Welcome to The Piedmont Classic Guitar Society!

PCGS was founded in 1981 with the purpose of increasing understanding and enjoyment of the guitar and similar stringed instruments in Winston-Salem, Greensboro, High Point and surrounding areas. The PCGS sponsors guitar performances, master classes and workshops. Board meetings are held at Panera Bread in Kernersville. Free performances by outstanding local guitarists, students, and faculty members are held throughout the year at local establishments. See our Concerts page for locations and dates. Click here to view our Bylaws.

The PCGS Founders

Click here to read the history of PCGS

President's Letter

Dear Piedmont Guitar Society Friends & Members,

Our 2009-10 season will prove to be one of the most exciting yet!  Thanks to Wake Forest Guitar Professor, Patricia Dixon, the PCGS has been invited to co-sponsor a concert series with WFU.  This series will present four fantastic classical guitar concerts by Carlos Perez, Benjamin Verdery, Rupert Boyd, and the Winston-Salem Guitar Septet.  In addition, the PCGS is sponsoring a unique collaborative event with Bill Kanengiser and local community students and professionals. Following the success of our previous association with The Garage and the Piedmont Blues Preservation Society, PCGS will again share in the presentation of a blues artist, this time guitarist Duke Robillard at The Garage in October.

We will continue to offer four Community Play-Ins’ this season.  The first two are already scheduled for 10/3 and 11/14.  Look for two additional ones in the spring.  Our response has been great, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for sharing music. These events serve as performance opportunities, and are a great way to build community. All levels, ages, and styles of guitar are welcome. We’ve found a nice space for these play-ins at the Kathleen Edwards Library in Greensboro.  It’s so important to fulfill our commitment of bringing together and servicing our guitar community!

Our annual PCGS Community Concerts will be take place on December 11th and in May 2010 (TBA).  As always, these concerts feature some of the best student guitar students from Triad high school and college programs.  Last spring, we had several schools participate, including North Carolina School of the Arts, Weaver Academy for Performing Arts, Penn-Griffin School for the Arts, Bishop McGuinness High School, and Guilford College.

Perhaps one of our most exciting projects this year will be held in January.   Bill Kanengiser will be performing the Concierto de los Angeles, by Shingo Fujii, with a community guitar orchestra drawn from local high schools and colleges. This is a rare opportunity for players to sit along side fellow students and professionals from regional institutions, academies and studios in a large ensemble setting. Bill will be performing solo works on the first half of the concert, while the second half will be made-up entirely of the Fujii concerto.

The PCGS is looking for a new board member.  Sharon Kuhn, program director, is stepping down.  We value her time and commitment to PCGS, and all that she has done to help its revitalization over the past few years. 

If you are interested in the position, should contact the society at (336) 316-2376.  We are always in need of volunteers and supporters for anyone who would like to become involved.

The society is lucky to be able to work with local collegiate institutions and other non-profit organizations to co-sponsor many of this season’s concerts.  But we are still in need of your help, as the bulk of our funding comes from memberships. PCGS relies on your support and involvement to continue our work in building community and providing opportunities for guitar lovers in the Piedmont.  Please take a moment to fill out the membership form, or join on-line. We can process your membership dues either through mail or on-line. We would love to hear any of your suggestions or feedback.  Your input is always welcome, and we value your interests and needs.

Please continue to access our web site at piedmontclassicguitarsociety.org, or for further info email: info@piedmontclassicguitarsociety.org or call (336) 316-2376. Thank you for your continued support and interest in the Piedmont Classic Guitar Society. We look forward to seeing you at our events.

Happy Guitaring!

Kami Rowan, President

Piedmont Classic Guitar Society

P.O. Box 20472

Winston-Salem, NC 27120-0472

Benefits of membership to the PCGS include:

• Discounts on our concert series tickets. The PCGS presents the finest guitarists in the world in our Concert Series. Individuals, students, PGO and seniors receive one discount per member for each PCGS sponsored concert. Families, Associates, Sponsors, Patrons, Benefactors receive one discount per each family member for each concert.