Published: January 04, 2007 05:16 pm         

Guitarist to perform at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College

Special guest artist Kenneth Meyer of the Syracuse University Setnor School of Music will perform several new guitar solos during a recital at St. Mary-of-the-Woods College at 2 p.m. Feb. 4 in the Cecilian Auditorium.

The concert is co-sponsored by the Conservatory of Music (Riverside Plaza) and the SMWC Performing and Visual Arts Department, and admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students. SMWC students will be admitted for free with a valid student ID.

The first-prize winner at the Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Artist Competition, Meyer has been described by the Washington Post as, “a thinking man’s guitarist who focuses on the inner structure of a piece and plays with impressive gravity and power.” The Buffalo News called him “impeccably articulate with superb technique.”

His concert at St. Mary-of-the-Woods will feature a unique program of new guitar solos that Meyer commissioned from four talented and award-winning American composers. As part of this project, which is being supported by Meet the Composer, The Hanson Institute for American Music (Eastman School of Music), The Argosy Foundation, The Barlow Endowment, New York State Council on the Arts and Syracuse University, Meyer will be performing these works in 20 to 30 venues around the nation. During the summer, he will record these compositions, along with some never before or rarely recorded new guitar music, for release and distribution.

Since his professional concert debut at the “Teatro de la Opera de Maracay,” Meyer has performed in Europe, South America and throughout North America. In addition to live concerts, his performances have been featured on film, radio and most recently on the Albany record label.

He is frequently in demand as a guest artist at colleges and universities across the country, and he is an active performer and teacher at music festivals, recently being featured at the Rome Alexandria, Eastman Guitar Summerfest and the Alirio Diaz guitar festivals. In addition, his diversity as a musician has led to work on the Broadway touring production of the Who’s rock opera, “Tommy.”

Meyer holds degrees in music composition and performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia and master of music and doctor of musical arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He has served on the faculties of East Carolina University, SUNY at Fredonia and the Eastman School of Music. He currently directs the guitar studies program at Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music.

Meyer also will present a Classical Guitar Master Class from 1 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3 in SMWC’s Cecilian Auditorium. The public is invited watch as Meyer works with beginning to advanced levels of classical guitarists. For more information about the Feb. 4 concert or Feb. 3 master class, call (812) 535-5145 or e-mail music@smwc.edu.