Venerable group keeps it classic
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

BEAUTIFUL MUSIC- Ventura County Classical Guitar Society members, from left, Gail DeWolfe, Liz Cole, Jean Desilets and Jan Wissmuller play classical guitar selections at a recent society meeting. The group, which meets once a month, will celebrate its ninth anniversary with a free performance at 7 p.m. Wed., Aug. 29 at the Camarillo Senior Center. The public is invited.

Inspiration is not only contagious, but remains strong after almost a decade.

Take the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society as a case in point.

Nine county residents learning to play the guitar were inspired to launch a club that would nurture their enthusiasm and proficiency for playing classical music after their college instructor took them to see a similar group in Santa Barbara in 1998.

Carlos Gonzales was their teacher.

"I'm very proud, to say the least," said Gonzales, a 30-year instructor who teaches classical guitar at Ventura and Oxnard colleges, of the group's longevity.

The Ventura County Classical Guitar Society will celebrate their ninth anniversary at 7 p.m. Aug. 29 at the Camarillo Senior Center. As is the case with all of their monthly meetings, the public is invited to hear a free performance and also can sign up to perform.

Gonzales will play as the guest performer.

He said the guitar offers more possibilities to musicians than just folk music; it's well suited for playing classical music, such Johann Sebastian Bach, for example.

And while that requires more time and discipline from the musician, "it's also very rewarding," he said. "The potential is there to create more music."

The society is loosely organized- members pay no dues and aren't required to play to a certain level.

"It's the joy of playing classical guitar music with likedminded people," said Gail DeWolfe of Camarillo, a founding member. "It's just a group that loves classical guitar and that's the only requirement."

DeWolfe said that after a visitor from Long Beach attended one of their meetings several years ago, he and others were inspired to start a classical guitar society in their hometown.

"That's quite a compliment," she said.

Gonzales said the group's future is boundless and then pointed out that a classical guitarist from Scotland emailed the society after visiting their website to ask if he could perform at a meeting when he tours the United States later this year. Matthew McAllister is scheduled to perform at the society's Oct. 24 meeting.

"The sky's the limit," Gonzales said.

For additional information about the Ventura County Classical Guitar Society or to request a list of upcoming events, visit www.vccgs.com or call Gail DeWolfe at (805) 482-6224.