About us
The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society, also known as VCCGS, is a group of classical guitar enthusiasts that meet once a month to share the joy of guitar music. Our members range from novice to professional players and beginning to advanced listeners. We strive to provide a comfortable and supportive environment for aspiring musicians, a venue to develop performance skills among friends. With our network of local musicians we maintain a source of information for classical guitar in and around Ventura County, California.
Our guitar society sessions are productive for classical guitarists at all skill levels. We share experiences and learn from each other. There cannot be a better place to develop skills than in the company of others who only want to see you succeed. All skill levels are welcome.
We usually meet on the last Wednesday of each month at the Pleasant Valley Park and Recreation District's Community Center, Room 7. The Center is located at 1601 Burnley Street in Camarillo, California. Music begins at 7PM with from-the-floor solos and ensembles. If we have a guest performer, their performance begins at 8PM. Our meetings are open to everyone, and admission is always free.
History
Our Society was established in 1998 when a small group of motivated classical guitar students began meeting regularly to share their passion. Through the support of volunteers, generous donations, member attendance and participation, our society has been strong for over 25 years!
The Guitar Society has grown over the years. It began with four students of Carlos Gonzales who were practicing a quartet, Gail DeWolf, Ray Sutton, Willis Cameron, and Jim McAvoy. After having such a good time at the recital and wanting to continue their weekly practice sessions, Gail and her husband Terry opened their home for weekly meetings.
Ray suggested they check out the Santa Barbara Guitar Society run by James Edwards, later run by Bruce Wood, they began to attend. When the Santa Barbara Society closed down, Ray suggested they start their own society, The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society. From the beginning Mark Carlyle was involved, playing in a quartet with Scott Hatcher, Carlos Gonzales, and others.
Every month volunteers take care of the regular chores - coffee, cookies or cake, arrange the tables and chairs, advertise our meetings, and of course, find someone willing to play for a "love offering". For years, Gail's husband Terry created our flyers and sent them to everyone on our mailing list.
Our website was started by Ray Sutton. When Ray passed away, Scott Hatcher picked it up. Later, John Webb took over and began filming and posting fabulous videos of our meetings. Vaughan Edwards contributed many excellent videos. Jesse Davis is now keeping up the website and social media. Of course, Ray, Scott, John, Jesse and Vaughan were all guitar playing members of our group!
Past Meetings
October 2024 - Rodrigo Paiva
September 2024 - Donna Zitzelberger & Steve Bernd - solo & duo
August 2024 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2024 - Artisan Guitar Ensemble
June 2024 - Harutyun Ohanyan & Karl Vardanyan Duo
May 2024 - Lilit Mardiyan
April 2024 - Travis Lozano
March 2024 - Cameron O'Connor
February 2024 - Scott Wolf & Maia Zander & Wendy Castellanos
January 2024 - Jesse Davis & Kathleen Robertson
November 2023 - Carolyn Archbold
October 2023 - Ken Emerick
September 2023 - Fabio Zini
August 2022 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2023 - Michael Gullo
June 2023 - Michael Nigro
May 2023 - Folias Duo
April 2023 - Cal State LA Guitar Ensemble
March 2023 - Hugo Nogueira
February 2023 - Rodrigo & Niccole
January 2023 - Andre Giraldo
November 2022 - Peter Thomas
October 2022 - Jesse Davis
September 2022 - Kenny Hill
August 2022 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2022 - Michael Gullo
June 2022 - David Isaacs
November 2022 - Carlos Bolivar
February 26, 2020 - Benjamin Shearer
January 2020 - Bokyung Byun
June 2019 - Duo Solare - with James Edwards and Suzanne Duffy
May 2019 - Trio Camino -
with Michael Nigro, David Grimes and Greg Newton
March 2019 - CSULA Classical Guitar Ensemble
February 2019 - Hugo Maia Nogueira
January 2019 - Christina Sandsengen
November 2018 - Yuri Liberzon
September 2018 - Samuel Hines
August 2018 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2018 - Benjamin Shearer
May 2018 - Taso Comanescu
April 2018 - Duo Subito, Jesse Davis and Daniel Navarro
March 2018 - Sean Mulholland
February 2018 - Jack Cimo
January 2018 - Campanella Quartet
November 2017 - Edward Martinez
October 2017 - Mendocino Guitar Duo, Brian Cross and Jesus Palominos
September 2017 - Perfecto De Castro
August 2017 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2017 - Benjamin Shearer
June 2017 - Folias Duo - Carmen Maret & Andrew Bergeron
April 2017 - Artisan Guitar Ensemble
March 2017 - Tavi Jinariu
January 2017 - Michael Nigro, David Grimes and Gregory Newton Trio
November 2016 - Satik Andriassian, guitar & David Miller, flute
September 2016 - Samuel Hines
August 2016 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2016 - Jack Cimo
June 2016 - Duo SF - Christopher Mallet and Robert Miller
April 2016 - Duo Subito -Jesse Davis and Daniel Navarro
March 2016 - Orange County Guitar Orchestra
February 2016 - Yuri Liberzon
January 2016 - Chanson du Soir - David Isaacs & Chelsea Camille
November 2015 - Ben Shearer
October 2015 - David Grimes and Gregory Newton
September 2015 - Perfecto DeCastro
August 2015 - Matthew McAllister
July 2015 - Carlos Gonzales
June 2015 - Samuel Hines
May 2015 - Flavio Apro
March 2015 - Joshua Moore
Febuary 2015 - Duo Ex Ovo - Taro Wayama and Thomas Foster
January 2015 - Rogerio Peixoto
November 2014 - The Orange County Guitar Orchestra
October 2014 - James Edwards, Thomas Heck, Roma Sprung
August 2014 - Carlos Gonzales - VCCGS - 16th Anniversary
June 2014 - Jonathan Roth
May 2014 - Ryan Ayers
April 2014 - Benjamin Shearer, Laura Michiels
March 2014 - Michael Nigro and ensemble
February 2014 - Shintaro Yana
January 2014 - Daniel Weston
November 2013 - Gregory Newton and David Grimes
October 2013 - Rene Izquierdo
September 2013 - Tara Rose Davison
August 2013 - Celia Linde
July 2013 - VCCGS 15th Anniversary - Carlos Gonzales
June 2013 - Ventura College Classical Guitar Ensemble
May 2013 - Duo Saxe - Charlotte Udø Kjeldsberg, Runar Kjeldsberg
April 2013 - Bradly Pupa
March 2013 - Michael Nigro
February 2013 - Jeff Linsky
January 2013 - The Artisan Guitar Ensemble - Max Mendoza, Daniel Ramirez, Andre Giraldo
December 2012 - John Doan
November 2012 - Martin Falk
October 2012 - Ignition Duo - Ramon Fermin, David Gonzales
September 2012 - Tony Ybarra - guitar, & Suzanne Duffy - flute
August 2012 - VCCGS 14th Anniversary - Carlos Gonzales
July 2012 - No guest
June 2012 - Dr. Peter F Yates
May 2012 - Benjamin Shearer, flamenco
April 2012 - Samuel Hines
March 2012 - Giacomo Fiore
February 2012 - Vanguard University Guitar Ensemble
January 2012 - Los Angeles Guitar Duo - Amy Hite and Monica Cremona
November 2011
October 2011 - Jesse Davis and Juanita Wooten
September 2011 - Ramon Fermin
August 2011 - Thomas Viloteau
July 2011 - VCCGS 13th Anniversary - Carlos Gonzales
June 2011 - AlmaNova Duo - Almer Imamovic (guitar), Jessica Pierce (flute)
May 2011 - David Rogers
April 2011 - Robert Boyd, flamenco
March 2011 - Gabriel Ayala
February 2011 - Ken Nagatani
January 2011 - Nicolas Deuson, Ina Veli
November 2010 - Jonathan Roth
October 2010 - Taro Wayama
September 2010 - Perfecto DeCastro
August 2010 - Buenaventura Guitar Duo - Carlos Gonzales, Robert Boyd
July 2010 - James Edwards (guitar);
Duo Solaré - James Edwards, Suzanne Duffy (flute)
June 2010 - Oliver Eidam
May 2010 - The Gi-tahr Duo - Taso Comanescu and Austin Grant
April 2010 - Benjamin Shearer, Flamenco
March 2010 - Aisling Agnew, Matthew McAllister - Flute and Guitar Duo
February 2010 - (no guest)
January 2010 - Denali Guitar Duo - David Adele, Mandeda Uch
November 2009 - Jérôme Ducharme
October 2009 - (no guest)
September 2009 - Jeff Linsky
August 2009 - VCCGS 11th Anniv., Carlos Gonzales
July 2009 - Edward Trybek
June 2009 - Noteworthy Duo: Michael Nigro, Lisa Schroeder
May 2009 - Joe LoPiccolo, Vahagn Turgutyan
April 2009 - Peter Fletcher
March 2009 - Cassandra Barany
February 2009 - (no guest)
January 2009 - Brian Barany
November 2008 - David Jerome
October 2008 - Isamu Nakashio
September 2008 - (no guest)
August 2008 - Carlos Gonzales - VCCGS 10th anniversary
July 2008 - Robert Boyd and Christina Villalobos
June 2008 - Duozona (Charles, Theresa Hulihan)
May 2008 - Richard Dawson, MFA
April 2008 - Benjamin Shearer, flamenco
March 2008 - David Rogers
February 2008 - Aaron Spoor
January 2008 - Robert Boyd
November 2007 - (no guest)
October 2007 - Irish flautist Aisling Agnew and Scottish classical guitarist Matthew McAllister
September 2007 - Chanson du Soir: David Isaacs, Chelsea Camille (soprano)
August 2007 - VCCGS 9th anniversary: Carlos Gonzales
July 2007 - Howard Lutwak
June 2007 - Michael Nigro
May 2007 - Members' performance, also Carlos Gonzales
April 2007 - Denali Guitar Duo: David Adele, Mandeda Uch
March 2007 - Perfecto De Castro
February 2007
January 2007 - Isamu Nakashio
November 2006 - Tina Karen Lo
October 2006 - Aaron Spoor
September 2006 - Duo Erato: Risa Carlson, Martha Masters
August 2006 - Carlos Gonzales - VCCGS 8th anniversary
July 2006 - Brian Barany
June 2006
May 2006 - David Isaacs and Chelsea
April 2006 - Cal State, Fullerton Guitar Orchestra, David Grimes
March 2006 - David Rogers
February 2006 - Scott Sanchez
October 2004 - Jin Higuchi
September 2004 - Benjamin Shearer
May 2004 - Carlos Gonzales & Benjamin Medrano
April 2004 - The Contemporary Jazz Trio
Jim Ladiana - Guitar
Joe Horswell - Sax
Trevor Lindsey - Bass
March 2004 - Michael Nigro
January 2004 - Robert Boyd
October 2003 - Jeff Linsky
September 2003 - Dimitri Diatchenko
August 2003 - Carlos Gonzales
July 2003 - The Contemporary Jazz Trio
June 2003 - Guitar & Flute Duo
Travis Ankrom & Palumbo
May 2003 - Dimitri Diatchenko
April 2003 - VCCGS
March 2003 - Benjamin Shearer
February 2003 - The Contemporary Jazz Trio
Jim Ladiana - Guitar, Joe Horswell - Sax, Trevor Lindsey - Bass
January 2003 - Trevor Lindsey & Tim Frantz
2002 - Dimitri Diatchenko
2002 - Carlos Gonzales
2002 - Keiji Tomita
2002 - Robert Bain
2002 - Hollywood Guitar Duo
2002 - Scott Hatcher
2002 - John Wade
2002 - Eric Coffey
November 2001 - Dr. Fredrick Saciliano
September 2001- Steve Kostelnik
August 2001 - Carlos Gonzales & Marianne Franco Sommer
June 2001 - Tim Frantz
2001 - James Edwards
2001 - Dimitri Diatchenko
2001 - Carlos Gonzales & Robin
2001 - Channel Islands Quartet
2000- Carlos Gonzales, Scott Hatcher, Don Kendall, Mark Carlyle
2000 - Eric Marin
2000 - John Schneider
2000 - Channel Islands Guitar Quartet
2000 - Dimitri Diatchenko
1999 - Carlos Gonzales & Laura Walter
1999 - Dyllan & Tony Hallas
1999 - Eric Harin, Scott Hatcher, Michael Nerenberg
1999 - Ben Shearer
1999 - Dimitri Diatchenko
1999 - Carlos Gonzales Master Class w/ Scott Hatcher & Eric Marin
1999 - Mark Carlyle