Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of the · PDF fileWith imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its case as “one of the major guitar

With imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its

case as “one of the major guitar ensembles in the world” (Soundboard Magazine) since its

formation in 1986. One of the very few guitar ensembles performing the majority of its

repertoire from memory, the foursome—Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, Ben Kunkel and

Wade Oden—moves with ease through original works for guitar quartet to its own brilliant

arrangements, and from major commissions to unexpected collaborations. With their

extraordinary abilities, MGQ’s virtuosic performances offer beautifully distinct voicing,

interwoven clarity of lines, and laser-like purity. At the same time, with engaging stage

presence and good humor, they build an intimate and comfortable rapport with their

audiences. “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and more than a great

chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They are ambassadors of

sound, style, and substance.”

Some of the most sought-after of the MGQ’s exceptional arrangements are Alberto Ginastera's

Danzas Argentinas, Piazzolla's Windy, Debussy's Petite Suite, piano music of Joaquin Rodrigo,

and the extremely popular folk-based music of Finnish performer/composer Maria Kalaniemi.

Mussorgsky’s “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” from the composer’s Pictures at an Exhibition is

an audience encore favorite. Web magazine minor7th.com called the MGQ’s recording of the

full piece “the best arrangement of these 16 movements I have heard…While staying true to

the original sense of the pieces, the Quartet brings fresh colors and lyricism.”

Recent projects include an arrangement of Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of the forest, a

contemporary jazz piece by Japanese composer and pianist Hiromi; StarWaves, a thrilling and

virtuosic new work based on the music of British pop/rock musician Nick Drake written for the

MGQ by composer Ian Krouse; and their own arrangement of Purple Rain by pop icon and

Minnesota native, Prince.

The MGQ’s diverse and innovative collaborations include programs with flamenco dancer

Sachiko “La Chayí” featuring music of the great Spanish composers Joaquin Rodrigo and

Enrique Granados and contemporary flamenco guitarist/composer Ben Abrahamson; a full

program with Gao Hong, master of the Chinese pipa (akin to a lute), which successfully traverses

both character and culture from East to West; and a program for guitar quartet with choir

featuring the recently commissioned work Music of Love and the Stars by notable choral composer

Jeffrey Van in addition to arrangements of well-known works by Gabriel Fauré.

The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States and

Mexico, toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro, and in 2017 was invited to perform seven

concerts in six cities throughout China. Notable performances include Princeton University, the

Il Encuentro Internacional de Guitarra at the National Arts Center in Mexico City, San Francisco’s

Omni Foundation Dynamite Guitar series, the Round Top International Guitar Festival in Texas,

and several invitations to the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances

include the Austin Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Columbus

Symphony, among many others.

The cultural accessibility of the guitar makes it a natural for the MGQ's various educational and

community engagement programs like its popular "Guitar Talk" for all ages. As Artists-in-

Residence with Minnesota Public Radio during the 2014 season, the MGQ performed for

elementary school students throughout the Twin Cities. The MGQ's newest educational offering

is its “Guitar Ensemble Crash Course,” a 90-minute class introducing participants to the "hands-

on" experience of guitar ensemble playing, culminating in a live performance. All members of

the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet are regular teachers and collegiate faculty members and

frequently conduct master classes and workshops at festivals and universities throughout the

United States.

The MGQ has been heard on the nationally syndicated radio program Saint Paul Sunday, and on

National Public Radio’s Performance Today. The quartet also has garnered unanimous

international critical acclaim from its five CDs on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.

For more information, please visit www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com, follow on Facebook and

Twitter @MplsGuitarQt and Instagram @mplsguitarquartet



formation in 1986. With their extraordinary abilities, MGQ’s virtuosic performances offer

beautifully distinct voicing, interwoven clarity of lines, and laser-like purity. At the same time,

with engaging stage presence and good humor, they build an intimate and comfortable

rapport with their audiences “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and

more than a great chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They

are ambassadors of sound, style, and substance.”

One of the very few guitar ensembles performing the majority of its repertoire from memory,

the MGQ presents original works and commissions as well as its own brilliant arrangements of

music by such composers as Ginastera, Piazzolla, Debussy, Rodrigo and the Finnish folk-based

music of Maria Kalaniemi. Recent projects include music by jazz composer and pianist Hiromi; a

thrilling and virtuosic new work based on the music of pop/rock musician Nick Drake written

for the MGQ by Ian Krouse; and their own arrangement of Purple Rain by Minnesota native,

Prince. These ventures represent the quartet’s intention to bring its audiences distinctive and

imaginative experiences such as collaborations with flamenco dancer Sachiko “La Chayí”,

Chinese pipa master Gao Hong, and new works and arrangements for guitar quartet and choir.

The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States, Mexico

and China, and toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro. Performances include Princeton

University, the National Arts Center (Mexico City), Round Top International Guitar Festival, and

the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances include the St. Paul Chamber

Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Austin and Columbus symphonies.

The guitar’s accessibility makes it a natural for the MGQ's programs like "Guitar Talk" and its

new hands-on “Guitar Ensemble Crash Course.” As regular teachers and collegiate faculty, they

frequently conduct master classes and workshops. The MGQ has been heard on national radio

programs and on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.





formation in 1986. “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and more than a

great chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They are

ambassadors of sound, style, and substance.” One of the very few guitar ensembles performing

the majority of its repertoire from memory, the MGQ presents original works and commissions

as well as its own brilliant arrangements of music by such composers as Ginastera, Piazzolla,

Debussy, Rodrigo, and the Finnish folk-based music of Maria Kalaniemi.

The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States, Mexico

and China, and toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro. Performances include Princeton

University, the National Arts Center (Mexico City), Round Top International Guitar Festival, and

the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances include the St. Paul Chamber

Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Austin and Columbus symphonies. The MGQ has been

heard on national radio programs and on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.



Updated June 2017

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Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of the · PDF fileWith imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its case as “one of the major guitar