
September Meeting
September 9th, 2021 by bob No comments »
Program
The Hopewell Guitar Ensemble (Helen Shi Yuen, Valerie Nelson, Rick Florio and Robert Ey)
- Berceuse – Isaac Albéniz
- Alla Turca – Wenzel Matiegka
Florio Nelson Guitar Duo (Rick Florio and Valerie Nelson)
- Early in the Morning – Eythor Thoriaksson
- Duo Nocturne #2 – A. de Lhoyer
Valerie Nelson
- Movement 3 of Divertimento – Hans Gal
- Olhos Pretos – Francisco José Dias, transcribed for classical guitar by John Chodini
Helen Shi-Yuen
- Vals Venezolano No. 2 – Antonio Lauro
Jeffrey Wilt
- Study , Op. 35, No. 8 – Fernando Sor
- A Touch of Love – Per-Olov Kindgren
- Romance de los Pinos – Federico Moreno Torroba
Gad Berger
- Reboliço – João Pernambuco
- Sons de Carrilhões – “”

The Renaissance Vihuela
New Jersey Guitar Orchestra Forming
July Meeting Recap
July 10 Meeting
June 30th, 2021 by bob No comments »Program
Valerie Nelson
- Etudes – Fernando Sor
- Solitudine – Luigi Oreste Anzaghi
Robert Ey
- Divenire (To Become) – Ludovico Einaudi, arr. David van Ooijen
Helen Shi-Yuen
- Gran Vals – Francisco Tárrega
Jeffrey Wilt
- Julia Florida – Agustin Barrios Mangore
- For My Love – Per-Olov Kindgren
Jeff Griesemer
- Ookpik Waltz – Frankie Rodgers, Arr. Jeff Griesemer
Stella Kosim
- Allemande from the First Lute Suite BWV 996 – J. S. Bach
- Gavotta Choro – Heitor Villa-Lobos
Our next meeting will be in September.
New Jersey Guitar Orchestra Forming
June 30th, 2021 by bob No comments »“This is an exciting time, folks! Thank you all for your interest in
joining our NEW JERSEY GUITAR ORCHESTRA (NJGO).
As you may know, my name is Jayson Martinez, and from my many
roles in the guitar education and performance field, one can conclude
that I have an unhealthy obsession with all things GUITAR! Yet, one
of my favorite passions is to play with fellow guitar enthusiasts and
build our artistic community. New Jersey is in need of such an outlet,
and it is definitely time that we collaborate and create music!
For these reasons, I have taken the initiative to start the NJGO,
provide future rehearsal locations, suggest ensemble pieces, and
present an upcoming official webpage. However, please note that this
ambitious endeavor is always a group effort and together we will
make this a successful ensemble and society.”
Contact Form:
Guitar New Jersey (google.com)
June 26 Meeting
June 14th, 2021 by bob No comments »In addition to our member performances, our June 26 meeting featured a presentation by Alvaro Henrique, “Interactive Performance – Melody.”

Guitarist Alvaro Henrique engages audiences with a world of emotions and story-telling through music. Henrique’s programs include a host of plucked instruments covering a fascinating range of history and cultures, from Villa-Lobos, Scarlatti, Giuliani to transcriptions of Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky and new works.
As a soloist, Henrique has performed with Brazilian and Finnish orchestras. Among the conductors he’s worked with are Julio Medaglia, Ville Mankkinen, and Angelo Cavallaro.
With an interest in social activism, Alvaro’s projects have included commissioning works centered on social issues, like Jorge Antunes’ Brasilia 50.
Program
Alex Cherfas
- Lágrima – Francisco Tárrega
Robert Ey
- Dreamcatcher – Mike Christiansen
Helen Shi-Yuen
- Harry Potter Theme – John Williams, arr. Yenne Lee
- He’s a Pirate – Hans Zimme, arr. Yenne Lee
Rick Florio
- Fantasia 11 – Luis Milan
Ming Chao
- Estrellita – Manuel Ponce, arr. Manuel Barrueco
Alvaro Henrique
- Interactive Performance – Melody
https://alvarohenrique.com/en/
The cost of using Zoom in June is covered by a generous contribution from Valerie Nelson in loving memory of Hilda Samuel, her grandmother, who was a silent movie pianist in Brooklyn.
June 6 Meeting
May 19th, 2021 by bob No comments »Program

As a first step back toward normality, we had an in-person outdoor meeting on Sunday, June 6, in Hopewell Boroough. For those who could not be there in person, our moderator, Gad Berger presented a one-way Zoom “broadcast” of the on-site performances.
Program
The Hopewell Guitar Ensemble (Rick Florio, Jeff Griesemer, & Valerie Nelson)
- Berceuse – Isaac Albéniz
- Chorale – J.S. Bach.
Valerie Nelson & Rick Florio
- Early in the Morning – Eythor Thoriaksson
- Ponteio IV – Celso Machado
Rick Florio
- Flamenco Rhythms/Palos – Various
Irene Ey (soprano) & Robert Ey
- Spanish is the Loving Tongue – Trad., arr. Richard Dyer-Bennet
Ray Butler & Kevin Lutke
- Invention in A minor ( 2 Part inventions) – J.S. Bach
- Pe’ De Moleque ( Samba Chora ) – Celso Machado
Kevin Lutke
- Cancion De Cuna (Duex Themes Populaires Cubains) – Leo Brouwer
Gad Berger
- Bit.Trip Runner 2 Theme – Matthew Harwood, arr Gad Berger
- Mazurka en Sol – Francisco Tarrega
- Grauna – Joao Pernambuco
Ken Kraus
- O Mio Babbino Caro (aria) – Giacomo Puccini, arr., Bridget Mermikides
- Somewhere in Time Theme –John Barry and B.A. Robertson, arrangement in G enhanced by Ken Kraus
Jeffrey Wilt
- Adios a Ocumare – Angel Maria Landaeta, arr. A. Lauro
- Preludio de Adios – Alphonso Montes
- Danza Brasilera – Jorge Morel
Jeff Griesemer
- Let Us Break Bread Together – African American spiritual, arr. Jeff Griesemer
Our theme for this meeting is Togetherness: duos or ensembles (if anyone has been able to get close enough with others to practice), songs of love and romance, or any other music about bringing people together.
The cost of using Zoom in June is covered by a generous contribution from Valerie Nelson in loving memory of Hilda Samuel, her grandmother, who was a silent movie pianist in Brooklyn.
May 16 Meeting
May 4th, 2021 by bob No comments »
Program
Ray Butler
- Blackbird — Beatles (melody/chord, in a country western swing)
- Bye Bye Blackbird —Ray Henderson
Gary Lee
- Lullaby for the First Born — Nick Webb and Greg Carmichael
Jeffrey Wilt
- Prelude No. 5 — Bryan Johanson
- Squares Suspended — Andrew York
Stella Kosim
- Gavotta Choro – Villa Lobos
Ming Chao
- Nocturno — Slavko Fumic
Jeff Griesemer
- Let Us Break Bread Together — African-American spiritual, arr. Jeff Griesemer
Ken Kraus
- Pictures at an Exhibition, Promenade — Modest Mussorgsky, arr. Bridget Mermikides
- Suite for Solo Cello No. 1 (BWV 1007), Prelude — JS Bach, arr. Jeffrey McFadden
The cost of using Zoom this month is covered by a generous contribution from Jeff Griesemer.
May 2 Meeting
April 12th, 2021 by bob No comments »
Program
Jim Tosone
- The Parlement — Anon., arr. J. Dowland
- In My Life — The Beatles, arr. S. Madsen
- Hallelujah — Leonard Cohen, arr. S. Madsen
Alex Cherfas
- Studies 1 & 5 — Fernando Sor
Helen Shi
- Joropo — Jose Luis Merlin
Robert Ey
- Sarabande — Anon., 17th century
Gad Berger
- Imperial March (“May the 4th be with you”)— John Williams, arr. Aaron Willmon
Rick Florio
- Andecy — Andrew York
Ming Chao
- Cancion Para Ti — Aureo Puerta Carreno, arr. David Russell
Gary Lee
- Sunday Morning Overcast — Andrew York
The cost of Zoom meetings in May is covered by a generous contribution from Jeff Griesemer.
April 11 Meeting
March 22nd, 2021 by bob No comments »
Program
Alex Cherfas
- Carcassi Etude No. 1, Op 60 — Matteo Carcassi
- Etude No. 6 — Fernando Sor (Andreas Segovia Twenty Studies for the Guitar edition)
Jim Tosone
- Edelweiss — Richard Rogers
- Here Comes The Sun — The Beatles, arr. S. Madsen
- Eight Days A Week — “”
Helen Shi-Yuen
- Yesterday — Beatles, arr. Yenne Lee
Daniel Zaurov
- El Cóndor Pasa (Flight of a Condor) — Daniel Alomía Robles (1871–1942)
- La Partita (Venezuelan Valse) — Carlos Bonnet (1892–1983)
Robert Ey
- Give Me Your Hand — Rory Dall O’Cahan, arr. Glenn Weiser
Rick Florio
- Etruscan Preludes — Reginald Smith Brindle
Stella Kosim
- Three Catalan Folk Songs , arr. — Miguel Llobet
- Canco del Lladre
- El Testament d’Amelia
- El Noi De La Mare
Ken Kraus
- My Lady Hudson’s Allemande — John Dowland
- Menuet to Cello Suite No. 1 — J.S. Bach
The cost of Zoom meetings this month is covered by a generous contribution from Dana Hamilton.