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Canadian Guitar Quartet comes to Powell River Academy of Music

High-energy classical concert something new for local audiences
Canadian Guitar Quartet
The Canadian Guitar Quartet brings an acclaimed concert to Powell River Academy of Music on Tuesday, January 24.

For the Canadian Guitar Quartet, there is no such thing as a passive or aloof audience. No matter where the Eastern Canadian quartet plays a concert, there are always classical guitar enthusiasts, fellow guitarists and music students to be found in the audiences.

“It does up our nerves if there are music colleagues in the room,” admits Louis Trépanier, member of the quartet and also a University of Ottawa guitar professor. “Playing to other guitarists is great though, because you know that you have people who really speak the language of what you are playing.”

Comprised of Trépanier, Julien Bisaillon, Bruno Roussel and Renaud Côté-Giguère, the guitar quartet plays a classical concert at Powell River Academy of Music on Tuesday, January 24, with tickets on sale now.

“We haven’t had a guitar quartet here before, or maybe if we have it has been quite a while,” says the academy’s music director Walter Martella. “Certainly, it’s different than our usual fare of concerts, so we’re looking forward to offering something new.”

According to Trépanier, the concert will feature traditional classical repertoire, including Beethoven, Brahms and French composers from the late 1800s, as well as original works by composers including quartet member Côté-Giguère.

“Anybody who knows string quartets, we are a bit like that, but with guitars, of course,” says Trépanier. “Most of the original pieces have a South American bent to them. Anyone who would call themselves a ‘guitar head’ would find loads of things to love about our concert. There is lots of intricate, exciting guitar playing going on.”

While the show is full of high-energy guitar work, Trépanier says the quartet takes time to talk to the audience between pieces in order to provide background and context. Over the years, he says, the show has become more interactive and fine-tuned.

“We work very hard and we do a lot of work to improve our details,” says Trépanier. “One thing we have in spades is a sense of energy and happiness on stage. We’re just so happy to be able to perform, which is quite regularly. It’s like being on a sports team when you are in top shape and pushing it to the limit.”

The Canadian Guitar Quartet
When: 7:30 pm, Tuesday, January 24
Where: James Hall, Powell River Academy of Music (7280 Kemano Street)
Price: $22 (students under 19 free)
Info: 604.485.9633, powellriveracademy.org