Purdue News

September 8, 2000 Convos brings hot-blooded guitar playing to Loeb WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Convocations presents the dynamic musical interplay of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet on Sunday, Oct. 1, at Loeb Playhouse, Stewart Center. The 3 p.m. concert is part of Purdue Convocations' Loeb Music Collection. Tickets are $26 for the public and $17 for Purdue students with a valid student identification card. They are available at the Purdue box offices, all Ticketmaster outlets or charge by phone at (765) 494-3933 or 1-800-914-SHOW. Recognized as one of America's premier instrumental ensembles, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet's transcriptions of concert masterworks provide a fresh look at the music of the past, while their interpretations of works from the contemporary and world-music realms continually break new ground. Popularly known as the LAGQ, each member of the group is a seasoned soloist and gives the quartet the capability of rotating the "first chair" from piece to piece. John Dearman is an eclectic guitarist whose repertoire ranges from samba to bluegrass and flamenco to classical. He fills out the sound of the LAGQ by performing on a unique seven-string guitar with extended upper and lower registers. First-prize winner in the Tokyo International Competition in 1989, Scott Tennant has been performing since the age of twelve. He is the author of the best-selling book and video "Pumping Nylon," a technical handbook for the classical guitarist. Voted "Best Classical Album" of 1994 by Guitar Player Magazine readers' poll, Andrew York's solo CD "Denouement" illustrates his groundbreaking style as a composer and guitarist. Acclaimed soloist, recording artist, and faculty member at the University of Southern California, William Kanengiser is one of the few guitarists to have won the Concert Artists Guild New York Competition. The LAGQ have appeared on prestigious guitar and chamber music series at Pasadena's Ambassador Auditorium, Chicago's Orchestra Hall, New York's Lincoln Center and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall. The quartet was featured in a nationally broadcast performance with the Boston Pops on PBS's "Evening at Pops." Other television appearances include CNN's "Show Biz Today," "CBS Saturday Morning," and Arts &Entertainment Network's "Breakfast with the Arts." The Quartet records for Sony Classical and their recent release "L.A.G.Q." debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard Classical-Crossover charts. CONTACT: Laura Sargent, Purdue Convocations, (765) 494-5045; l_sargent@hotmail.com To the Purdue News and Photos Page