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William Jenks
William Jenks presents a
very special benefit concert for Portland Classic Guitar, scheduled for June 10 at Marylhurst University.
This not-to-be-missed event will feature an all-star lineup that includes the Oregon Guitar Quartet, Scott Kritzer, Peter Zisa, and PCG proprietor William Jenks.
Friday, June 10th, 2011 at 8 PM.
Concert Venue: Marylhurst
University's St. Anne's Chapel
Master Class - Saturday, June 11th, 2011 at 11
AM
Master Class Venue: Marylhurst University Weigand Hall
Student Recital - Saturday, June 11th, 2011 at 4 PM
Weigand Hall
www.williamjenks.com
Dear Friends of Portland Classic Guitar:
We hope this letter finds you well. We are writing to let you know about a very
special benefit concert for Portland Classic Guitar, scheduled for June 10 at Marylhurst University.
This not-to-be-missed event will feature an all-star lineup that includes the Oregon Guitar Quartet, Scott Kritzer, Peter Zisa, and PCG proprietor William Jenks.
Why a benefit concert, you ask? As you know, this is a time of serious economic
challenge for most of us. And it has been a particularly difficult period for the arts. Maintaining a series as consistently ambitious, creative, and world class as ours is
not always easy. We remain committed to the mission, because we believe in it strongly—the arts, after all, provide great solace and uplift in difficult times such as
these. But we also need your help, and attending this unique benefit performance would be a wonderful way to show your support for what we are doing. Not only would you be
helping to keep this important series alive financially—thereby maintaining Portland’s reputation as a major outpost for the best in classical guitar
music—but you would also be enjoying a rare opportunity to hear some of the Pacific Northwest’s premiere classical guitarists together in a single concert.
It is sure to be a fantastic night of music—just consider the lineup.
The much-loved Oregon Guitar Quartet comprised of Bryan Johanson, David Franzen, John Mery, and Jesse McCann excel at an impressive repertoire covering many centuries of
musical history, and dozens of different genres of music. Scott Kritzer has been hailed as an “intelligent,” “self-assured,” and musically sensitive
guitarist by no less than the New York Times. Peter Zisa is an in-demand performer up and down the west coast, appearing in a multitude of festivals and competitions. And of
course William Jenks is founder of both Portland Classic Guitar, and the series that bears its name.
Of course, an even more effective way to help the series would be to become a
season subscriber now. In fact, until June 10, subscriptions to next year’s season are available for the low price of $250 (after June 10, that price will increase to
$300). The stellar artists to be featured in the benefit concert provide a preview of the consistently excellent music you can expect from the Portland Classic Guitar series
over the next year. Those of you who have been to our concerts in the past know that we have brought you such internationally renowned guitarists as Angel Romero, John
Williams, and Eliot Fisk. For our next season we will maintain that high standard, presenting superstars like Ana Vidovic, The Paris Guitar Duo, Scott Tennant, and many
others.
The PCG series continues to raise the cultural profile of Portland, putting it on
par with cities like New York and London. Please consider becoming part of the excitement now by purchasing your tickets for our wonderful benefit concert, and by subscribing
to next year’s season. Call PCG proprietor William Jenks today at 503-654-0082.
Thank you for reading, and thank you for your continued support!
Sincerely
Portland Classic Guitar
St. Anne’s Chapel is on the campus of Marylhurst University. The address is
17600 Pacific Highway (Hwy. 43), Marylhurst, OR 97036-0261. To purchase tickets, call 503-654-0082, or click here
William Jenks is one of the Pacific Northwest’s best-kept
secrets. A standout talent from a new generation of classical guitarists, he has recorded four CDs and performed in a broad range of venues around the world, in front of
thousands of music lovers. In addition, Jenks has been vital to the arts community of the Portland area, particularly through his foundation of Portland Classic Guitar, a
local teaching studio and guitar shop where he also directs an acclaimed concert series.
Jenks’ concert career has been notable. He began performing choral music at
age six, at one point taking part in an impressive Carnegie Hall performance of The Magnificat, under the world-renowned composer and maestro John Rutter. After learning
guitar as a young adult, Jenks was able to showcase a set of talents – singing and playing guitar – rarely seen in combination in the classical world. He would go
on to earn great praise for a series of solo concerts in France, Germany, and Italy. He has of course also performed throughout his native Oregon; highlights of his stateside
concert career have included performances at the Portland Wine and Arts Festival, the Newport Performing Arts Center, and Cycle Oregon. Jenks provided the inaugural concert
for the re-opening of the Elgin Opera (the Elgin Times noted that “he put on a tremendous show”). He has been a guest artist with the local Pro Arte Chamber
Orchestra, and was selected to perform in a special reception for Portland Mayor Vera Katz.
In addition to his performing schedule, Jenks is a highly sought-after guitar
instructor in the Portland area. His approach has been informed by some of the best guitar teachers in the world, including Ken Johnson (with whom Jenks studied at Colorado
Christian University, graduating magna cum laude), David Franzen, Bryan Johanson, and Scott Kritzer. Jenks has also performed in the master classes of world-renowned classical
guitarists Christopher Parkening, Scott Tennant, Ricardo Iznaola, David Russell, Elliot Fisk, and Angel Romero.
As part of his commitment to pedagogy, Jenks is on staff as an adjunct faculty
instructor at Portland Community College. More importantly, in 2001 he founded Portland Classic Guitar (PCG), which now serves as the Portland area’s only classical
guitar teaching studio and guitar shop. PCG is the site of regular student recitals, and serves the needs of hundreds of students of all skill levels and ages. Many of
Jenks’ students have gone on to pursue their own musical careers.
PCG is also home to Portland’s only classical guitar concert series, which
Jenks started in 2005. The response has been remarkable. In the words of guitarist Ana Vidovic (one of the featured performers), the series is “quickly becoming one of
the most prestigious in the country.” International in scope while maintaining a commitment to local talent, the series has a reputation for presenting world-class
performances in an intimate setting. It has earned a loyal following, and nowadays, most of the concerts sell out.
Jenks is available for lessons, concerts, weddings and corporate events. He
currently resides in Portland, Oregon with his wife, Cassandra, and his two sons, Zach and Grant.
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