Welcome to the Greater Houston Guitar Guild!

We are a not for profit club on our 4th season.  Our mission is to support up-and-coming classical guitarists (and the occasional flamenco performers), local and state guitarists, and of course, whenever a famous guitarist comes to Texas, we are proud to have them come through our small club.  We are invoking the 19th C Salon Concert atmosphere where the listener can hear and see everything up close and personal.  This guild was created FOR the community.  Not only do we have concerts but we also have free meetings where guild members can play for each other in a safe environment.  We will also have local guest teachers lead the meetings with warm ups/techniques. In the fall of 2012 we will add a Guitar Ensemble to our monthly meetings.
The Guild is about education. Along with our guest artists' master classes, we will invite professors from the surrounding universities to give one or two day classes each semester.
Our spring season started in January with Steve Kostelnik who performed a fantastic program. February will have a meeting and in March will have Isaac Bustos, professor at A&M give a master class. April is the fundraiser concert for the Classical Minds and in May will see virtuoso and fiery guitarist, Matt Palmer.

Many students who would like to perform for our guest artists in master classes or lessons cannot afford the fees.  Also, our guest artists often fly in to Houston and concert ticket fees barely cover the cost of travel. If you would like to sponsor one of these young aspiring students or guest artists, please contact Valerie Hartzell at 907-231-1109 or at valeriehartzell@yahoo.com   We will mention your name in the next newsletter as a Young Artist Sponsor or Guest Artist Sponsor unless anonymity is preferred.

PERFORMING ARTISTS and MANAGERS: Please do NOT contact me regarding hiring you for a concert. We are not accepting any new artists. I will be temporarily living in Anchorage, Alaska and our guild will only have one guest artist in the fall and spring. Currently, our roster is booked for the next few years. Thank you for your cooperation.

Saturday, January 28th at 7:30pm

We start the season with Texas based guitarist, Steve Kostelnik who is a professor at the prestigious Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. Steve
Kostelnik is one of the foremost pedagogues in Texas and we are honored to start the spring season with this energetic and brilliant guitarist.
Concert will be held at the Hartzell-Nejako residence. Tickets are $12 students/senior citizens and $15 Guild Members (or 2 for $25), non members are $18.
Dr. Kostelnik will give a master class at the Texas Guitar Gallery on Sunday, January 29th. The fee for 30 minutes is $45, for 45 mins is $60 and for an hour is $80. Auditing is free.
For directions to the Gallery, to sign up for the class and to reserve your seat, please email at valeriehartzell@yahoo.com

FREE February 18th Meeting:

On February18th, at 5pm GHGG member Margaret Proctor will be hosting a free meeting at her home in Richmond. Members will be able to play for each other in a friendly, warm environment. Bring food or wine or beer to contribute to the potluck socialization after the performances.
Performers are asked to keep their limit to no more than 15 minutes so plenty of people can have their turn.
To RSVP and to get the address, please email valeriehartzell@yahoo.com

Master Class featuring ISAAC BUSTOS:

Solo virtuoso, member of the prestigious Texas Guitar Quartet, and professor at Texas A&M University, Dr. Bustos will give a master class in March. We would like to make this a two day event, March 3rd and 4th but if not, then we will put everyone on Saturday, March 3rd.
If interested in the master class, please contact me at valeriehartzell@yahoo.com
Fee: $45 for 30 minutes, $60 for 45 mins, and $80 for an hour. Auditors pay $5.