South Bay Guitar Society Fundraising Gala Concert
We're launching our 2026-2027 season with a Fundraising Gala Concert! Join us at 7:00 p.m. Saturday Sept. 12 at our new home at the Shared Arts Center in downtown San Jose and hear encore performances by some recent Prelude performers as well as our adult guitar ensemble.
Free admission with donations welcome. Please help us reach our fundraising goal of $5000.00. Your contributions will help us fulfill our mission of promoting the classical guitar to audiences of all ages and economic means here in the South Bay. You can contribute now by going to THIS LINK. In the "Comment" box, please type, "SBGS Fundraising Gala."
Concert:
Saturday Sept. 12, 2026, 7:00 p.m.
Shared Arts Center, 99 Notre Dame Ave., San Jose
Performers:
Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet - Prelude performer in April 2025
The members of the Cypress Strings Guitar Quartet are Gretchen Peelman, Maya Bologova, Daniella Winterrowd, and Grace DeMers, all high school students from the Monterey Peninsula who have been playing together since 2019. The quartet has opened concerts for the Carmel Guitar Society, performed in numerous recitals, and played for residents of senior care communities. On October 23 the ensemble will open for for Grammy-winning guitarist Jason Vieaux at the Founders Theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea. All four members study with Anthony DeMers, who guides their development as soloists and as an ensemble.
Meezahn Kemal - Prelude performer in November 2024
Meezahn was a prizewinner in the South Bay Guitar Society’s inaugural Youth Competition in 2026. He has performed in numerous recitals, including at the 2024 Summer Guitar Workshop at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied under David Tanenbaum, Marc Teicholz, and Meng Su. Meezahn has been a student for eight years under Bradly Pupa at the California Conservatory of Music. Outside the guitar, Meezahn is a high-school senior in Redwood City and has sung in his school choir and been on his school’s cross-country and track teams.
Ashwin Naren - Prelude performer in February 2025
Ashwin was the first-prize winner at the 2021 Sierra Nevada Guitar Festival Competition and has twice performed in the Junior Bach Festival. He has performed in many of the South Bay Guitar Society’s open mics and in masterclasses for Raphaël Feuillâtre, Dragos Ilie, Kevin Loh, among many others. Ashwin is a student of Scott Cmiel and began the guitar at age seven under Scott Gossage at Silicon Valley Classical Guitar School. Outside the guitar, Ashwin is a senior at Stanford Online High School and enjoys studying history and computer programming.
Bay Area Guitar Quartet - Prelude performer in October 2025
The Bay Area Guitar Quartet was formed in 2023 and is composed of Alan Chen, Campbell Muffly, Quintin Muffly, and Yuan Xing. The group is coached by Angelica Artelt, who also teaches all four members privately. Campbell also studies chamber music and solo performance with Scott Cmiel at the Pre-College Division of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. All four quartet members started the guitar with the Suzuki method and have attended the San Francisco Conservatory's Summer Guitar Workshop together. When not playing the guitar, these young artists can be found performing in local theater productions, backpacking, and entering math competitions.
South Bay Guitar Ensemble
Led by SBGS president Josh Friedman, the ensemble is composed of adult guitarists from around the South Bay. Rehearsing a wide range of repertoire weekly, the group performs regularly at events throughout the area. The ensemble is now seeking new members! Click here to learn more.
