Skaneateles Library
49 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Anthony LaLena is a guitarist and musicologist based in Rochester, where he serves as Assistant Professor of Musicology at SUNY Geneseo, teaching courses on Western classical, jazz, and American popular music. He performs internationally as a soloist and chamber musician, with current projects including the LaLena-Marcondes guitar duo, a duo with soprano Robin Steitz, and the New York Guitar Quartet. Committed to historically informed performance, he plays Baroque, 19th-century, and early-20th-century gut-strung guitars, and has studied early music in Spain and with figures like Kenneth Cooper and Paul O'Dette.

Skaneateles Library
49 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles

Founded in 2010, the Atlantic Guitar Quartet is a contemporary music ensemble dedicated to promoting the music of living composers. Through virtuosic performances, innovative programming and collaborations with other visual and performing artists, AGQ has broadened the repertoire for—and the definition of—the classical guitar quartet.

Each of the four members, Mark Edwards, James Keretses, Matthew Slotkin and Zoë Johnstone Stewart have enjoyed extensive solo and chamber performing careers prior to joining the ensemble. As a group AGQ has performed as part of the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society concert series, Ulster Chamber Series, Evolution Contemporary Music series, and at Bloomsburg University, York College of Pennsylvania, Loyola University, Marshall University and the Peabody Institute.

AGQ has been proactive in expanding the repertoire of the classical guitar quartet by commissioning new works. The quartet's world premieres include performances of works by Douglas Lora, Benjamin Verdery, Judah Adashi, Olga Amelkina-Vera, and many others.