Randy Reed sez: My dear friends, I have now decided that it is time for me to step down as Prez effective immediately (late April).

It has been two years since I left my 29-year gig at Duke, and thus I have enjoyed having extra time to focus on various non-guitar things like working in my yard, playing way too much bot-chess, cooking, reading, traveling quite a bit, and finally getting my 5.1 sound system at home in tip-top shape with a great turntable as well. (Due to some weak nails, I also actually just finished six weeks without any nails, and boy, that was super weird! Not to worry, as in growing my nails back, I am reminded how good short nails sound!)

I purposely waited until we had a great website and a fantastic board, and boy, do we have both now. All we need is good marketing, serious funding grants, picking good concert dates, and getting warm bodies into our shows. Also, I waited until we had a current board member who I knew would be a great president, so I informed the board of my decision and nominated Peter Abken. Then Paul Bonner seconded, and the board unanimously elected Peter to the position.

Peter, more than any of our board members, has worked so tirelessly this past year. With Michael Chua, Peter created our new website and has spent more than $1,000 of his own money on advertising without any asking of thanks or reimbursement.

I have had a blast being Prez for 30+ years, and I certainly have appreciated being at the helm. Now it is time for me to let another person with more energy and new ideas run our club, and we are very lucky to have such a committed individual as Peter Abken.

I will continue to serve on our board as music editor and be there offering advice, etc. I am certain our group — which I started when I moved to Durham in 1988 with Robert Chadwick, Ed Stephenson, Judy Dunson, Anita Wolfenden, Billy Stewart, and Dennis Aberle — is in great hands with Peter as our new Prez. However, just occasionally remind him we are not a Lute group, HA!

and “Also of Note…” below

Prez Sez

Peter Abken sez: Randy, thanks for your unwavering devotion to TGS over the decades, and thanks for encouraging me to step in as your successor. Yes, I have big shoes to fill, but I do have a great board — including you — to turn to and rely on in handling the many tasks and activities of TGS. I look forward to working with our board on all of this and to your continuing great contributions as music editor and advisor. I’ve certainly learned a lot from you.

We should have a seamless transition with a high degree of continuity. I’ll be continuing my writing for the TGS News and handling most of the social media efforts along with Billy Switzer. Our foremost priority will be seeking ways to increase attendance at our concerts, a topic the board has been discussing actively for some time and especially in recent weeks. Through Dennis Aberle’s efforts, plans and arrangements for our 2026–2027 concert season are taking shape. We are also working to find a new, acoustically more congenial venue for our Open Mic events.

We all have our idiosyncrasies, and lately, Baroque lute has become one of mine. Of course, many, and perhaps most, classical guitarists enjoy playing music from that era and the earlier Renaissance, but I’ve taken the plunge to play what I had played in guitar transcriptions now on the original instruments. So, like Randy, I’ve gone without nails — not to regrow them but to play on gut strings. Still, no need to fret; I’m not out to proselytize for the lute. In fact, I’d be the first to argue that the guitar is indispensable for many reasons, including not being limited like the lute to music of one era or a few genres. With my guitar, I’ve most recently been enjoying learning the music of the jazz-influenced Ralph Towner and the musically eclectic Sérgio Assad.

Through our fine organization and its activities, I hope that we motivate more people to experience the joys of listening to and, better yet, playing the great repertoire of the classical guitar, as I have over the years.