Since 2017, the Portsmouth Public Library and PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Arts Center), in association with the Boston Classical Guitar Society, has presented a series of live guitar performances called Guitar Sunday. These free concerts are held Sundays at 3 pm at either the Levenson Room at the Portsmouth Public Library or the Haas Family Gallery and Recital Hall at PMAC.
The lineup for the 2019 Portsmouth Guitar Sunday season is below.
SPRING 2019
Bester/Papineau Guitar Duo, Classical Guitars
Sunday, March 3, 2019, at 3 pm
Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrot Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Guitarists Michael Bester and Frank Papineau are each seasoned musicians who straddle both the Classical and Jazz traditions. Playing together as a duo with a repertoire ranging from original arrangements of Spanish and French classical masterworks to their unique approach to Jazz standards, their musical sensitivity and lively interplay together have been delighting audiences around the Boston area since 2014.
An Tran, Classical guitar
Sunday, April 7, 2019, at 3 pm
PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Art Center)
973 Islington St,
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Born and raised in Hanoi, Vietnam, An Tran won 1st prize of the Vietnam National Guitar Competition at the age of 12. Current 18-19 season includes his Thailand debut in Bangkok, sponsored by the Thailand Classical Guitar Society, and his solo concert for the International Performing Artist Series sponsored by the Guitar Society of Toronto. An has won 13 international guitar competitions since 2010, most recently the 2018 1st prize in the University of Rhode Island Guitar Festival competition. He received his musical training at the Vietnam National Academy of Music studying with guitarist Vu Viet Cuong. He has completed his Master of Music from Yale University and is currently a Dorothy and Carl Johnson endowed Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at Northwestern University.
The Larry Simon/John Kozinski Duo, “Jazzy” guitars
Sunday, May 5, 2019, at 3 pm
Portsmouth Public Library
175 Parrot Avenue
Portsmouth, NH 030801
Larry Simon is a guitarist and composer originally from Brooklyn, NY. He lived in Portsmouth for almost 20 years and during that time formed “Larry Simon and Groove Bacteria” (2003 Spotlight Award for “Best Jazz Act”). Larry created the ongoing popular “Beat Night” series, featuring music and spoken word. In 2004 Simon founded and was artistic director and producer of “Jazzmouth, The Seacoast Poetry and Jazz Festival.” He was the recipient of The 2005 Spotlight Special Achievement Award. Simon’s most recent recording is “The Dream Keeper” (Mode/Avant Records) with David Amram and Eric Mingus. Additionally, Larry has just completed his Book, “Portraits in Blues, NYC” a history of the New York City blues scene from the late 1940s until the late 1970s.
John Kozinski began his guitar adventures at 12 after hearing the Beatles and then Cream and Jimi Hendrix. He has a music education degree from Hofstra University and currently lives and performs around western Massachusetts.
FALL 2019
Adam Levin, Classical guitar
Sunday, September 8, 2019, at 3 pm
PMAC (Portsmouth Music and Art Center)
973 Islington St,
Portsmouth, NH 03801