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As Garrison Keillor used to say at the start of his monologue on the long-running Prairie Home Companion, “It’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my hometown…,” and so it’s likewise been a quiet summer for the Triangle Guitar Society.  During the hiatus between Rupert Boyd’s June concert and Jorge Caballero’s upcoming October 17 grand opening of our 2026-27 season, we had a successful Open Mic at the beginning of August at Imbibe/Rougarou and an in-person Board meeting earlier this month— with an exciting development.

We finalized dates for the remaining TGS concerts with Salomé Sandoval, Colin Fullerton, and GFA winner Virgile Barthe. These final dates appear in the 2026-27 Season page at the TGS website. Key updates are that Colin Fullerton of Duke will perform on April 3rd and Virgile Barthe on May 15th.

In addition, TGS is sponsoring a masterclass with Jorge Caballero on Sunday, October 18th, at Duke University’s Nelson Music Room from 2 - 5 pm. There is no charge to either participate or perform in this masterclass. (For prospective performers, an audition is required via a video recording of your piece. Contact us here about attending.) This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from one of the world’s greatest classical guitarists and longtime friend of TGS!

But wait! There’s more. Your TGS Board has approved a fifth event for the season. We’re looking to schedule a return of Rupert Boyd, this time with his cellist wife, Laura Metcalf, in their duo Boyd Meets Girl. They are outstanding musicians performing a great repertoire, including their arrangements of popular music. (See their webpage and YouTube channel.) Their TGS concert on March 13th is not yet final but nearly so. They are eager to perform at TGS. Check back at our website for updates. Things are shaping up for having an exceptionally active second half of the TGS season.

TGS also held an Open Mic on August 1st at our new venue, Imbibe/Rougarou, at 108 Henderson St. in Chapel Hill. Seven TGS stalwarts (including yours truly) performed. Instead of being upstairs as in August, the next will be at their newly renovated downstairs restaurant from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm on November 7th.

Because it is so vital to the success and continuation of our guitar society, I’m reiterating my appeal about membership renewal. This is easy to do at this page or directly here. Your membership provides TGS with much needed financial support to continue bringing great guitarists to the Triangle area for you to hear and enjoy in a superior concert hall at reasonable prices!

I would also add that TGS would greatly appreciate donations from members with the wherewithal to give. Like many other nonprofits, ticket sales and memberships by themselves are not usually enough to sustain us financially. Direct support in the form of donations, which can be made at the same site as our ticket sales and memberships here, would go far in ensuring a sound footing for your Triangle Guitar Society.

So while national and global events have turned increasingly tempestuous, we highly recommend experiencing the peace that classical guitar brings. The Triangle Guitar Society is here to help give you that solace.

Thank you,

— Peter Abken

President

Triangle Guitar Society