SF Guitar Quartet

San Francisco Guitar Quartet

"Among the better of the new groups must be counted the San Francisco Guitar Quartet." -Peter Danner, San Francisco Classical Voice

Since its inception in 1997, the San Francisco Guitar Quartet has become one of the most sought-after classical guitar ensembles performing today. Committed proponents of new music as well as the classics, SFGQ draws from a rich background of musical traditions including classical, world and ethnic traditions, and improvisation. The diverse list of composers represented in concert and on recordings includes Leo Brouwer, JS Bach, Sergio Assad, Luigi Boccherini, Carlo Domeniconi, Phillip Houghton, Dusan Bogdanovic, as well as SFGQ member Patrick Francis.

Both of SFGQ’s recordings have garnered praise. Compadres was lauded by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as one of the “Top CDs of 2003.” London’s Classical Guitar Magazine had this to say: "Here is a nice release from a very capable, technically and musically, group of players who give strong performances throughout in this particularly interesting programme." Composer Phillip Houghton remarked on the performance of his work, Opals, on the Quartet’s debut recording Black Opal: "Congratulations on such a superb CD! Opals is wonderfully played! It is beautiful!"

The members of SFGQ, Mark Simons, Christopher Hanford, David Dueñas, and Patrick Francis, have each distinguished themselves as soloists and chamber musicians with first prizes in the American String Teachers Association Competition and the Baltimore Chamber Music Awards Competition, a Fulbright Scholarship, and recordings on labels including SFGQ Recordings and New Albion Records.

2005 saw the SFGQ give a sold-out performance on the island of Guam and tour the southern US with performances in Florida, at the University of Texas Guitar Festival, and return engagements at Arizona State University and Glendale Community College. Other past performances include San Francisco's Omni Series, La Guitarra California Festival, Pasadena's Guitarra del Mar series, and the syndicated radio show, West Coast Live. "Without a doubt the SFGQ's performance was an outstanding highlight of our festival." -Reed Gilchrist, Director- La Guitarra California Festival

2006 plans include recording a third CD, concerts in Taiwan, Maine, and California, including homecoming shows at the venerable San Francisco venues, Old First Church and the Noe Valley Ministry.

"The SFGQ play with a fresh enthusiasm and life force which one rarely experiences in even the most seasoned performers. Their performance of Dusan Bogdanovic's 'Introduction and Dance' is like a gypsy caravan springing to life." -Scott Tennant

"The San Francisco Guitar Quartet is a group of passionate talented musicians who have put together a repertoire of music that not only just pleases, but actually engages the listener on a deeper level. When I heard their thrilling performances of Bogdanovic, Houghton, and Assad, I really felt that this group had found a path to expressing their most powerful musical impulses." -Marc Teicholz, GFA winner

Chamber Music Day

Musical Grant Program

Noteworthy