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With imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its
case as “one of the major guitar ensembles in the world” (Soundboard Magazine) since its
formation in 1986. One of the very few guitar ensembles performing the majority of its
repertoire from memory, the foursome—Joseph Hagedorn, Maja Radovanlija, Ben Kunkel and
Wade Oden—moves with ease through original works for guitar quartet to its own brilliant
arrangements, and from major commissions to unexpected collaborations. With their
extraordinary abilities, MGQ’s virtuosic performances offer beautifully distinct voicing,
interwoven clarity of lines, and laser-like purity. At the same time, with engaging stage
presence and good humor, they build an intimate and comfortable rapport with their
audiences. “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and more than a great
chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They are ambassadors of
sound, style, and substance.”
Some of the most sought-after of the MGQ’s exceptional arrangements are Alberto Ginastera's
Danzas Argentinas, Piazzolla's Windy, Debussy's Petite Suite, piano music of Joaquin Rodrigo,
and the extremely popular folk-based music of Finnish performer/composer Maria Kalaniemi.
Mussorgsky’s “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” from the composer’s Pictures at an Exhibition is
an audience encore favorite. Web magazine minor7th.com called the MGQ’s recording of the
full piece “the best arrangement of these 16 movements I have heard…While staying true to
the original sense of the pieces, the Quartet brings fresh colors and lyricism.”
Recent projects include an arrangement of Old Castle, by the river, in the middle of the forest, a
contemporary jazz piece by Japanese composer and pianist Hiromi; StarWaves, a thrilling and
virtuosic new work based on the music of British pop/rock musician Nick Drake written for the
MGQ by composer Ian Krouse; and their own arrangement of Purple Rain by pop icon and
Minnesota native, Prince.
The MGQ’s diverse and innovative collaborations include programs with flamenco dancer
Sachiko “La Chayí” featuring music of the great Spanish composers Joaquin Rodrigo and
Enrique Granados and contemporary flamenco guitarist/composer Ben Abrahamson; a full
program with Gao Hong, master of the Chinese pipa (akin to a lute), which successfully traverses
both character and culture from East to West; and a program for guitar quartet with choir
featuring the recently commissioned work Music of Love and the Stars by notable choral composer
Jeffrey Van in addition to arrangements of well-known works by Gabriel Fauré.
The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States and
Mexico, toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro, and in 2017 was invited to perform seven
concerts in six cities throughout China. Notable performances include Princeton University, the
Il Encuentro Internacional de Guitarra at the National Arts Center in Mexico City, San Francisco’s
Omni Foundation Dynamite Guitar series, the Round Top International Guitar Festival in Texas,
and several invitations to the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances
include the Austin Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and Columbus
Symphony, among many others.
The cultural accessibility of the guitar makes it a natural for the MGQ's various educational and
community engagement programs like its popular "Guitar Talk" for all ages. As Artists-in-
Residence with Minnesota Public Radio during the 2014 season, the MGQ performed for
elementary school students throughout the Twin Cities. The MGQ's newest educational offering
is its “Guitar Ensemble Crash Course,” a 90-minute class introducing participants to the "hands-
on" experience of guitar ensemble playing, culminating in a live performance. All members of
the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet are regular teachers and collegiate faculty members and
frequently conduct master classes and workshops at festivals and universities throughout the
United States.
The MGQ has been heard on the nationally syndicated radio program Saint Paul Sunday, and on
National Public Radio’s Performance Today. The quartet also has garnered unanimous
international critical acclaim from its five CDs on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.
For more information, please visit www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com, follow on Facebook and
Twitter @MplsGuitarQt and Instagram @mplsguitarquartet
With imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its
case as “one of the major guitar ensembles in the world” (Soundboard Magazine) since its
formation in 1986. With their extraordinary abilities, MGQ’s virtuosic performances offer
beautifully distinct voicing, interwoven clarity of lines, and laser-like purity. At the same time,
with engaging stage presence and good humor, they build an intimate and comfortable
rapport with their audiences “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and
more than a great chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They
are ambassadors of sound, style, and substance.”
One of the very few guitar ensembles performing the majority of its repertoire from memory,
the MGQ presents original works and commissions as well as its own brilliant arrangements of
music by such composers as Ginastera, Piazzolla, Debussy, Rodrigo and the Finnish folk-based
music of Maria Kalaniemi. Recent projects include music by jazz composer and pianist Hiromi; a
thrilling and virtuosic new work based on the music of pop/rock musician Nick Drake written
for the MGQ by Ian Krouse; and their own arrangement of Purple Rain by Minnesota native,
Prince. These ventures represent the quartet’s intention to bring its audiences distinctive and
imaginative experiences such as collaborations with flamenco dancer Sachiko “La Chayí”,
Chinese pipa master Gao Hong, and new works and arrangements for guitar quartet and choir.
The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States, Mexico
and China, and toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro. Performances include Princeton
University, the National Arts Center (Mexico City), Round Top International Guitar Festival, and
the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances include the St. Paul Chamber
Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Austin and Columbus symphonies.
The guitar’s accessibility makes it a natural for the MGQ's programs like "Guitar Talk" and its
new hands-on “Guitar Ensemble Crash Course.” As regular teachers and collegiate faculty, they
frequently conduct master classes and workshops. The MGQ has been heard on national radio
programs and on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.
For more information, please visit www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com, follow on Facebook and
Twitter @MplsGuitarQt and Instagram @mplsguitarquartet
With imagination, artistry, and musical mastery, the Minneapolis Guitar Quartet has made its
case as “one of the major guitar ensembles in the world” (Soundboard Magazine) since its
formation in 1986. “More than a guitar quartet, more than superb musicians, and more than a
great chamber group,” says composer/performer Daniel Bernard Roumain. “They are
ambassadors of sound, style, and substance.” One of the very few guitar ensembles performing
the majority of its repertoire from memory, the MGQ presents original works and commissions
as well as its own brilliant arrangements of music by such composers as Ginastera, Piazzolla,
Debussy, Rodrigo, and the Finnish folk-based music of Maria Kalaniemi.
The MGQ has performed its many programs in recital throughout the United States, Mexico
and China, and toured to festivals in Serbia and Montenegro. Performances include Princeton
University, the National Arts Center (Mexico City), Round Top International Guitar Festival, and
the Guitar Foundation of America Festival. Concerto appearances include the St. Paul Chamber
Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, and the Austin and Columbus symphonies. The MGQ has been
heard on national radio programs and on the Albany, GSP, and innova labels.
For more information, please visit www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com, follow on Facebook and
Twitter @MplsGuitarQt and Instagram @mplsguitarquartet
Updated June 2017