Winter Concert: Celebrating Creativity, Community, and the Guitar
Our Winter Concert was more than just a performance — it was a celebration of creativity, growth, collaboration, and the shared love of music within the Creative Classical Guitarist (CCG) community.
The program brought together original compositions, imaginative arrangements, and beloved classics, performed by CCG members alongside guest artists. From intimate solo works to joyful ensemble pieces, the concert reflected the wide expressive range of the guitar and the vibrant musical voices within our community.
What makes this concert especially meaningful is that many of the works were written, arranged, and developed by the very musicians performing them — a living example of creativity in action rather than passive consumption.
A Program of Diverse Voices
The concert opened with Duet for a Special Day by Ilay Kenes, performed by Ilay and Nuri Kenes — a warm and lyrical original that immediately set a tone of connection and musical dialogue.
From there, we moved into the rich classical tradition with Villa-Lobos’ Prelude No. 5, beautifully performed by David Reynolds. Villa-Lobos’ writing blends Brazilian lyricism with refined harmonic color, offering a moment of reflective calm and expressive depth.
Emma Carson followed with a spirited performance of the Waltz from Paganini’s Sonata No. 9, showcasing elegance, energy, and virtuosity — a reminder of the playful brilliance that lives within the Romantic repertoire.
The festive spirit arrived with a lively ensemble performance of Tchaikovsky’s Trepak from The Nutcracker, performed by Isabelle, Melanie, and Sophia Hansen. Its rhythmic drive and joyful character brought an unmistakable sense of winter celebration into the program.
Energy and rhythmic flair continued with Reedology by Jerry Reed Hubbard, arranged by J. Knowles and performed by J. Knowles and David Lee — a vibrant fusion of groove, articulation, and ensemble precision.
A seasonal warmth followed with a beautiful ensemble arrangement of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, arranged by Colleen Billington and performed by the Central England Guitar Ensemble — a reminder of music’s power to gather people together across distance and culture.
Original Music from the CCG Community
The heart of the concert came through the original works created within our community.
Chant du Matin by Robin Teese offered a serene and lyrical moment of calm reflection.
Nocturne by Richard Verdugo explored intimacy, color, and expressive depth.
Patchy’s Dream by Australian composer George Jenner invited listeners into a gentle, imaginative sound world.
A Little Mazurka by Bobbie Marie Smith brought rhythmic charm and character rooted in dance tradition.
Each of these pieces reflects the personal voice of its composer while showing how shared learning and encouragement can foster genuine artistic output.
Closing with Original Works
The concert concluded with three original contributions of my own:
Nocturne (Improvisation), an open-ended exploration of lyricism and spontaneous musical storytelling.
Gigue, a lively and energetic closing work inspired by dance rhythms and momentum.
These pieces reflect my ongoing interest in blending classical language with creativity, improvisation, and expressive freedom.
More Than a Concert
What continues to inspire me most about these concerts is not simply the level of playing — though it continues to grow — but the spirit behind it. CCG exists to help musicians move beyond simply reproducing music and into understanding, creating, shaping, and communicating through sound.
This concert represents:
🎵 A community actively composing and arranging
🎵 Players developing confidence and artistic identity
🎵 A shared pursuit of musical excellence and creativity
🎵 A culture of encouragement and contribution
Music thrives when it is shared, cultivated, and lived.
Watch the Winter Concert
You can watch the full concert here:
👉 Click Here
If you’re interested in developing your musicianship, creativity, and confidence — whether through performance, composition, or deeper musical understanding — you’re warmly invited to explore the Creative Classical Guitarist community.