THE GEORGIA GUITAR QUARTET delivers 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 consistently draw 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, Bartók 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 ground-breaking contemporary works. Accomplished composers themselves, the Quartet 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.
Hailing from Athens, Georgia, the Quartet recently marked its 10th anniversary season with two sold-out performances in New York, a performance at the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, and an appearance at the Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City, Utah where they performed Rodrigo's "Concerto Andaluz" with the Utah Symphony Orchestra. The ensemble maintains an active national concert schedule, performing in a variety of venues that range from concert halls to popular music clubs. They have released three recordings and are currently completing work on a fourth album comprising all-original works by the group's members. In addition to receiving praise for its members' original compositions and inventive transcriptions of pre-existing works, the Georgia Guitar Quartet has also been recognized for its novel interpretation of guitar quartet staples. On several occasions they have collaborated with modern dance groups and visual artists to produce multi-media performances. In 2001, the Quartet was invited by Christopher Parkening to perform as guest artists at his twenty-seventh annual masterclass in Bozeman, Montana. 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, which boasts a rich musical heritage, has honored the ensemble by awarding them "Best Classical Artist" in Athens five years in a row at the Athens Flagpole Music Awards.
