USU's Guitar Ensembles in Spring Concert

Multiple guitar ensembles are featured in a spring concert at Utah State University Saturday, April 18, at 7:30 p.m. in the Performance Hall (approximately 1090 E. 675 North, Logan). The concert follows a long performance tradition in the guitar program in USU’s Department of Music and the Caine School of the Arts.

Tickets are $5, and free to USU students with ID and are available at the CSA Box Office by calling (435) 797-8022, online, or at the door.

 

“This is the 32nd year guitar ensembles have performed on the Utah State campus,” said Mike Christiansen, guitar program head. “Much has changed over the years, but the program has developed a loyal following and the concerts are always popular with audience members, regardless of their musical taste.”

 

Two acoustic and two electric guitar ensembles are featured in the spring concert. Mike Christiansen directs the acoustic groups and Corey Christiansen directs the electric ensembles. Ensemble members are mostly guitar majors.

 

“One acoustic ensemble has 16 members,” Christiansen said. “We affectionately call it ‘guitarmageddon’ — good guitar players will prevail.”

 

The program for the evening includes a variety of music from Flamenco to swing to funk, including Cuban Landscape with Rain by Leo Brouwer. The piece is for acoustic ensemble that, through the use of special effects, imitates the sound of a storm in a rain forest. Also on the program is The Pounce, an up-tempo jazz-rock fusion piece for electric ensemble.

 

Mike Christiansen was recently an adjudicator and clinician at the Mid-Atlantic Guitar Festival in Washington, D.C. While there, Christiansen had dinner with a former student who graduated from USU’s guitar program in 1979 and now teaches in the Washington, D.C., area.

 

“The former student brought a printed program to the festival from the 1977 USU Guitar Ensemble concert,” Christiansen said. “The guitar program has changed dramatically since 1977, but I have fond memories of those early years and the students who were involved. They’ve gone on to be wonderful educators and performers and have done much to elevate the respectability of the guitar.”

 

 

Writer: Patrick Williams (435) 797-1354
Contact: Mike Christiansen (435) 797-3011