This week we spoke with John Alvarado, President of the Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar, about how his organization brings the centuries-old art of classical guitar to today’s Central Indiana.
The Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar
Founded in 2006, the Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting classical guitar in central Indiana. In addition to master classes, workshops, and open stages, the group hosts a concert series in partnership with the IUPUI Department of Music and Arts Technology at IUPUI’s downtown Indianapolis campus. Each year the ISCG hosts local, national, and international visiting artists who are leading figures in the world of classical guitar.
When asked about the future of the ISCG, John Alvarado, President of the ISCG and frequent Classical Music Indy performer, said “I am excited to see the classical guitar become more recognized in Indianapolis. Indy has a great tradition of classical music with outstanding organizations. However, classical guitar has not historically been a big part of this. Most people love classical guitar when they hear it. Our challenge is just getting people to discover it. I am convinced Indianapolis can be a great classical guitar town.”
The ISCG is open to all fans of music. The concerts and events are open to all, not just members. Professional performers, music students, guitar hobbyists, and people who just love music can be found at ISCG events. The organization welcomes people to participate and enjoy classical guitar at whatever level suits them best.
A typical season for the ISCG consists of 5-6 concerts. The organization kicks off with a fundraiser concert featuring professional players from Indianapolis and the surrounding area. The ISCG concert series always showcases the current winner of the Guitar Foundation of America Competition, one of the most prestigious classical guitar competitions in the world. The ISCG hosts 2 masterclasses or workshops with visiting artists each season. In this way, the ISCG directly interacts with the community by providing performances to attend and educational opportunities for classical guitar performers or enthusiasts.
Another way the ISCG interacts with the community is by sponsoring open stage opportunities for local players of any skill level to perform. There are two open stages each season, one in December and one in April/May. The open stage events take place at Bethel United Methodist Church at 5252 W. 52nd Street. Both the open stages and workshops are open to the entire Indianapolis community.
ISCG concerts take place at the Informatics and Communications Technology Complex at IUPUI, 535 West Michigan St. The main concert series tickets are $15 for General Admission, $10 for students, and free for members. Membership for the ISCG is $60 for an individual and $80 for a household. Members also receive discounts to their other events that occur throughout the season.
The future of the ISCG is bright. The organization plans to increase their presence in the Indianapolis community with outreach to schools, bringing in performers to play for students and introducing them to the classical guitar. The ISCG is actively looking to partner with organizations to expand the type of concerts presented, including chamber concerts with guitar and other instruments. Over the next couple of years, performances may incorporate guitar with music technology and electronics.
To learn more about the Indianapolis Society of the Classical Guitar, please visit their website at www.indianaguitar.org or the ISCG Facebook page at www.facebook.com/indianaguitar. To view the ISCG full concert schedule click here, and to become a member click here.
This is music from outer space.