More than a mere quartet of talented musicians, the members of the "LAGQ" are themselves composers as well as arrangers and ethnomusicologists, expanding the boundaries of the guitar quartet repertoire. These four performers--John Dearman, William Kanengiser, Scott Tenant and Andrew York--offer an evolving, daring, yet approachable listening experience. Recognized as one of America's premier instrumental ensembles, and one of the most charismatic groups performing today, the four virtuosi of the "LAGQ" bring a new energy to the concert stage with their eclectic programs and dynamic musical interplay. Their critically acclaimed 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. They are active composers as well and by-products such as Scott Tenant's instructional volume and video, Pumping Nylon, have helped the current generation of students in many ways. The LAGQ has set new standards for the guitar quartet medium. Their latest recording, Guitar Heroes, soon to be released, features composers who most influenced them as youths...including the Northwest's own Bryan Johanson. Visit lagq.com.

Vidovic is an extraordinary talent with formidable gifts, taking her place amongst the elite guitarists of the world today. Visit her at www.anavidovic.com. By the age of only 23 she has won an impressive number of prizes and international competitions across the world, including first prizes in the Albert Augustine International Competition in Bath, England, the Fernando Sor competition in Rome, the Francisco Tarrega Competition in Benicasim, Spain. Vidovic has also given over one thousand public performances since first taking the stage in 1988. Her international performance career includes recitals in London, Paris, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Budapest, Warsaw, Tel Aviv, Oslo, Copenhagen, Toronto, Baltimore, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Dallas and St. Louis.

Fernandez is recognized as one of today's leading guitarists. The Latin tradition in guitar music and musicians is strong, yet here in the USA we are only dimly aware of their depth and breadth. Born in 1952 in Uruguay, Eduardo Fernandez began his studies of guitar at age 7. His principal teachers were Abel Carlevaro, Guido Santorsola and Hector Tosar. After winning prizes in several international competitions, the most notable being the 1972 Porto Alegre (Brazil) and 1975 Radio France (Paris) competitions, he won the first prize at the 1975 Andres Segovia Competition in Mallorca (Spain). His New York debut in 1977 won critical accolades, where he was described as "A top guitarist...Rarely has this reviewer heard a more impressive debut recital on any instrument" (Donal Henahan, New York Times). Nineteen major label recordings, including critically acclaimed recordings of the four Bach Lute Suites, bear witness to the broad spectrum of this fine instrumentalist. His instructional volume published by Mel Bay is popular. To read an interview, giving insights into the world of Latin American guitar, visit Guitarra Magazine.

Stanely Yates (May 21, 2005)

"Yates plays with a profundity of undisturbed communication of the music. Technical perfection, tonal purity and a considered objectivity are all perfectly placed." --Azijnfabriek in Muzerije

British born, Yates has established an international career as concert performer and recording artist, teacher, arranger and scholar. Performing to wide critical and audience acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic, he has been praised by the English magazine Classic Guitar as "one of the elite breed of guitarists," the Fort Worth Star Telegram for the "transcendent quality of his interpretative abilities," the Italian magazine Suonare for his "musical instinct and brilliant technique." He has been the subject of interviews, articles and extended reviews in many of the national and international guitar magazines including, Guitare Aktuel (Germany), Il fronimo (italy), Fingerstyle (US), Fingerstyle Review (US), Teaching Guitar (US), Suonare (Italy) and Classic Guitar (England). Yates has written extensively on the guitar an published arrangements, some of which can be downloaded for free from his website, www.stanleyyates.com. Nice long MP3 downloads, excerpts from his recordings, may also be found there.

"The Seattle Classic Guitar Society's series of recitals at Benaroya Hall is one of the great, relatively undiscovered delights of Seattle's classical-music season. The performers are top-notch, and the venue, Benaroya's Nordstrom Recital Hall, has acoustics that are matched perfectly to the intimate demands of the guitar." The Seattle Times, November 2000

The Seattle Classic Guitar Society is supported in part by grants from the Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the King County Arts Commission