Arts & Entertainment

Mid-American Guitar Ensemble Festival

The Lincoln-Way Central music department is hosting the Mid-American Guitar Ensemble Festival featuring William Kanengiser, the Australian Guitar Duo, 15 collegiate guitar ensembles and guitar students from all four Lincoln-Way high schools. 

The festival is at the Lincoln-Way Central Performing Arts Center, New Lenox March 25, 26, and 27. Friday and Saturday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., while Sunday’s performance begins at 1:30 p.m.

Recognized as one of America’s most brilliant guitarists, William Kanengiser has developed a unique repertoire for his instrument, ranging from dazzling arrangements of Mozart, Handel and Bartok to his innovative excursions into the music of Eastern Europe and the Caribbean.

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Praised by the Los Angeles Times for his ‘dizzying executive’ and ‘exceeding vitality and warmth’, Kanengiser has performed in recital and as guest soloist with orchestras in virtually every major American city, ranging from New York City’s Carnegie Hall to San Francisco’s Herbst Theater, as well as throughout Canada, Europe, and Asia.

The Australian Guitar Duo will be performing a mixture of contemporary Austrian compositions and standard works from the guitar duo repertoire. The Austrian Guitar Duo consists of Rupert Boyd and Jacob Cordover, both respected soloists in their own right. They met and formed as a duo in the year 2000 while undertaking studies at the Australian National University School of Music, where they studied with renowned Australian guitarist Timothy Kain.

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Opening night is Friday, March 25 beginning at 7:30 p.m. with ticket prices at $5 per person featuring the 15 collegiate guitar groups. The Saturday performance will feature The Austrian Guitar Duo on March 26, at 7:30 p.m. with ticket prices at $10 per person. Sunday, March 27 will feature William Kanengiser and the Mid-American Guitar Festival Orchestra, composed of collegiate groups and guitar students from Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-way East, Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West, at 1:30 p.m. performance. William Kanengiser will be the soloist for the performance, with the 150 member Mid-American Guitar Orchestra led by Lincoln-Way’s own Nate Jackson. Ticket prices are $5 per person. Tickets for the festival package to all three concerts are $17 per person.

Performing Guitar Ensembles are: Lincoln-Way Central, Lincoln-Way East, Lincoln-Way North and Lincoln-Way West; William Rainey Harper College, Valparaiso University, Northeastern Illinois University, Eastern Kentucky University, Indiana University, Purdue University, University of Wisconsin, Grand Rapids Community College, Roosevelt University, Millikin University, Elmhurst College, Chicago Community, Classical Guitar of Vandercook College, University of Akron, and Illinois State University.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to host this fantastic festival, and are proud to be bringing the world of classical guitar to the Lincoln-Way area. The Australian Guitar Duo is on the forefront of classical guitar performance, and William Kanengiser is one of the most accomplished performers of our generation. To see these performers in concert—as well as experiencing our very own Lincoln-Way guitarists and the many collegiate ensembles attending is an opportunity our community should definitely embrace,” noted Stacy Williams-Jackson, Lincoln-Way Central music department chair.


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