Classical Guitar Concert

Guitar Society of Southern Oregon and Britt Education Present Alan Mearns!

Alan Mearns was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He began his musical studies with the classical violin at age five, switching to the guitar at age ten. Moving to the United States in his late teens, he studied classical guitar performance with Douglas James at Appalachian State University (where he held the prestigious Fletcher Scholarship) and with Stanley Yates at Austin Peay State University.

Alan is a multiple-genre guitarist and composer. Alan is both a celebrated classical guitar virtuoso and a gifted songwriter under his folk persona, Yes the Raven. His recent Bach recording, Sei Solo, was met with both critical and popular acclaim, climbing to number 8 in the classical Billboard chart.

“Bach-Godowsky, Bach-Busoni, Bach-Leonhardt. And now, Bach-Mearns, for no transcription of Bach deserves a hyphen more than the guitar transcription presented here.” Mark Delpriora (Guitar Chair Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard School)

“Alan Mearns has taken these well-known works where no one else dared before. If you think you have heard Bach on the guitar, think again!” Dr. René Izquierdo (Professor of Guitar University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)

“...a revelation. Mearns reveals himself a singular artist of extraordinary imagination...truly a next-generation phenomenon.” Stephen Aron, Oberlin Conservatory of Music

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“Mearns’ virtuosic recording is a thrilling adventure for the hands and ears...reminding us of how exciting the guitar can be as a solo instrument when it suggests something greater than itself.” Jonathan Leathwood, University of Denver, Editor Soundboard Scholar

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

SOU Music Recital Hall, 450 S. Mountain Avenue, Ashland, United States