Founded in 2005, The Columbia Guitar Orchestra offers classical guitarists of varying ages and abilities the opportunity to perform in a collaborative setting. Under the direction of USC graduate Steve Sloan, the Guitar Orchestra strives to provide members and audiences alike a fun, entertaining and educational experience.
New members welcome! Contact Steve Sloan for more details: 216-577-0670.
New members welcome! Contact Steve Sloan for more details: 216-577-0670.
Free Times Article: From the Free Times Magazine - July 7, 2009
Columbia Guitar Orchestra to Rock Museum
Friday Performance Highlights Overlooked Style
BY RON AIKEN
If you consider yourself a music snob, I have a quick challenge for you: Name three of the most influential classical guitarists of the 20th century.
Clock’s ticking.
Still waiting on you here.
Any day now — just one will do, if you can’t name three. And no, Esteban doesn’t count.
Give up? Do the names Miguel Llobet, Andres Segovia and Julian Bream mean anything to you? Thought not — back to music history school for you, monsieur/mademoiselle poseur.
Now if, on the other hand, you happen to be a member of the Columbia Guitar Orchestra, then I’m betting the above three names do mean something to you.
Formed by local musician and instructor Marty Fort of the Columbia Arts Academy and now under the direction of USC graduate student Steve Sloan, the Columbia Guitar Orchestra has been preaching the gospel of classical guitar since 2005 with two concerts per year designed to present a sensational but often overlook art form to local audiences. The group is comprised of eight members ranging in age from recent high school graduates to retired musicians in their 60s and 70s. Its shared passion is a love for an intricate art form that demands precision from one’s hands at a level rock guitar rarely begs of its adherents.
“One difference is that we all know how to read music, which many rock guitarists don’t,” Sloan says. “But the biggest difference is in the picking; you have to use your fingers and your fingernails to pick, and it’s extremely challenging.”
Sloan is quick to point out that while classical guitar is based in the performance of classical music, proficiency in that difficult arena means that leaping to other forms of music comes not just naturally but rather easily, and the benefit of the picking styles mean a more nuanced, intricate wall of sound.
“As for the pieces we perform, I generally select guitar quartet music or guitar ensemble music in four or five pieces that blends well,” Sloan says. “There’s something unusual and powerful about the sound that eight guitars can generate with one section playing the melodies and another playing the bass parts.
“In that sense the term ‘orchestra’ is a bit misleading; it’s better to think of it as a large guitar ensemble.”
The concert takes place this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Museum of Art, and it features some of what you’d expect and some that you might not.
“We have a piece by Bach, a couple of tangos and the theme from Peter Gunn [composed by jazz great Henry Mancini] as well as a fun, island-sounding piece called ‘Yellowbird,’” says Sloan, who estimates the group attracted approximately 70 guests at its last recital.
For Sloan, besides bringing the beauty of the classical guitar to audiences in an interesting and unusual arrangement, it also is a chance to get the message out that the Columbia Guitar Orchestra always has room for more players on its roster that currently includes Sloan, Jose Soler, Betsy Gunter, Neil Wicker, Phyllis David, Robert David, Thomas Creek, James Keretses and Frank Cramer.
“We have a wide range of skill levels and are open to those who are just learning or who are experienced,” Sloan says. “We haven’t done a lot of recruiting in the past, but my vision is to grow it into something much larger so we can increase our sound and ability level.”
The first month of rehearsals is free to new members, and dues thereafter is $30 per month. The group performs twice a year at the Richland Public Library, as well as various community events.
Columbia Guitar Orchestra to Rock Museum
Friday Performance Highlights Overlooked Style
BY RON AIKEN
If you consider yourself a music snob, I have a quick challenge for you: Name three of the most influential classical guitarists of the 20th century.
Clock’s ticking.
Still waiting on you here.
Any day now — just one will do, if you can’t name three. And no, Esteban doesn’t count.
Give up? Do the names Miguel Llobet, Andres Segovia and Julian Bream mean anything to you? Thought not — back to music history school for you, monsieur/mademoiselle poseur.
Now if, on the other hand, you happen to be a member of the Columbia Guitar Orchestra, then I’m betting the above three names do mean something to you.
Formed by local musician and instructor Marty Fort of the Columbia Arts Academy and now under the direction of USC graduate student Steve Sloan, the Columbia Guitar Orchestra has been preaching the gospel of classical guitar since 2005 with two concerts per year designed to present a sensational but often overlook art form to local audiences. The group is comprised of eight members ranging in age from recent high school graduates to retired musicians in their 60s and 70s. Its shared passion is a love for an intricate art form that demands precision from one’s hands at a level rock guitar rarely begs of its adherents.
“One difference is that we all know how to read music, which many rock guitarists don’t,” Sloan says. “But the biggest difference is in the picking; you have to use your fingers and your fingernails to pick, and it’s extremely challenging.”
Sloan is quick to point out that while classical guitar is based in the performance of classical music, proficiency in that difficult arena means that leaping to other forms of music comes not just naturally but rather easily, and the benefit of the picking styles mean a more nuanced, intricate wall of sound.
“As for the pieces we perform, I generally select guitar quartet music or guitar ensemble music in four or five pieces that blends well,” Sloan says. “There’s something unusual and powerful about the sound that eight guitars can generate with one section playing the melodies and another playing the bass parts.
“In that sense the term ‘orchestra’ is a bit misleading; it’s better to think of it as a large guitar ensemble.”
The concert takes place this Friday at 7 p.m. at the Columbia Museum of Art, and it features some of what you’d expect and some that you might not.
“We have a piece by Bach, a couple of tangos and the theme from Peter Gunn [composed by jazz great Henry Mancini] as well as a fun, island-sounding piece called ‘Yellowbird,’” says Sloan, who estimates the group attracted approximately 70 guests at its last recital.
For Sloan, besides bringing the beauty of the classical guitar to audiences in an interesting and unusual arrangement, it also is a chance to get the message out that the Columbia Guitar Orchestra always has room for more players on its roster that currently includes Sloan, Jose Soler, Betsy Gunter, Neil Wicker, Phyllis David, Robert David, Thomas Creek, James Keretses and Frank Cramer.
“We have a wide range of skill levels and are open to those who are just learning or who are experienced,” Sloan says. “We haven’t done a lot of recruiting in the past, but my vision is to grow it into something much larger so we can increase our sound and ability level.”
The first month of rehearsals is free to new members, and dues thereafter is $30 per month. The group performs twice a year at the Richland Public Library, as well as various community events.