BALTIMORE CLASSICAL GUITAR SOCIETY

Founded in 1987, Baltimore Classical Guitar Society’s programs are two-fold: International concert series of Who’s Who in classical guitar and a robust education program which reaches people from young children to senior learners.

Sample education programs:
In GUITARS FOR CHANGE we identify immigrant and refugee youth at risk for gang induction and give them free guitars and lessons in an after-school program designed to keep them off the streets.

Within the Guitars for Change umbrella of program, GUITARS FOR VETERANS offers free guitars and instruction to outpatient veterans with PTSD in collaboration with a VA medical center.

With the LULLABY PROJECT, we pair a teaching artists with refugee or immigrant parents; teen-moms; low-income seniors to name a few groups, and together we write a personal lullaby for the child or grand-children in the case of low-income seniors. Future Lullaby Project will aim to reach mothers in homeless shelters; correctional facilities; deployed military; as well as hospice.

GUITAR CERTIFICATE in which amateur learners of all ages and levels perform before a professional jury and receive constructive feedback and a certificate for participation.

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE brings an outstanding guitarist to local schools, institutions, and community centers for FREE classes and demonstrations.

BCGS COMMISSIONS, 14 so far, have received worldwide attention. One of them, “Inca Dances” by Gabriela Lena Frank received a Latin GRAMMY for Best Classical Contemporary Composition, and was commissioned in part by an NEA grant. Each commissioning cycle the BCGS selects a theme that serves as inspiration for the composers. 2024-2025 cycle’s theme is the issue of race and ethnic inequality in Maryland.