you cross conservatory-trained musicians with raucous bluegrass, and the mega-hits of the 1980s? You get Love Canon. Love Canon is a ’80s cover band that arranges and performs all the tunes on traditional bluegrass instruments. Members of the group include Jesse Harper, of acoustic super group Old School Freight Train; Darrell Muller, also of OSFT; Adam Larrabee, jazz guitar/banjo virtuoso; and Andy Thacker, bluegrass mandolin phenom.
“…if you like ’80s music, or, if you like bluegrass, or if you like both, check out a Love Canon performance.”
The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble 
25-member guitar orchestra with guest artists
25th anniversary concert
Sunday, July 24
4 p.m.
Free admission
Directed by John Patykula
The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble consists of 25 talented classical guitarists from central Virginia. Established in 1986 by John Patykula, this ensemble has performed as part of the Richmond International Music Festival and Richmond’s Big Gig summer festival. It is the resident ensemble for VCU’s Guitar and Other Strings Series. The VCU Community Guitar Ensemble has been featured on local television and on WCVE-FM’s “An Hour with the Guitar.”
All concerts will be in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall in the Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue.
