Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is honored to welcome back virtuoso classical guitarists Matthew Grasso and Sean O'Connor. Photo courtesy of Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Continuing its tradition of offering the community unique musical experiences not otherwise available, Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture is honored to welcome back virtuoso classical guitarists Matthew Grasso and Sean O'Connor for an eclectic, original program of solos and duos for extended 7-string and 11-string alto guitars. The program will include transcriptions of Weiss and Couperin, original compositions by Grasso and O'Connor, works by contemporary master Andrew York, and improvisational duet versions of a couple of hit songs from the 1970s.

The concert will take place at the Sutter Theater Center for the Arts, 754 Plumas Street in Yuba City on Friday, Nov. 14. Tickets are $20 and are first come first served. Go to yubasutterarts.org to order online or drop by the box office, Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks will be available for purchase.

Matthew Grasso is classical guitarist, composer, arranger, musical instrument innovator and improviser who began playing guitar at age twelve. He was a featured soloist with many regional symphonies and most notably with the Auburn Symphony Chamber Players. His recordings include nine CDs, and he has published articles about multi-string and microtonal guitars through various online publications. Matthew Grasso performs and lectures throughout Northern California, and is on the faculty at Sacramento City College, Yuba College, and formerly at California College of the Arts. Matthew Grasso is the high priest at the “7-string guitar church” musical community in Davis, California.

Sean O'Connor has been a fixture in Sacramento classical guitar circles since the early 2000s.  He currently teaches over 45 private students per week, directs two community guitar orchestras for the Sacramento Guitar Society, and performs as a soloist regularly.  In 2023 he released his first classical album, entitled “Journey to Eleven,” which features transcriptions of baroque music by Weiss, Couperin, Zamboni and Bach performed on the 11-string alto guitar.  He also performs with the Multi String Guitar Ensemble, led by Matthew Grasso.

For more information about this concert and other upcoming Yuba Sutter Arts & Culture events, go to yubasutterarts.org or call 530-ARTS.