Wow! It has been quite a summer!
Classical Guitar Concerts, Music Videos, and Updates to follow.
But first, much needed thank you:
It’s been fantastic to see so many friends, family, and mentors at all my recent Classical Guitar Concerts! From the stage at Hampden Hall in Englewood, CO to several very packed house concerts in my hometown, Albuquerque, and Las Cruces, all the way to a special gallery performance at Star City Studios in El Paso, the support from familiar faces and new friends has been incredible!
Firstly, I want to send special thanks to Bernadette Almanzar (my ever supportive mom!), Chris Sanders and Ken Gilman who so graciously hosted me for house concerts and supported my tour efforts in July and August! An extra thanks is due to Chris for her help in orchestrating all of these events—please check out her music and music education retreats. Ken is a mandolin virtuoso and member of the Albuquerque trio Mandology.
I can’t remember the last time I’d made the trip to Las Cruces or El Paso, perhaps when I was a kid. There’s so much wonder to behold on this stretch of I-25 between Denver and Texas. The immense mountains of Colorado give way to burgundy striped mesas encircling plains and deserts that are cut by the meandering Rio Grande. I reconnected with so many of my New Mexico friends (long overdue) and met many new people, tapped into a new community of musicians.
It’s striking to me how much music and support for artists exists in these areas. In my hometown, despite the fires of 2022 and the persistent floods that have followed, the enthusiasm and fellowship of the community there is very much alive. As something like 50 people crowded into the living room at my mom’s house, we all shared a moment of music and a unique experience. In Las Cruces, our house concert was equally full of music enthusiasts and helped successfully raise funds for Border Servant Corps, a non-profit that aids refugees and asylum seekers in navigating the asylum process, among its many charitable efforts.
On the drive home, and the weeks that followed, I came to realize how culturally vital the Southwest and Mountain West are. We’re blessed with a rich history enacted by people of such diverse heritage. And there are forward moving currents that are so strong in these rapidly growing and changing places that bring forth new ideas, art, and music.
Videos
My brother Mark helped me put together a few performance videos of music by Antonio Lauro. Please enjoy these and share with anyone who would appreciate the music.
Tour Dates
Happily, the momentum for me is continuing through the fall, this time with tour dates in Northern New Mexico, Colorado, and the Boston area. I’m excited to play Taos for the first time, as well as Estes Park, among all the other great concerts coming up. See the graphic below for my September schedule. You can click here for my full schedule
Thank you as always for your support on these musical adventures!
Best,
Craig Winston
------------------------
Classical Guitarist and Instructor
M.M. ‘23 – Classical Guitar Performance
Lamont School of Music, University of Denver