Uncategorized – Bristol Classical Guitar Society https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org Registered Charity (England and Wales) no. 1210175 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 15:43:36 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cropped-badge-512x512-1-32x32.png Uncategorized – Bristol Classical Guitar Society https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org 32 32 2025 Members’ Winter Concert https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2025/12/16/2025-members-winter-concert/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:56:00 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=3063 Programme

Tony Lewis / Tim Rigley

  • Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 — Frédéric Chopin (arr. K. Krantz)
  • Canción (Quinta Campaña) — Kircher / Montes
  • Milonga al sur a Piazzolla — Montes

Andy / Vince

  • Libertango — Astor Piazzolla (arr. Warn)

Andy Warn

  • White Christmas — Irving Berlin (arr. Warn)

Paul Hapney

  • Prelude No. 4 — Heitor Villa-Lobos

Alan Montague

  • Bourrée from the Third Cello Suite — J. S. Bach

Lewis Tredinnick

  • Mazurka-Choro — Heitor Villa-Lobos

Andy Fagan

  • El Noi de la Mare — Miguel Llobet

Martin Allsop

  • Precious Days — Own Composition

Tony Eastwood / Paul Munneke

  • Dacw Dadi Mynd i’r Ffair — Welsh Traditional (arr. Eastwood)

— 20 Minute Intermission —

Wine, juice, and water available. Donations appreciated.

Tony Mulholland / Vince

  • Two Duets for Guitar and Terz — J. K. Mertz

Steve Watson

  • Three Preludes Nos. 1, 8, and 7 — Manuel Ponce

Thorben / Cari

  • Chansons et Danses d’Amérique Latine — arr. Yvon Rivoal
    Seven short pieces from countries across the continent

Thorben Louw

  • No. 2 Allegro
  • La guitarra hace llorar a los sueños
    from Evocaciones — Anton García

BCGS Ensemble

  • Three Views from Nothing — Will Frampton
  • Farewell to Stromness — Peter Maxwell Davies (arr. Helen James)

Here are some photos from the night!

]]> Some photos from our 2024 Members’ Summer Concert https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/07/12/some-photos-from-our-2024-members-summer-concert/ Fri, 12 Jul 2024 17:16:55 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=2090 document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) { jQuery( '#slider-pro-3-2113' ).sliderPro({ //width width: 1000, //height height: 500, //auto play autoplay: true, autoplayOnHover: 'none', autoplayDelay: 5000, arrows: true, buttons: true, smallSize: 500, mediumSize: 1000, largeSize: 3000, fade: true, //thumbnail thumbnailArrows: true, thumbnailWidth: 120, thumbnailHeight: 120, thumbnailsPosition: 'bottom', centerImage: true, imageScaleMode: 'cover', allowScaleUp: true, startSlide: 0, loop: true, slideDistance: 5, autoplayDirection: 'normal', touchSwipe: true, fullScreen: true, }); });

Members’ Summer Concert

Peter Smith and Cari Aplin, BCGS Summer Concert 2024
summer-concert-7
Vincent Smith and Tony Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024
Tony Lewis and Tim Rigley
Vincent Smith, Tony and Sarah Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024
Steve Watson
summer-concert-6
Paul Bradshaw, BCGS Summer Concert 2024
Alan Montague
Tony Lewis
Vincent Smith, Tony and Sarah Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024
Peter Smith and Cari Aplin, BCGS Summer Concert 2024 summer-concert-7 Vincent Smith and Tony Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024 Tony Lewis and Tim Rigley Vincent Smith, Tony and Sarah Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024 Steve Watson summer-concert-6 Paul Bradshaw, BCGS Summer Concert 2024 Alan Montague Tony Lewis Vincent Smith, Tony and Sarah Mulholland, BCGS Summer Concert 2024

]]> Sheet music resources https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/04/07/sheet-music-resources/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 17:11:20 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1953 Free-scores.com

plus more links to free Music:
http://www.delcamp.net/guitarraclasica/partituras.html
http://www.8notes.com/classical/
http://www.brazil-on-guitar.de/tabs.html
http://maurogiuliani.free.fr/en/solos.php
http://cglib.org

]]> Luthiers and guitar makers https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/04/07/luthiers-and-guitar-makers/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 17:09:15 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1951 Rik Middleton

Maker of fine classical guitars in the English midlands.

Peter Beer Guitars

Traditional Craftsmanship, Modern Thinking from his workshop in Scotland. See this article from 2015 – http://classicalguitarmagazine.com/british-luthier-pete-beer-is-building-sustainable-instruments/.

Oren Myers Classical Guitar Maker

Oxfordshire luthier making traditional English instruments

Alastair McNeill

Wiltshire maker of some 40 years’ standing. ‘… Excellent. The work of a dedicated luthier and artist.’ John Mills
E-mail  alastairmcneill@fsmail.net

Stephen Cadney

Constructor of guitars and vihuelas of high quality, based in Manchester.

]]> Local guitar teachers https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/04/07/local-guitar-teachers/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 17:08:20 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1949

NB! The Bristol Classical Guitar society does not specifically endorse or recommend any teachers listed on this page — we just provide a service for local teachers to add themselves to this list. When choosing a teacher, please check that the teacher’s experience, qualifications, insurance etc. match your expectations, and arrange trial lessons to check suitability.

If you’re a local classical guitar teacher and you’d like to be listed (for free!) on this page, please contact services@bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org

Francisco Correa

Francisco is the Artistic Director of the Bristol Classical Guitar Society, the International Guitar Foundation Festival and Summer School in Bath and Ham Farm Festival in Bristol, UK, and a former member of the faculty at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Dance.

Helen James

Classical guitar lessons in Keynsham, specialising in classical, folk and South American styles; offers private lessons.

Zoltan Farkas

Professional classical guitar tuition for the beginner and for advanced players. References available. Music provided for the lessons from a comprehensive stock ranging from simple studies through to concert level.

Sam Brown

Professional classical guitarist offering expert tuition in Bath and online (lute & classical guitar).

Stewart Knight (Wells Guitar Man)

Experienced teacher in Wells offering electric, acoustic and classical guitar tuition; studio-based lessons.

Mike Paul

Yate-based teacher offering electric, acoustic and classical guitar lessons tailored to all ages and goals.

Jon Pickard

Classical guitar (plus acoustic/piano) tuition from Bruton; teaches in person and online.

Louise Saunders

Spanish/classical guitar teacher in Clifton, Bristol — 30+ years’ experience, from beginners to Grade 8 and beyond.

Marcus Allard

Classical guitar lessons in south Bristol. Marcus studied with Carlo Marchione in Maastricht and has over 10 years teaching experience to all levels.

Chriss Watson

Experience personal Classical Guitar tuition in the comfort of your home, covering Bristol, North Somerset, and South East Wales.

Also see

The European Guitar Teachers Association  

The Association exists to develop and improve the standards of guitar teaching.

]]> Guitar societies and organisations https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/04/07/guitar-societies-and-organisations/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 17:01:48 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1947

Federation of Guitar Societies

FGS Map showing Guitar Societies of UK and Ireland

See a full list of UK Guitar Societies – This is the website of the Federation of Guitar Societies

WAGO – The Wyvern Afinado Guitar Orchestra – A guitar orchestra in North Somerset run by BCGS member Vince Smith, with regular concerts featuring an extended range of guitars and original commissions from composers and arrangers.


The International Guitar Foundation
The IGF organises Guitar Festivals and Summer Schools, catering for all styles of guitar playing.

The Bristol Mandolin and Guitar ensemble  – Run by Knud Stüwe who leads fortnightly rehearsals and is keen to recruit guitarists.


Canterbury Guitar Society
Worcester Classical Guitar Society
The Northamptonshire Classical Guitar and Lute Society
The Southampton Classical Guitar Society

The Guitar Foundation of America

]]> Classical guitar exams and syllabuses https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/04/07/classical-guitar-exams-and-syllabuses/ Sun, 07 Apr 2024 16:52:31 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1945
]]> Theme Nights for Solos in 2024 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2024/01/31/theme-nights-for-solos-in-2024/ Wed, 31 Jan 2024 17:56:54 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1786 As part of the AGM in 2024, we agreed to try theming the solos in each month, to inspire more people to play. Themes are entirely optional – if you’ve got something else you’d like to play that doesn’t fit in with the theme, play it anyway!

The themes are:

  • March: Classical and Early Romantic Etude. Play an Etude by a composer like Sor, Carcassi, Carulli, Giuliani, Aguado, Diabelli, Regondi… if it says study, estudio or etude, play it!  
  • April: A piece by a British Composer (bonus points if it’s Steve Goss!)
  • May: Latin America  
  • June: A modern etude (20th or 21st century). Think Villa-Lobos, Brouwer, Garcia, Nuttall…  
  • August: “The Rest of the World” Showcase. We hear so much music from West European, North American, and Latin American composers. So this month, play something from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Oceania, Polynesia, anywhere but the usuals!
  • September: 21st century composition
  • October: Music from Spain 
  • November: Baroque Night
]]> Joining https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/2023/12/06/joining/ Wed, 06 Dec 2023 18:12:07 +0000 https://www.bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org/?p=1605
How it works

If you’d like to see what we’re about, just email enquiries@bristolclassicalguitarsociety.org to introduce yourself and then come along to one of our monthly meetings!

If you enjoy the meeting you attend, you might like to join as a member.

We welcome players from a wide variety of ages, backgrounds and skill levels. If you’re under 16, please note that you have to be accompanied by an adult (a condition of our public liability insurance). 

Costs

Annual fees are £35 per year, and we each pay £7 when we come to monthly meetings, to cover the cost of the hall rental.

 

Is the BCGS right for me?

  • Do you already play some classical guitar?
  • Can you read music notation? (You don’t have to be a great sight reader – you can practice ahead of time!)
  • Do you want to play with other guitarists in a large ensemble?
  • Do you enjoy being inspired by visiting artists’ concerts?
  • Do you want to learn more about the guitar through our speaker talks?
  • Would you like to have a supportive friendly atmosphere to celebrate the guitar with with like-minded people?
  • Do you enjoy hearing others play solos they’re busy working on, and supporting them with listening and enthusiastic applause?
  • Do you want a safe space to practice your performance and play solos you’re working on, knowing you’ll be supported no matter how simple they are or how badly it goes?
  • Would you like to participate in summer and winter concerts (ensembles, small groups, solos)?

BCGS is for you!

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