The Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York is marking a major milestone this fall: its 25th anniversary. To celebrate, the group will present its annual Festival on October 18 and 19, based primarily at SUNY Oneonta’s Fine Arts Center, with concerts at First United Methodist Church.
“It’s our 25th year,” says Society President Paul Sweeny. “The society began as a few dilettantes — that is, people who delighted in the guitar — forming a group. It became a society, became a 401(c)(3), and we’ve thrived. We’ve grown. It’s very exciting. This is our silver anniversary, so we’re looking forward to a really top-notch festival.”
Although the festival takes place in Oneonta, the society’s reach extends much farther. “I’m here in Binghamton — this is sort of our southern limit,” Sweeny explains. “We’ve had members from south of the border in Pennsylvania, all the way up through the Capital District, Syracuse, Ithaca, and even just over the Hudson River. It’s very large.”
That wide reach has led to a creative solution for staying connected. “We meet once a month online for an open house,” says Sweeny. “People come and play for one another. Folks who would never be able to be in one place because we’re all so far apart get to meet and congregate.”
The festival’s headliners include two standout performers. “Our main event is a solo concert by William Kanengiser, one of the founding members of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet,” Sweeny says. “He’s been there all along, and he has a solo recording and performing career as well. Outstanding player, great teacher. He’ll be doing a concert on Saturday night and teaching a master class and a little technique workshop on Sunday morning.”
The second featured performer is Shane Bucci, an accomplished young guitarist from Otego who is completing a DMA at Indiana University. “He’s a very accomplished player,” says Sweeney. “He had worked with one of our founders way back when in his youth, so it’s a nice circle come back home.”
The festival will also include a range of participatory events. “The day will begin with some ensemble playing,” Sweeny explains. “People bring their guitars, we provide music, and we play in three and four parts, preceded by a warm-up technique session. Then we’ll have members’ performances — everyone gets eight to ten minutes. Some of these players are really, really good, but we’re a people’s organization and any member can play.”
For Sweeny, the classical guitar has been a lifelong passion. “In college I played at coffee houses and things,” he recalls. “I took up classical guitar to become a better player, mostly to accompany myself singing. Then I realized the singing wasn’t my forte — and I just got fascinated by the classical guitar and dedicated a significant part of the rest of my life to that.”
Many of the society’s members, he says, came to the instrument in similarly unexpected ways. “One of the most active members of our open house started out as my student at Broome Community College,” Sweeny notes. “He was playing electric guitar in a progressive rock band. At first he wasn’t that keen on classical guitar, but eventually he really took to it. Now he specializes in 19th-century repertoire on a replica guitar and he’s a very, very good player.”
The Classical Guitar Society of Upstate New York Fall Festival takes place October 18–19, primarily in the Fine Arts Center at SUNY Oneonta, with concerts at First United Methodist Church, 66 Chestnut Street in Oneonta. For more information, visit cgsuny.org