Chico State Guitar Ensemble: Guitarchestra!

California State University, Chico's School of the Arts will present the Chico State Guitar Ensemble’s annual spring concert Guitarchestra on Friday, May 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Zingg Recital Hall. Tickets are available at the University Box Office or by calling 530-898-6333.

Guitarchestra will present the unique sounds of classical and contemporary guitar pieces. The program will feature the music of the award-winning composer Mark Houghton. Houghton is a well-known composer in the United Kingdom. He has won the Chris Kilvington Memorial Prize and CHML Composition Competition.

During the concert, solos, duos, and trios will be performed. Tobin Roye, director and Department of Music and Theatre faculty member, will be playing alongside his students.

The concert is described as musically diverse with a wide appeal.

"We want people to hear the classical guitar and appreciate the colors, textures, and stylizations of classical guitar in the context of a guitar ensemble," Roye said.

Preparing for the concert presented challenges for Roye and for his students. 

"This is a team effort. It can feel tense at times when progress is slow. I had to learn to be more patient while maintaining high standards when instructing," Roye said.   

Even though there were obstacles that had to be overcome to put on the concert, Roye was always there for his students to develop them as musicians.

"I love to encourage the students and help them develop good listening skills," Roye said.

Guitarchestra is more than a concert for the Department of Music and Theatre and students.

"This concert gives both the students and faculty a sense of purpose. Being on stage also motivates work ethic, practice, and discipline," added Roye.

Tickets for the concert, at $15 adults, $13 seniors, and $6 students and youth, are available to purchase at CSU, Chico's University Box Office, 530-898-6333.

The Zingg Recital Hall is located in the Arts and Humanities Building on West Second and Salem Streets. It is composed of natural wood and has phenomenal acoustics. The acoustics and seating volume make for an intimate concert experience. Seating is limited and purchasing tickets in advance is recommended.

Information about special seating accommodations is available by calling 530-898-6333. For more information about the production visit the School the Arts website and Facebook page.

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Story by Tashia Jones, School of the Arts publicity assistant 

The Chico State Guitar Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble that performs classic and contemporary guitar pieces on classical guitar. While the guitar ensemble class has been around for several years, it became more performance-focused with a concert each semester when its director, Tobin Roye, took over the class twelve years ago. The group usually contains 10 to 16 CSU, Chico students of any major, and this semester is comprised of 7 students. Upon audition, members must display music reading ability on guitar and some familiarity with classical guitar technique.

Tobin Roye is a skilled and versatile guitarist who has established an outstanding reputation. As a freelance guitarist, he has performed hundreds of gigs and formal concerts throughout the Bay Area and Northern California. Roye earned his BA in music from California State University, Chico, and his MM from San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with guitarists Marc Teicholz and Dusan Bogdanovic. He has performed in master classes with distinguished artists such as Manuel Barrueco, Roland Dyens, and Ricardo Iznaola. Roye is a faculty member of the Department of Music and Theatre at CSU, Chico.