On Saturday, March 19, strings will take the spotlight at the Milanof-Schock Library. The library, 1184 Anderson Ferry Road, Mount Joy, will host a performance by members of the Classical Guitar Society of Lancaster beginning at 6 p.m.
"We will be doing a salon format, which means it's a more casual event," said Josh Betty, ensemble director. "It will be an opportunity for people to hear some of the full ensemble songs as well as opportunities for individuals, duets and small groups to play."
The Classical Guitar Society of Lancaster currently has six members, who get together on a biweekly basis to learn and practice materials for concerts. "We have two main yearly concerts, one in early summer and one around Christmastime, when we all play together," Betty stated. "We're also trying to do more things like this salon and more casual meetups."
As Betty explained, the classical guitar dates back centuries. "It was born out of the lute in the Renaissance era, and it's been through many iterations throughout the years," he said. Although it resembles an acoustic guitar, a classical guitar has nylon strings, versus steel in an acoustic guitar.
"There are a lot of play style differences between the two as well," Betty said. "The classical guitar is a different way of thinking about the guitar. It has a rich history." Betty knows what he's talking about. He started playing the classical guitar in college and enjoyed it so much that he majored in musical performance with a focus on classical guitar.
He said audiences at the concert can expect a wide range of musical styles. "The main focus is truly classical literature, which does include some modern composers, but not necessarily well-known ones," he remarked. "You'll probably hear some things you haven't heard before."
There are classical guitar societies throughout the world, Betty noted, and the Lancaster group is looking for new members. "We're all casual players, and we have a variety of skill levels," he said. "We're very welcoming to everyone and a very encouraging group."
The concert is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served.
For more information on the group, email cgslanc@gmail.com or search for "Classical Guitar Society of Lancaster" on Facebook. For more information on upcoming library programs, visit https://mslibrary.org.
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