Smith was born in Beckenham, England. He picked up the guitar when he was five years old after watching his father playing an Atkins and Travis version of "Down South Blues". He begged his father, a longtime Atkins admirer, to introduce him to the fingerpicking style. Smith soon became a child prodigy on the guitar. As a kid he could play the entire discographies of Django Reinhardt and Chet Atkins. At the age of 11 he shared the stage with his idol when Atkins invited Smith to play with him at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London.

Richard is considered one of the foremost fingerstyle guitarists. His repertoire includes county, bluegrass, blues, ragtime, folk, jazz, pop, and classical music. His career achievements include:

• 2001 National Finger­style Guitar Champion

• 2008 Thumbpicker of the Year

• 2009 National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame Induction

• Played with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Nato Lima, Boots Randolph, Tommy Emmanuel, John Jor­genson, Marcel Dadi, Tommy Tedesco, Joe Pass, Biréli Lagrène, Mark O'Connor, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, Martin Taylor, Jorge Morel, Earl Klugh, Suzy Bogguss, Victor Wooten, John Cowan and countless more.

Please join us for what promises to be an incredible concert, tickets are on sale now.

Open to the public.

On Sunday, November 19, at 4 pm, the Williamson County Guitar Society is bringing the young French master, Gabriel Bianco, to Georgetown for a concert at the 1st United Methodist Church.

Gabriel Bianco started as a child prodigy and has won the world's most prestigious competitions, including the youngest person to win the Guitar Foundation of America's solo competition.  He has gone on to perform at the International Festival of guitar in Paris, the Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, the Luis Arango Auditorium in Bogota, the Central Conservatory of Beijing, the Musashino Art Center and the Yamaha Hall in Tokyo, the Kyiv Philharmonic, the Zurich Opera and the Lausanne Opera.

Mr. Bianco has recorded 2 solo records, the first with the Naxos label in a program of Bach, Mertz & Koshkin, and then with the Ad Vitam Records label with Milano, Scarlatti, Regondi & Paganini programs.

His performances is the U.S. are rare. This is the only performance he will be giving here this season; he's making a special trip to Central Texas to play for our audience! He is also enthusiastic about creating a program that you will enjoy.

Nov. 20 update: Gabriel’s concert was a tremendous success, see photos below:

Wilco Guitar Society is thrilled to be able to bring the French Master Olivier Chassain to Georgetown for an intimate recital at the Grace Heritage Center.

While a student at the Paris Conservatory, Olivier won the Premier Prix de Guitare, d'Harmonie et de Contrepoint in 1982, and in 1988, he is the first non-American guitarist to earn the First Prize of the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition. His concert tours have taken him throughout  Europe, Asia, Africa, Canada and USA.

He is a teacher at the Bordeaux Conservatory since 1991, and in 1994 he took the role of Alexandre Lagoya, teacher at the Guitar Class of CNSMD.

The venue seats only 60 so we recommend purchasing tickets early.

Update: 31 July - Pictures from the event

We are pleased to bring back to Georgetown, the phenomenal finger-style guitarist, Richard Smith.

Needless to say, Richard delighted the audience with his arrangements of music that transcended genres:  music from the ragtime of Scott Joplin to the sounds of Augustine Barrios, works from the American canon of blues, jazz, and the the Nashville sound of Chet Atkins.

Update: 19 July - Pictures from the event

Not since Christopher Parkening has an American Guitarist captured the attention and praise of  audiences, critics and guitarists as Matt Palmer. We are proud to be able to bring this extraordinary musician to Georgetown for a rare Texas appearance.

Mr. Palmer's innovative technique has brought him attention from contemporary composers who entrust their virtuoso works to his hands. His renderings of traditional guitar repertoire leave nothing on the table in terms of style, musicality and verve.

In 2010 Matt was awarded the "Up and Coming Guitarist of the Year" award by Guitar International Magazine. They said, "...after you hear Matt Palmer play a few notes of any piece, modern or historical, the classical guitar takes on a whole new persona, transformed into an instrument that can rival the hipness of any flashy, electric performance."

One reviewer said, "His playing so precise is every gesture, so deliberate and secure in each complex figure, and so steady and unwavering ...., that there is a general impression Palmer was simply beamed fully formed to Earth on a blue shaft of light and started playing a guitar this way." Roger Cope.

Come enjoy a world-class experience with this extraordinary American musician!

Here are some photos from the event:

Caros Amigos ("Dear Friends") is a new and exciting band featuring flute (Julie Koidin), saxophone (Scotty McIntosh), 7-string guitar (Adam Carney) and percussion (Sergio Santos). Started in 2021, the group specializes in performances of Brazilian music - namely "choro" (a cousin of "samba") - standards by Brazilian mainstays as well as originals by the group and their "caros amigos."

Each member of this awesome and unique band brings a unique approach to music making which when put together is a brilliant whirlwind of color and technical skill. Flutist Julie Koidin is one of the few U.S. specialists in Brazilian choro - a musical cousin of samba, and in 2016 hosted the nationally broadcast radio show, "A Joyful Cry: Brazil's Choro Music" on the WFMT Radio Network for the Summer Olympics. Multi-instrumentalist/Saxophonist, Scotty McIntosh, originally from Montreal, Canada, is one of the most active musicians in Austin, performing with a wide breadth of musical groups in various styles ranging from jazz to salsa. Guitarist Adam Carney performs on two rare instruments in the U.S. - the 7-string guitar and the beautiful "harp-guitar." Percussionist Sergio Santos is originally from Santos, Brazil and like Scotty and Adam, has been a long-time fixture in Austin's famous music scene.

Come spend a fun Sunday afternoon with some terrific music in the intimate Heritage center.

Here are some photos from the event:

After 3 years of frustration due to the pandemic and last year's U.S. travel restrictions, the Williamson County Guitar Society is finally able to present one of Europe's finest guitarists, Cristiano Porqueddu. Cristiano lives in Sardinia and is on a European sponsored world tour.

He will perform at the 1st Methodist Church in Georgetown on Oct. 15 at 7 pm.

We have presented a variety of music since the pandemic but have not yet presented an artist of Cristiano's stature and musical vision. Cristiano has produced monumental recordings of the works of Barrios and the complete set of Angelo Gilarino's 60 Virtuosic and Transcendent Etudes, a task aptly described as "Herculean."  

Here is what a Spanish reviewer recently said about Cristiano's concert: 

There is no doubt: Cristiano Porqueddu is an exceptional musician from the moment he steps on stage. And not only because of his technique, which is outstanding, but fundamentally because of the deep aesthetic and spiritual preparation that underlies his readings, always based on a clear awareness of musical form, attention to detail and absolute control of the color of the sound.

This was made clear in the magnificent concert that he offered last Thursday in the auditorium of the Superior Conservatory of our city [Cordoba].

[Porqueddu] was able to pierce the armor of stereotyped performances and open a new window in light of the time in which he has had to live: isn't this a triumph of art over darkness?

WCGS strives to offer all styles of excellence of music through the guitar to our community. We have presented entertainers, fingerstyle players, young performers and now we present the most sophisticated artistic expression that the guitar can offer in Cristiano's hands. 

Come join us and experience what promises to be an evening of unique artistry !

Tickets on sale August 15th.

Dr. Chad Ibison is a top prize-winner in national and international guitar competitions including the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America 2013 and the JoAnn Falletta Concerto Competition in 2014, as well as 1st prizes at the CU International Guitar Festival 2015, Tennessee Guitar Festival and Competition 2013, Boston Guitar Fest 2012, Texas Guitar Competition in Dallas 2012, A&M Guitar Symposium 2010, and CSU Guitar Symposium 2009. He was also one of our instructors for Wilco's online Senior guitar program.

Aytahn began his musical training on the guitar at age 4. Since age eleven, he has received over a dozen major awards at regional, national and International guitar competitions including many 1st prizes at the UT Dallas Festival, Texas A&M Youth Competition, Classical Minds festival (Houston), Indiana University, Boston Guitarfest, Domain Forget (Quebec), Florida Guitar Festival, The Guitar Foundation of America’s high-school solo and ensemble competitions and the 2020 Stroud Competition. In 2017 Aytahn was invited to perform at the Holocaust Museum in Atlanta for the international radio show “From the Top.” After hearing Aytahn play, the late Italian composer, Maestro Angelo Gilardino, composed and dedicated a solo guitar work to Aytahn, Joyful Island. All this, before graduating from high-school! Aytahn's artistic achievements continues as he has been invited to participate in the prestigious Iserlohn festival and Competition this July in Germany.

Mr. Benavi's playing is noted for its clarity, expressivity and the highest artistic presentation.

Here are some comments about Aytahn's playing:

"...a gift from heaven." Angelo Gilardino

“The highlight of the show was Benavi’s thrilling execution of three virtuosic pieces by Bach, Aguado and Asencio…the audience members knew they were witnessing something special.” The Fayette County Record

Tickets will go on sale May 15. Very Limited tickets!

Born in 1971 in Beckenham, England, Richard started early and first picked up the guitar at the age of 5 with his father teaching him his first chords and songs.

After some early solo performances and six years of working as a trio with two of his brothers, Rob and Sam in the 90's, Richard moved to Nashville, Tennessee in January 2000.

In 2001 he won the National Fingerpicking championship and has since forged a career as a solo artist, performing all over the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia and Brazil, releasing solo records, duet and ensemble records.

Constantly touring with a repertoire of fingerpicking classics, Richard plays originals, fiddle tunes, blues, Joplin rags, jazz standards, classical repertoire and everything from pop to Sousa marches.

He has also performed or recorded along the way with Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Tommy Emmanuel, Suzy Bogguss, Steve Wariner, Jimmy Fortune, Earl Klugh, Martin Taylor, Joscho Stephan, Sam Bush, Stuart Duncan, John Schneider, Lee Roy Parnell, Brent Mason, Rory Hoffman and a host of others.

“The most amazing guy I know on the guitar. He can play anything I know, only better.”
Chet Atkins, CGP (music legend)

“If you like my playing, you should hear Richard Smith! The world champion!”
Tommy Emmanuel, CGP (two-time Grammy nominee)

“Guitar playing at its finest. Don’t miss this one.”
Doyle Dykes (thumbpicking wizard)

“He is one of the world’s greatest guitarists.”
Muriel Anderson (All-Star Guitar Night)

Michael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the world’s top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres; the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Competition and the National Fingerstyle Championship at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival at Winfield.

From New York’s Lincoln Center to the Cactus Cafe in Austin, from Milano to Bangkok, Chapdelaine continues to enchant and dazzle audiences and critics alike, as he redefines the modern acoustic guitar with his amazing technique, “soulful” expressiveness, and versatility as a performer, composer and arranger/producer.

In the 80’s and 90’s Chapdelaine proved himself to be one of the worlds finest classical guitarists; twice winning the coveted National Endowment for the Arts Solo Recitalist Grant, and taking First Prize in both the Guitar Foundation of America’s and the Music Teachers National Association’s Guitar Competitions. He also won the Silver Medal in Venezuela’s VIII Concurso International de Guitarra “Alirio Diaz”. He has toured four continents giving hundreds of performances. In 1992 he recorded the Sonata Romantica CD, which many critics and connoisseurs of classical guitar consider to be one of the definitive recordings for the instrument. Acoustic Guitar magazine wrote “… if I were marooned on a desert island with a limited selection of recordings, this one would be among my choices…I have seldom heard a more beautiful album. Other young guitarists have excellent technique, but few have such style and musicality, and Chapdelaine’s beautiful tone is the nearest to Segovia’s that I can recall.”

In 1994 Chapdelaine turned his attention to pop music, in arranging, producing and recording Time-Life Music’s beautiful Guitar by Moonlight collection, which sold 250,000 copies in it’s first two years in the stores. In 1998, he once again, expanded his musical range by winning the National Fingerpicking Championships at Winfield.

Chapdelaine was Professor of Music and head of guitar studies at the University of New Mexico until 2018, and has also served on the faculties of the University of Colorado at Denver and Metropolitan State University. He has given master classes throughout the world including, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Peru, Venezuela, Taiwan, Indonesia and at institutions such as, University of Miami, Mannes School of Music, University of Texas, and California State University.

His teachers included Andres Segovia, Oscar Ghiglia and Eliot Fisk. He particularly honors Bruce Holzman, at FSU, as his most significant teacher.

We will be presenting the duet team of Chad Ibison and Janet Grohovac in a benefit house concert.

Chad and Janet were our instructors for our wonderful year-long, Senior online guitar program. Over 25 adult novices were introduced to the challenges and joys of making music on the guitar. These husband & wife team are terrific! Come enjoy their excellent artistry in an intimate concert.

The house concert is hosted by Bob & Shirley Willams, 108 Rio Azul Dr. in Georgetown. Hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Our first concert for 2021 sold out!
The audience came despite masking requirement.

John McClellan is one of America's most respected performers, teachers, writers and DVD film producers. He has been heard internationally with the Hanser-McClellan Duo, most notably on multiple GFA Guitar Conventions to great acclaim.

He is head of Classical Guitar studies at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. His books and DVDs on Chet Atkins and Argentinean legend, Jorge Morel are consistent best sellers. In summer the summer of 2018, his final book on the music of Chet Atkins (Chester Atkins The Radio Years) was premiered to critical acclaim. His musical collaborations include: Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits), Vince Gill, Jazz legend, Martin Taylor, Tommy Emmanuel, Janis Ian, Luciano Pavorotti, Suzy Bogguss, The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, Jorge Morel, Brent Mason and many others. He has performed internationally in Australia, North America, France, Germany and Belgium.

Chet Atkins called John, “…a great guitarist!.” As a protege of Chet ‘s you are sure to have a great evening of entertaining music from the concert hall and the front porch.

Where: 1st Presbyterian Sanctuary historical Chapel, Georgetown
Special guest appearance by Julia Taylor, Soprano

At our first Round Rock Intimate Concert we present the most awarded pre-college guitarist in the United States - Aytahn Benavi.

Since age 11, Aytahn has received over a dozen major awards at regional, national and international guitar competitions including 1st prize at the UT Dallas Festival, Texas A&M, Classical Minds Festival (Houston), Indiana University, Boston Guitarfest, Domain Forget (Quebec), Florida Guitar Festival and The Guitar Foundation of America’s solo and ensemble competitions. His playing is a precocious example of technical mastery, musicality and artistry,

In 2017, Aytahn appeared on the international radio show “From the Top,” which features the most outstanding pre-college classical musicians in the U.S. When hearing Aytahn play at age 15, the modern Italian composer, Maestro Angelo Gilardino, wrote and dedicated to Aytahn the solo guitar work, “Joyful Island,” which is now published by Berben Music Publishers. He called Aytahn, “…a gift from heaven.”

Col. Ben Gomez of Round Rock has offered his home for this memorable event. Hors d’oeuvres will be served in this elegant setting.

We are thrilled to have Aytahn perform an intimate house concert for the benefit of the Williamson County Guitar Society in 2020 in Round Rock.

This concert is now officially sold out!

1st Round Rock Meeting of the Williamson County Guitar Society will take place Feb. 29, 3-4 pm at the Round Rock Downtowner Gallery. This meeting is devoted to cultivating young musicians. Any pre-college guitarists who wish to perform may come and sign up or, to assure a place, contact us to put your name on the performance list. We welcome both soloists or groups. We are expecting a performance group of 8 young guitarists who will be competing in the Southwest Guitar Symposium in March. For parents (or grandparents) of kids in music lessons or thinking about putting their kids in music lessons, a short presentation will be given about successful adult involvement strategies. This event is free and open to the public.

Our first public meeting Dec. 7 at the Georgetown Library at 3 pm will include a presentation of early music and instruments with Slobodan Vujisic.

Mr. Vujisic (http://svguitar.com/) hails from Belgrade, Serbia, where he taught at the Josep Slevenski Music School. He emigrated to the US in 1994 and has been a teacher in the Childbloom Guitar Program for 25 years. While in former Yugoslav Republic, Slobodan was a member of Ensemble Renaissances, a prominent early music ensemble that performed over 1000 concerts throughout Eastern and Western Europe.

This will be a “hands-on” presentation and audience members will be allowed to carefully play and handle the various instruments presented. This presentation is meant for all ages although those interested in the history of the development of the music, literature, technique of early stringed instruments will have a chance to pick the brain of an expert.

The meeting will last an hour and is free and open to the public. Anyone interested in the Wilco Guitar Society is invited to attend and provide input into subsequent topics and concerts.

What a great evening of food, - provided by the Winksterns, music - provided by Tyler Rhodes, MMA, and fun - provided by all the guests!