Pia Gazarek-Offermann has been playing the violin since the age of four. Her music education was at the Spezialschule für Musik in Wernigerode. She then studied classical guitar with Prof. Thomas Offermann and Jens Wagner at several music schools in Berlin, Weimar and Bremen. In addition to her guitar studies she was a member of the internationally renowned Youth Radio Choir of Wernigerode and the international prize-winning Vocal Consort Weimar. Her musical and artistic formation has continued to include Masterclasses with Roberto Aussel, David Russell and Hopkinson Smith and many others. In 1994 she was a prize-winner at the International Classical Guitar Competition in Cracow, Poland.

Pia Gazarek-Offermann has given concerts in several European countries as well as in Asia and North America. She currently teaches in Berlin and is active as a jurist and teacher at several international competitions and festivals.

“…Exceedingly demanding, the music shone scrupulously on key and was full of such splendid finesse that the audience didn’t know whether it was coming or going… With hard glissandi and rapid runs Pia Gazarek-Offermann seemed to want to beat the truth out of her guitar…she conjured a cornucopia of atmospheric pictures – intoxicating…” – Bonner Rundschau

co-presented by the NYCCGS and rogersmitharts

The Penthouse, 16th floor

The Roger Smith Hotel

Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese

pay at the door, cash only

For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com

or call 212.339.2092.

Share on Facebook

Daniel Acsadi is the Director of the Boston Classical Guitar Society and is finishing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at New England Conservatory with Eliot Fisk. Through his acclaimed performances, arrangements, and teaching, Dan is a passionate advocate for both the guitar and the music of his native Hungary. Dan’s arrangements encompass art and folk music of the 18th through 21st centuries, innovatively expanding the guitar’s repertoire. He is firmly committed to the guitar as a versatile chamber music instrument, performing regularly with voice, viola, violin, flute string quartet, and guitar ensemble. Beginning his musical studies at age six, Dan earned his M.M. from New England Conservatory (NEC) and B.A. from Cornell University, where he double majored in music and economics. Dan has previously studied with Pablo Cohen and John Hall, and has performed in the masterclasses of Manuel Barrueco, Leo Brouwer, Eduardo Fernandez, and Adam Holzman. Dan maintains a large and diverse teaching studio in the Boston area.

co-presented by the NYCCGS and RogerSmithArts

The Solarium, 16th Floor
The Roger Smith Hotel
Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese
Pay at the door, cash only

For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call 212.339.2092

Share on Facebook

As the chosen guitarist for Televisión Española’s centennial celebration of Francisco Tárrega,Mattias Jacobsson has emerged as one of the up-and-coming guitarists on the international stage today. The program “Es Música” will be broadcast bi-weekly throughout 2009.

Engagements include concerto appearances in The United States and Sweden, live performances at WQXR Radio and performances with guitarist Sharon Isbin at the Aspen Music Festival where they performed music by Howard Shore from Martin Scorsese’s movie The Departed, which was later broadcast on NPR’s Performance Today to an audience of 1.1 million. In June, 2008, Mr. Jacobsson was featured in the BBC documentary series “Imagine” about Oliver Sacks; in August, 2008, he replaced Angel Romero in both Concierto de Aranjuez andFantasia para un Gentilhombre by Rodrigo; and in March, 2009, he made his debut with the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra.

At the age of 17, Mr. Jacobsson made his recital debut at the Stockholm International Guitar Festival on very short notice, immediately followed by a tour of Estonia, along with his first recording album containing music by Bach, Poulenc, Mertz, Lauro, Albéniz, Sor and Tárrega. Since then, he has performed with principal members of Chamber Orchestra of Europe, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, and The Royal Danish Opera, and has been broadcast on BBC, TVE, WQXR, NPR and SRP2, the Swedish classical radio. He has also made recital and chamber music appearances in major Swedish venues as well as Alice Tully Hall, New York.

Born in Sweden in November, 1984, Mattias Jacobsson began studying the guitar with Erik Möllerström and Bo Hansson. He continued his studies at the Malmö Academy of Music with Göran Söllscher and Gunnar Spjuth and at The Juilliard School with Sharon Isbin.

Mr. Jacobsson plays exclusively on guitars by Thomas Fredholm.

Share on Facebook

Concerts begin at 4:00 PM and take place in the penthouse recital space of the Roger Smith Hotel, located at 501 Lexington Ave. at East 47th St. (see map).

Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese.
For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call (212) 333-2092.

September 13 – Valerie Hartzell
October 11 – Max Zuckerman
November 8 – Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
December 13 – Anthony Bez
January 10 – Gabriel Bianco
February 14 – Thomas Viloteau
March 14 – Daniel Acsadi
April 11 – Pia Gazarek-Offermann
May 9 – Brad Richter
June 13 – Dieter Hennings
July 11 – Atanas Ourkouzounov

Share on Facebook

“…there could be no better introduction to the Latin American classical guitar.”

Micaela Kramer, Classical Guitar Magazine

I met Alberto J. Rodríguez-Ortiz earlier this month at a new music festival in Mexico.  He’s a fabuous human being as well as guitarist and composer.  So I’m thrilled to announce he will play for Second Sundays Classical Guitar Series at the Roger Smith Hotel at 4pm on November 8; 501 Lexington Ave (tickets $15 at the door, to reserve call 212-339-2092).  Alberto is among the most active contemporary interpreters and composers of the new generation of Puerto Rican musicians.

Among various international festivals Rodríguez-Ortiz has participated are the Festival Pa´Lo escrito (Mexico City, 2009, 2008), Festival Casals (Puerto Rico, 2008), Fiesta Iberoamericana de las Artes (Puerto Rico, 2007), Festival de Música Contemporánea and Foro de Compositores del Caribe (La Habana, Cuba, 2006 and 2004); International Guitar Festival of Puerto Rico (2000), El Salvador’s International Festival of Contemporary Music (2000); María Escalón de Núñez’s Guitar Festival (El Salvador 2000), Second Twentieth Century Music Festival (San Juan, Puerto Rico 1999). That same year he opened the concert series “Caras Nuevas”, sponsored by FAMA.  In 1997, he was invited as composer in residence at The Rome Festival.  Rodríguez-Ortiz has also performed in cities such as London, Porto, Paris, Vienna, Morelia, Orlando, Miami and New York.  In this last city, he made his debut in 1997 as part of the series “Música de Cámara, Inc.” He has performed extensively with the guitar trio “Matices”, ensemble that received the first prize at Puerto Rico’s Chamber Music Festival in 1994 with his composition “Invocando a Yúcahu”.  He has been soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of El Salvador and the Symphony Orchestra of Bayamón.

His program is fascinating!

- Frank Wallace, Artistic Director of Second Sunday’s Classical Guitar Series

Sólo entre Bach y yo

Sonata no. 2*           Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Intro (Íntimo-Allegro)
Canción nocturna
Allegro violento

Partita II para violín BWV 1004           Johann Sebastian Bach  (1685-1750)
Allemanda                                                  arr. Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Corrente
Sarabanda
Giga
Ciaccona

Intermedio

Preludio, Fuga y Allegro  BWV 998          Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

Sonata no. 3 “Homenaje a la Sonora Ponceña y a Bach”*                  Alberto Rodríguez Ortiz
Adagio rítmico “Preludio en candela”
Scherzo (Presto) “Canción en gavota”
Aire y fuga…al fogón

* NYC premier

Share on Facebook

His playing was the night before the opening of the Roger Smith Shorts Film Festival

Craig Greenberg plays Cat Stevens in Lily’s

Craig plays the piano in Lily’s #2

Craig plays the piano in Lily’s #3

Share on Facebook

Co-sponsored by the New York City Classical Guitar Society and RogerSmithArts.
Tickets $15, includes wine and cheese.
For reservations, email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com or call (212) 339-2092.

Valerie Hartzell began her classical guitar studies on a half-size Ramirez at the age of three. At the age of six, she studied with maestro Alexandre Lagoya at the Académie Internationale d’Eté in Nice, France. She has participated in master classes with several internationally acclaimed artists, including Ako Ito, Castellani-Andriaccio Duo, David Russell, and Elena Papandreou. In 1991, Ms. Hartzell made her debut performing Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s “Concerto for guitar and orchestra” with the New Philharmonic Orchestra of Irving, Texas. She made her international debut in San Mamete, Italy at the Festival del Piccolo Mondo in August 1994. She has performed in Europe, Canada, the U.S. and has appeared on television in Nice, FR. From September 29-October 5, 2002 she toured the Carolinas which promoted her first cd, Fuoco!

She has performed in many festivals, including the ‘Close Encounters’ Voice and Guitar Festival at University of Houston (where she performed and co-directed the festival along the side of Katherine Ciesinski), the Eastfield College Guitar Festival and Competition in Mesquite, the first Classical Guitar Weekend Workshop at The Music Conservatory of Texas in Frisco, the Tennessee Festival at Middle Tennessee State University, the ECU Competition and Festival in Greenville, NC and the MANC Guitar Competition and Festival in Greensboro, NC. She has won 1st prizes at the 10th International Guitar Competition “Simone Salmaso” in Viareggio, Italy and at the Concours de Guitare Classique Heitor Villa-Lobos in Nice, France among other prizes. At the Peabody Conservatory of Johns Hopkins University, Ms. Hartzell was awarded the highest undergraduate scholarship for the classical guitar and studied with Manuel Barrueco earning her Bachelor’s Degree in 1997. She was awarded a Graduate Teaching Fellowship at Radford University with Robert Trent and was placed as Adjunct Faculty while studying for her Master’s Degree in Music. She received her performance degree in May of 1999 and currently, she is a Professional Teacher at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is Adjunct Faculty at the Houston Community College. She also accompanies many vocal students at both Moores School of Music, University of Houston and at the Shepherd School of Music, Rice University.

She keeps an active solo career and works in a professional duo with soprano Sandra Johnson, as Duo Athena and frequently is a judge at international competitions throughout the United States (St. Joseph International Competition, Texas Guitar Competition, East Carolina University International Competition, the Eastfield Guitar Competition, the ‘Classical Minds’ Guitar Competition, and the MANC Guitar Competition). Many of her private students have placed and won national and international competitions. Also, her private students have been accepted on scholarship to Schwob School of Music (University of Columbus), San Francisco Conservatory, University of North Texas in Denton, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Texas State University at San Marcos.

Valerie Hartzell is the creator and Director of the “Classical Minds” Guitar Festival and Competition at Moores School of Music, University of Houston and is the director of the Greater Houston Guitar Guild.

For more information, visit our website at nyccgs.org . I look forward to seeing you at these events!

John Olson, President

Share on Facebook

Originally from Montauk, New York, soprano Lilah Gosman has been hailed as a shining star on the musical firmament. Lilah is equally at home in operatic productions, the concert stage, and in recital. Lilah has appeared with the Annapolis Symphony, One World Symphony and with the Theater Chamber Players performing at the Kennedy Center. She was a featured artist at The Whitney Museums annual Art Affair, where she performed with a full band in collaboration with singer/songwriter Moby. On the concert stage Lilah has been heard at Avery Fisher Hall, Opera North, Aspen Music Festival, International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy, Tanglewood Music Center. Lilah most recently appeared in the Art of Song concert series in a program of jazz standards. She looks forward to joining Art of Song for more concerts in the Spring as well as collaborating with Milos Repicky in a recital of Felix Mendelssohns music. Operatic performances include Zerlina in Mozarts Don Giovanni, Susanna in Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro, Lauretta in Puccinis Gianni Schicchi, Echo in Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos and Cleopatra in Handels Giulio Cesare. Other roles include Hansel in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck, Rosette in Manon by Massenet and Adeleide in Lotario by Handel and Soprano in Einstein on the Beach by Phillip Glass. She maintains a passion for new music and has premiered several new works by contemporary composers. Lilah attended the Peabody Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music.

MILOS REPICKY

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, and raised in France and Canada, pianist/conductor Miloš Repický is on the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera, where he was recently heard playing the harpsichord continuo for Le Nozze di Figaro. Mr. Repicky has been responsible for musical preparation for many other operas including Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Macbeth, War and Peace, Hansel and Gretel, Rigoletto, La Traviata, The Magic Flute and served as Czech language coach for Jenůfa. In addition to the Mets radio and Sirius satellite broadcasts, Mr. Repickys performances have been broadcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and New Yorks WQXR. He was a featured performer on a multimedia DVD release of Pierrot Lunaire by Sundailtech Pictures. As conductor for the world premiere of Tobin Stokes opera The Vinedressers, Mr. Repický was featured on a television documentary for the CBC. He has performed in recital for Regina Resnik Presents, Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Montreals Jeunesses-Musicales, the Chicago Cultural Center and New Yorks Julian Autrey Song Foundation.

Share on Facebook

Originally from Montauk, New York, soprano Lilah Gosman has been hailed as a shining star on the musical firmament. Lilah is equally at home in operatic productions, the concert stage, and in recital. Lilah has appeared with the Annapolis Symphony, One World Symphony and with the Theater Chamber Players performing at the Kennedy Center. She was a featured artist at The Whitney Museums annual Art Affair, where she performed with a full band in collaboration with singer/songwriter Moby. On the concert stage Lilah has been heard at Avery Fisher Hall, Opera North, Aspen Music Festival, International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy, Tanglewood Music Center. Lilah most recently appeared in the Art of Song concert series in a program of jazz standards. She looks forward to joining Art of Song for more concerts in the Spring as well as collaborating with Milos Repicky in a recital of Felix Mendelssohns music. Operatic performances include Zerlina in Mozarts Don Giovanni, Susanna in Mozarts Le Nozze di Figaro, Lauretta in Puccinis Gianni Schicchi, Echo in Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos and Cleopatra in Handels Giulio Cesare. Other roles include Hansel in Hansel and Gretel by Humperdinck, Rosette in Manon by Massenet and Adeleide in Lotario by Handel and Soprano in Einstein on the Beach by Phillip Glass. She maintains a passion for new music and has premiered several new works by contemporary composers. Lilah attended the Peabody Conservatory and the Manhattan School of Music.

MILOS REPICKY

Born in Bratislava, Slovakia, and raised in France and Canada, pianist/conductor Miloš Repický is on the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera, where he was recently heard playing the harpsichord continuo for Le Nozze di Figaro. Mr. Repicky has been responsible for musical preparation for many other operas including Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Macbeth, War and Peace, Hansel and Gretel, Rigoletto, La Traviata, The Magic Flute and served as Czech language coach for Jenůfa. In addition to the Mets radio and Sirius satellite broadcasts, Mr. Repickys performances have been broadcast for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and New Yorks WQXR. He was a featured performer on a multimedia DVD release of Pierrot Lunaire by Sundailtech Pictures. As conductor for the world premiere of Tobin Stokes opera The Vinedressers, Mr. Repický was featured on a television documentary for the CBC. He has performed in recital for Regina Resnik Presents, Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, Montreals Jeunesses-Musicales, the Chicago Cultural Center and New Yorks Julian Autrey Song Foundation.

Share on Facebook