Tangos y Canciónes: Music for Guitar and Cello from Latin America
Kenneth Meyer, guitar and Gregory Wood, cello perform music for guitar and cello from Spain and Latin America.
Kenneth Meyer
The Washington Post refers to Kenneth Meyer as, “A thinking man’s guitarist – he focuses on the inner structure of a piece…and plays with impressive gravity and power.” The Buffalo News has called him, “Impeccably articulate with superb technique.”
Since winning the national first prize at the MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition, Meyer continues to appear in recital, as a chamber musician, and soloist with orchestra in venues throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. His commitment to cultivate, perform and record the music of his generation’s leading composers has
garnered awards from the Barlow Endowment, Argosy Foundation and the Hanson Institute for American Music.
Recent accomplishments include performances in Weill Recital Hall, Zankel Hall and Yankee Stadium, as well as solo recitals in Romania, Hungary, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. This season features concerto appearances with the Niagara Symphony Orchestra, Symphoria, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, and the Seattle Modern Orchestra, as well as a premiere recording of Andrew Waggoner’s Concerto for Guitar with Bridge records.
Currently, Meyer directs thriving guitar studies programs at Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University. He continues to be a featured lecturer, performer, adjudicator and teacher at festivals, colleges and universities throughout this country and abroad. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music and records for Innova, Albany, Summit and Bridge Records.
Gregory Wood
Gregory Wood is Assistant Principal Cellist of Symphoria, and was Acting Principal Cellist of Symphoria for the 2014-15 season. Mr. Wood has performed as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Substitute Cellist for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He is Adjunct Professor of Cello and Chamber Music at Setnor School of Music, Syracuse University, and is Adjunct Professor of Cello and Strings Repertoire at Onondaga Community College.
Mr. Wood received his Bachelor of Music Degree in Performance at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, studying with Lynn Harrell, Jack Kirstein, Zara Nelsova, and chamber music with the LaSalle Quartet. He received a Master of Science Degree in Music Education from Syracuse University. Mr. Wood has performed as soloist with the Syracuse Symphony, and as winner of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music concerto competition. He received the 2006 Excellence in Chamber Music Performance award from Civic Morning Musicals, and has performed solo and chamber music recitals with the Jewell Trio, the Society for New Music, the Skaneateles Festival, and Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music.
Recent performances have included the Endless Mountain Music Festival 2019, Josh Groban in 2017 and 2019, Roger Daltry, the Fingerlakes Opera Orchestra, and with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, including an appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America”. In September, 2016, at Yale University, he performed in “Grace Notes”, a collaboration of eight musicians, singers, dancers, and photography/videography by Carrie Mae Weems.
CMM (Civic Morning Musicals) exists to support classically trained musicians and their audiences throughout the Central New York region. It is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization, which produces more than 30 concerts a year and sponsors activities for young musicians.
Kenneth Meyer, the national first-prize winner at the Music Teacher’s National Association Collegiate Artist Competition, is regarded by the Washington Post as, “A thinking man’s guitarist – he focuses on the inner structure of a piece…and plays with impressive gravity and power.” The Buffalo News has called him, “Impeccably articulate with superb technique.” Since his professional concert debut at the Teatro de la Opera de Maracay, Mr. Meyer continues to appear in recital, as a chamber musician, and soloist with orchestra in venues throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. In addition to live concerts, his performances have been featured on television, film, radio and most recently, on the Albany, Innova and Bridge record labels. Frequently in demand as a guest artist at colleges and universities across the country, Meyer has given concerts and lectures at, among others, the Eastman School of Music, the State University of New York College at Fredonia, Syracuse University, Cornell University, the University of Southern Mississippi, North Carolina School of the Arts, the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Hochstein School of Music, Delta College, Canisius College, Finger Lakes and Saint Joseph’s Community Colleges and the University of Caracas in Venezuela. In addition, he is an active performer and teacher at music festivals and has been featured at the Rome, Alexandria, Eastman Guitar Summerfest and the Alirio Diaz Guitar Festivals. Mr. Meyer’s commitment to the cultivation and performance of new music has led to awards from the Barlow Endowment, the Argosy Foundation, and the Eastman School’s Hanson Institute for American Music; interpretive instruction from Milton Babbitt, and premiere performances of compositions by among others, Leslie Basset, Edward Green, Andrew Waggoner, Gregory Mertl, Edie Hill, Kevin Ernste, Nicolas Scherzinger, Jesse Benjamin Jones, Donald J. Sparr, James Piorkowski and Robert Baker. His diversity as a musician has led to performances on mandolin, banjo and electric guitar with among others, the Syracuse Opera, the Syracuse Society for New Music and the Broadway touring production of the Who’s rock opera, “Tommy.” Previous summer concert tours include trips to Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore and last season featured concerto performances with Symphoria, the Erie Chamber Orchestra, the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Modern Orchestra. Mr. Meyer’s latest commercial recording, Draw the Strings Tight was released on the Innova record label and he has a new book titled, Diatonic Arpeggios for Classical Guitar published through Mel Bay. Both are now available online. Kenneth Meyer holds degrees in Music Composition and Classical Guitar Performance from the State University of New York at Fredonia and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Eastman School of Music. He has served on the faculties of East Carolina University and SUNY at Fredonia and most recently held visiting professorships at the Eastman School of Music and SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. Currently, Dr. Kenneth Meyer directs thriving guitar programs at Onondaga Community College and Syracuse University’s Setnor School of Music. For more information please visit: