The Georgia Guitar Quartet

The Georgia Guitar Quartet has emerged as an exciting new voice in today's chamber music scene. These four young men from the American South deliver a high-energy blend of breathtaking virtuosity and imaginative programming while taking an adventurous approach to classical music. Borrowing from both the past and present, the GGQ draws inspiration from the ever-evolving palette of music that has influenced them: classical masters such as Bach and Brahms, experimentalists in the vein of Cage, Bartok, and Stockhausen, and contemporary rock icons like Radiohead and Led Zeppelin. Audiences at a GGQ concert experience an exciting musical journey through an expansive array of genres, continents, and time periods. Rousing Irish folk music and late Impressionistic masterpieces share the stage, while the sublime beauty of Chopin rubs shoulders with groundbreaking contemporary works. Accomplished composers themselves, the Quartet members frequently incorporate their own unique works into their dynamic concert programs. The incredible range and interactive spontaneity of a performance by the GGQ continually leaves audiences with something to remember, resulting in a thrilling new way to experience chamber music in the 21st century.

Formed in 1996 and hailing from Athens, Georgia, the Quartet performs throughout the nation in venues ranging from concert halls to popular music clubs. Recent concert highlights include performances in New York, Los Angeles, and a performance of Rodrigo's "Concerto Andaluz" with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. The GGQ has been featured on American Public Media's "Performance Today" on dozens of occasions. This radio broadcast is heard by over a million people across America each week. Their recent performance in Greenville, SC was heard by an audience of ten thousand people. Their five albums have each been critically acclaimed, and include their own arrangements and original compositions.
Several notable composers have dedicated new works to the GGQ, including Russian composer Nikita Koshkin. This famous guitarist/composer dedicated his dazzling new work, "Suite for Four Guitars" to the GGQ. The group has collaborated with modern dance groups and visual artists to produce multimedia performances and has recently embarked on a new collaboration with lyric baritone Robert Sims. With Sims, the GGQ adds American Spirituals, Blues, German art song, and rousing show tunes to its repertoire, which includes Bob Dylan, Schubert, Leonard Bernstein, and George Gershwin. 

In 2001, the Quartet was invited by Christopher Parkening to perform as the guest artists at his twenty-seventh annual Masterclass in Bozeman, Montana. Parkening, the recognized heir to the most important guitarist in the world, Andres Segovia, praised the GGQ, saying "The Quartet performs with good energy and technique, applies careful attention to detail, and maintains a diverse repertoire." A review of their Piccolo Spoleto Festival performance in Charleston, South Carolina, described the concert as "a dazzling display of technical prowess, versatile programming, and audience rapport." The town of Athens, GA which boasts a rich musical heritage including the B-52's and REM, has honored the ensemble by awarding them "Best Classical Artist" in Athens five years in a row at the Athens Flagpole Music Awards. All four members being highly experienced instructors, the Quartet frequently gives masterclasses and workshops. Among the four of them, they hold a total of four Bachelor's degrees, three Master's degrees, and two Doctoral degrees. They collectively hold faculty positions at the University of Georgia, the University of North Georgia, Agnes Scott College, Piedmont College, Point University, and LaGrange College. They have given over a hundred presentations in public schools, to thousands of children from the ages of 5 to 18, as well as given high level masterclasses to university students. These presentations include performances and descriptions of music, discussions and games with the students, sessions, and much more.