gregdingerguitar

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    • pg 6 calendar/contact

gregdingerguitar

gregdingerguitargregdingerguitargregdingerguitar

(845) 679-8773

  • Home
  • pg 2 bio/pix/credits
  • pg 3 repertoire/concerts
  • pg 4 wedding music
  • pg 5 GDG editions & CD
  • pg 6 calendar/contact

Biography

A Full Life of Music

A Full Life of Music

A Full Life of Music

Greg  is the child of musical parents (his mom was a pianist and his father a  cellist with the New York Philharmonic).  In addition to  Dalcroze/Eurythmy training as a child he studied the piano until his  early teens (with Katerina Rado, Edgar Roberts and Jacqueline Marcault),  and credits those early experiences for much of his strong  musicianship.


Greg  began to play guitar as a youngster,
like so many others of his  generation,
inspired by The Beatles and other rock 

performers (though he began with a

Joan Baez folk music songbook).

He formed his first  band in 7th grade

[see Rock Band photos] and played in it throughout much of high  school.


In  9th grade Greg became interested in the classical guitar, and began his study of it with the area's leading teacher, the late Luis Garcia-Renart (also a prize-winning cellist & conductor).
Greg studied with Garcia-Renart for 4 years
and then went to Boston's New England Conservatory of Music, from which he received his Bachelors of Music degree with honors in 1980.  At  NEC he studied with Robert Paul Sullivan and Frank Wallace, formed the Parnassus Guitar Duo, and gave the school's first all-solo  graduating guitar recital.
At the start of his career in the 1980s Greg played in  masterclasses of several of the world's leading classical guitarists:
Manuel Barrueco [photo at bottom], 

Eliot Fisk, Frederic Hand, Sharon Isbin and  Christopher Parkening [photo at top].


After returning to Woodstock, N.Y., where he grew up, Greg began teaching the  guitar,
and soon was teaching various guitar styles several days a week  at Allegro Music in Kingston.  In the 1980s he also became the  classical guitar instructor at SUNY New Paltz and Bard College and began  teaching guitar & other music subjects (music theory & history) at Ulster County Community College in Stone Ridge (now called SUNY  Ulster).  In the 1990s he began teaching the Classical Guitar Seminar at  Bard and Greg is still the classical guitar instructor for their Music Dept.  Greg also plays each year in the Faculty Showcase concerts and often presents recitals at these schools [see review, at bottom]


At present Greg teaches private lessons primarily at his home music studio in  Woodstock, N.Y.  He taught for over 20 at Allegro Music in Kingston, NY and then for several years at Barcone's Music, in Kingston, NY.  He also teaches guitar in Ellenville at M.I.S.U. (the Musical Institute of Sullivan & Ulster counties).


Greg  has been involved with a large variety of music groups throughout his career, from chamber music ensembles to rock bands
to orchestras.  In the 1980s he played in a heavy-metal  group called "Uncle Sam"
[Rock Band Photos] as well as in the
blues &  originals "Ben Prevo Band."
In the 1990s he played Beatles & Eagles
songs in "The Beagles" and a variety of
guitars in a  folk-pop-oldies group called "TimePieces" [Ensembles 2 Photos].
Lately Greg has played guitar & sung in

"Decoy" (2015), the "West Saugerties Boys" 

(2016-18), and most recently (2017-2022)  with "Fishbowl"  [Rock Band photos].


Three recent musical ventures he's been involved with are:  "Frets, Keys & Pipes" - a duo with singer/keyboard player Harvey Boyer, with a repertoire ranging from classical to rock 'n' roll, Tin Pan Alley and jazz; and with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, a quintet of male singers (from Ars Choralis), called "The Quarantinis," who've produced "virtual" performances of songs including Greg's re-write of The Beach Boys' "In My Room" titled "In My Zoom" and Greg's arrangement of The Beatles' "This Boy" (available on YouTube).  They closed the show in an Ars Choralis fundraising concert on Oct. 22, 2022, and expect to reconstitute in spring of 2023.

In Sept. of 2021 Greg formed a new ensemble, 

the Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Quartet, with Russ Austin, Maureen Newman and Richard Udell.

Their repertoire largely consists of arrangements

by Greg of guitar duo, trio & quartet music from the Renaissance to the present

[see Ensembles photos]

Fishbowl

A Full Life of Music

A Full Life of Music

In  the course of his performing career Greg has played electric guitar,  steel-string & nylon-string guitars, banjo and mandolin
in a number of musical theater productions including "The  Three-Penny Opera"
"Tommy" "Little Shop of Horrors"
[pit-orchestra photo above]
"Footloose" "The Sound of Music" "The Marvelous Wonderettes" "Evita"
"8-Track:  The Sounds of the 70s" 

and "Honky Tonk Laundry."


As  a classical guitarist Greg has been a
member of several chamber music ensembles, including the Arabesque Trio (flute, guitar &  bassoon; formerly: Trio Con Brio), the Catskill Mountain Renaissance  Consort (recorders,
viola da gamba, guitar & hand percussion),
Cantilena (flute & guitar; formerly: Interlude), and the SAGAD Trio (viola, guitar & cello).

Greg's talents as an arranger -- taking music  originally intended for one instrument or ensemble and creatively recasting it in a new setting -- have produced most of the repertoire of  these groups.  [see Ensembles 1 & 2 photos]


Years ago he published through Music Arts Graphics [see edition, below center]; now his GDG Editions -- music for solo guitar & guitar in ensemble -- are available through this website.


With the Arabesque Trio he has recorded
a CD of music by Debussy, Bach, Faure,
Mozart, Granados, Handel, Joplin, Ligeti,
de Falla, Bartok & Lennon/McCartney
titled "Reverie." Available from this website.


For further information on all these ensembles & bands see the Repertoire, Programs, Wedding Music, Editions and Photos sections of this website


And many people in the Hudson Valley fondly remember his 15+ years providing live
classical guitar music on weekends at
Joshua's Cafe in Woodstock.


Greg  has played over the years with many of the best instrumentalists and singers in the Hudson Valley:  violinists Carole Cowan
and Akiko Kamigawara, cellists Susan
Seligman, Ling  Kwan & Jean Vilkelis, violist Anastasia Solberg, flutists Marcia Gates, Pauline
Mancuso, Lynn Peck, Sarah Plant, Melissa
Sweet and Marisa Trees, oboist Joel Evans,
clarinetists Tony Penz and Kay Sutka,
classical guitarists Terry Champlin & Helen Avakian, David Temple and Richard Udell, 

fiddle & guitar duo Jay Ungar & Molly Mason,
and singers Harvey Boyer, Kimberly  Kahan, Cecelia Keehn, Jonell Mosser, Anita Shamansky,
and Danielle  Woerner, among others.


In the 1990s Greg was a member of the
early music acapella group Woodstock Renaissance, and he has sung (bass)
with Ars Choralis since the 1990s
[With Chorus photos]; he is currently that organization's president too.  He frequently accompanies them in music that involves various types of guitars, and has arranged a number of  songs for them: several Beatles songs, The Beach Boys' "Good  Vibrations," Springsteen's "American Land," and an ambitious setting of "Where Have All The Flowers  Gone" (premiered in 2014).  The chorus has gone on tour to Europe several times in the 21st century, always with Greg & his guitar!
Greg also did the instrumental music arrangements for Ars Choralis' "Music in Desperate Times" program which they performed in NYC's Cathedral of St. John the Divine as well as  their  2009 tour to Germany  [see with Chorus photos].

A Full Life of Music

Greg's also been the curator of
Ars Choralis' "Artist Within" series of
concerts at the Sheeley House in
High Falls, NY, including  Valentine's
Day-themed shows [other Shows photos],
a folk "jambouree," the "Just For The
Fun Of It!" show [other Shows photos]
several classical recitals, a Kung Fu
martial arts (Greg's hobby for 35+ years)
demonstration [photo above], and
2017's "A Night In Argentina."

Interested in learning Kung Fu?

Greg teaches the Fu Jow Pai style, as an assistant to his sifu, at Woodstock's Mountainview Studio

on Monday evenings [see Real Life photos].


Greg also programmed & hosted WDST radio's innovative classical music  show "Sunrise Concert" for over 25 years starting in the mid-1980s (and winning Hudson Valley Magazine's Best Classical Music show award for 1996); and  for a number of years he reviewed classical CD releases for the Kingston  Daily Freeman's "Preview" magazine.

More recently Greg helped form the
Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society,
presenting their first concert at  the Morton Library in Rhinecliff in 2010, and closing
their 8th season  in May 2017 with a full recital.  He has also curated many of their theme programs (Guitar Music of the Supernatural, Guitar Homage/Tribute, Guitar music of France, ...of America) and arranged special pieces for concerts (like a movement from Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique for 4 guitars).

Greg  directs & arranges music for SUNY Ulster's Guitar Ensemble [see Ensembles 1 photos]
& Mixed  Instrument Ensemble,
producing new arrangements of music
ranging from Renaissance pavanes to Haydn piano sonatas, solo guitar pieces expanded,
and a variety of famous songs including:
"Tico Tico"  "Miserlou" "Fever" 

"Someone To Watch Over Me" "Shenandoah"
"Down  On The Corner" "Stacy's Mom"
"Billie Jean" "Everybody  Wants To
Rule The World" "Fragile" & several Beatles
medleys, and an original minimalist piece:
"Blip, Blop, Plink, Plunk, Ting & Bong"

Greg  became involved with the

Woodstock Chamber Orchestra soon after  graduating from NEC and returning to Woodstock (when that orchestra was forming); he played the popular Vivaldi Concerto in D major with them in 1980.  Since then he has

performed works for  guitar & orchestra

with them several times: 
Herbert Haufrecht's  "Divertimento" in 1985, Heitor Villa-Lobos' Guitar Concerto in 1993,
the  "Fantasia para  un Gentilhombre" by Joaquin Rodrigo in 1999 [poster at bottom],
and his famed "Concierto de Aranjuez" in 2004 and again in January of 2018 [see poster & photo below].  In the fall of 2018 the orchestra became the Woodstock Symphony Orchestra. 

Greg has served as president of the WCO 

since 1995, seeing the orchestra through several Conductor Searches, and he's organized & played in  numerous fundraising concerts for the WCO over the years.

Greg also played with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic in their "New Wave"  concerts in the 1990s, backing Sterling Morrison of The Velvet Underground, and  providing support for singer Natalie Merchant.  One of his toughest  musical challenges was negotiating the guitar part for Frank Zappa's  "Alien Orifice" with the HVP when no other guitarist around could do  it!  Greg also played solo guitar as the

"opening act" for that  concert.  He's also opened for Leon Redbone and "3" (Emerson, Palmer & Berry) at The Chance in Poughkeepsie. 

Greg has also played with other top
Hudson Valley music organizations
including Cappella Festiva,
the Mendelssohn Club,
the  Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater

Company, the Pone Ensemble

and the Hudson Valley Recital Project.

[see Credits]

at a masterclass with Manuel Barrueco

(seated lower right) in 1983 at the Hartt

School of Music

one of several guitar transcriptions
Greg published in the 1990s
through Music Arts Graphics

promotional poster for performing
Rodrigo's "Fantasia para un Gentilhombre"
with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra in 1999

promotional poster for performing
Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez"
with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra, with music director Jonathan Handman,  in 2018

promotional billboard for the
Rodrigo "Concierto de Aranjuez"
concert with the Woodstock Chamber Orchestra,  in January of  2018

Media Coverage

Guitarist for decades gallery

    photo:  H. Herman

    01/11

    Ensembles photo gallery

      The Catskil Mt. Renaissance Consort:  (clockwise from left) Mary Leonard, Greg, Karen Levine & Karen Sahulka (2009)

      1/6

      Arabesque Trio photo gallery

        Chris Eberle, Barbara Rizek & Greg:  The Arabesque Trio (2010)

        1/4

        Ensembles 2 photo gallery

          with flutist Melissa Sweet as "Cantilena" (2002)

          1/5

          Rock Band photo gallery

            Shep Siegel, Lee MacDonald, Tommy Glasel & Greg (far right) in 7th grade rock band "The Golden Mushroom"

            1/9

            Choral photo gallery

              playing with Ars Choralis at Opus 40, near Woodstock, NY (2003)

              1/5

              Other Shows photo gallery

                "Just For The Fun Of It" -- Jim Ulrich, Mark Lindeman, Jim Noecker, Todd West, Mike Haller, Laurel Herdman, Greg, Karen Levine & Chuck Snyder (2013)

                1/4

                Real Life photo gallery

                  at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany (2009)

                  01/11

                  Testimonials

                  a note of appreciation from SUNY New Paltz president Alice Chandler (1993)

                  a grateful student's note of thanks

                  as she heads off to college

                  appreciative clients of a wedding event

                  professional credits

                  A list of professional musicians I am proud to have played with:

                  Mike Aiese:  bass guitarist

                  Russ Austin:  classical guitarist

                  Helen Avakian:  classical guitarist

                  Stephanie Backofen:  singer

                  John Barath:  trumpeter, music director

                  Ed Baxter:  mandolinist

                  Denis Bisoglio:  drummer

                  Harvey Boyer:  singer, saxophonist & keyboards-player

                  *Melissa Brown:  bassoonist

                  Richard Carr:  violinist

                  Paul Chambers:  percussionist/drummer

                  Terry Champlin:  classical guitarist

                  Tina Ciarlante:  singer

                  Tom Conroy:  keyboards-player, music director

                  Tony Coretto:  singer

                  Carole Cowan:  violinist

                  Laurel Cross:  singer

                  Lynne Cunningham:  flutist

                  Donald Dales:  pianist

                  Stan Davis:  recorder-player

                  Mary Dietrich:  singer

                  Carlo DiRosa:  double bassist

                  Paul Duffy:  keyboards-player

                  Chris Earley: marimba-player

                  Chris Eberle:  bassoonist

                  John Esposito:  jazz pianist

                  Joel Evans:  oboist

                  Diane Fedora:  bassoonist

                  Harvey Feldman:  bassoonist

                  Luis Garcia-Renart:  cellist, conductor                 

                  John Gullo:  singer & electric guitarist

                  Philip Hale:  keyboards-player,  music director

                  Ryan Hall:  violist

                  Mike Haller:  singer

                  Sheila Hamilton:  flutist                         

                  Mike Harelick:  singer & guitarist

                  Kelvin Hill:  bassoonist

                  Barbara Hardgrave:  singer

                  Maggie Hollenbeck:  keyboards-player, music director 

                  Michael Holober:  jazz pianist

                  Melody Huffer:  bassoonist            

                  Bruce Jackson:  double bassist          

                  Dennis Jones:  drummer            

                  Kimberly Kahan:  singer

                  Akiko Kamigawara:  violinist

                  Cecelia Keehn:  singer

                  Tom Keehn:  singer, trombonist

                  John Knight:  bassoonist

                  Nanette Koch:  cellist

                  Ling Kwan:  cellist

                  David Kwiecinski:  classical guitarist

                  Briana Lehman:  bassoonist

                  Mary Leonard:  recorder-player

                  Karen Levine:  percussionist

                  Nicole Levine:  clarinetist

                  Randy Loder:  keyboards-player, music director

                  Savia London:  singer

                  Cornelia MacGyver:  bassoonist

                  Bryce Mainieri:  singer & electric guitarist

                  Laura Majestic:  harpist

                  Gilles Malkine:  singer, fiddler

                  Pauline Mancuso:  flutist

                  Molly Mason:  guitarist

                  Francis Mejia:  bass guitarist

                  Sevan Melikyan:  drummer

                  Nicole Minielli:  singer

                  Kitty Montgomery:  singer

                  Jonell Mosser:  singer

                  Rob Murphy:  violinist

                  Jack Nelson:  singer

                  Phil Nestor:  drummer

                  Maureen Newman:  classical guitarist

                  Jim Noecker:  singer & keyboards-player

                  Yameil Nunez: singer

                  Daniel Palladino:  drummer

                  Kenny Palladino:  guitarist, bass guitarist

                  Dewi Pangaribuan:  singer

                  Randi Parker:  trumpeter

                  Lynn Peck:  flutist

                  *Tony Penz:  clarinetist

                  Barbara Pickhardt:  pianist, conductor

                  Erica Pickhardt:  cellist

                  Sue Pilla:  flutist

                  Mike Ralff:  bass guitarist

                  Sarah Restifo:  flutist

                  Charlie Robitaille:  classical guitarist

                  Elisabeth Romano:  bassoonist

                  Eric Roth: classical guitarist

                  Barbara Rizek-McGuckin:  flutist

                  *Allison Rubin:  oboist

                  Nicole Ryan:  singer

                  Karen Sahulka:  viola da gamba-player

                  JoAnne Schubert:  pianist

                  Anita Shamansky:  singer

                  Andrea Shaut:  pianist

                  Bob Shaut:  saxophonist

                  Susan Seligman:  cellist

                  Wayne Simpson:  bass guitarist

                  Chuck Snyder:  singer

                  Anastasia Solberg:  violist

                  Cush Solberg:  cellist

                  David Spring:  keyboards-player, saxophonist & music director

                  Eliott Steele:  keyboards-player

                  Chuck Stevens:  drummer

                  Susan Parkyn Strauser:  singer

                  James Sullivan: banjo-player

                  Kay Sutka:  clarinetist

                  Melissa Sweet:  flutist

                  David Temple:  classical guitarist

                  *Marisa Trees:  flutist

                  Rob Turner:  cellist, singer & electric guitarist

                  Kristen Tuttman:  pianist

                  Jay Ungar:  fiddler

                  Richard Udell:  classical guitarist

                  Jim Ulrich:  singer

                  Matt Ulrich:  singer

                  Craig Vandewater:  bassoonist

                  John Vette:  double bassist

                  Jean Vilkelis:  cellist

                  Niels Waller:  classical guitarist

                  Fred Mainieri/Waring:  drummer

                  Glenn West:  bassoonist

                  Jim Wegrzyn:  bass guitarist

                  Lori Willoughby:  bassoonist

                  Danielle Woerner:  singer

                  Liam Wood:  classical guitarist

                  T. Xiques:  drummer

                  * pictured at a Woodstock Chamber Orchestra benefit chamber music concert at Manor Lake (2010)

                  Institutions where I have taught:

                  Allegro Music, Kingston, NY

                  Barcone's Music Center, Kingston, NY

                  Music Dept. & Credit-Free Continuing Education Dept. at  SUNY Ulster

                  (aka Ulster County Community College), Stone Ridge, NY

                  Walkill, Shawangunk & Eastern Correctional Facilities (through U.C.C.C.)

                  Music Dept. at SUNY New Paltz, New Paltz, NY

                  Music Dept. & Prep Divison at Bard College, Annandale, NY

                  Musical Institute of Sullivan & Ulster counties (MISU), Ellenville, NY

                  Ellenville High School (Performing Arts Academy), Ellenville, NY

                  Recording credits:

                  NRS studios, Catskill, NY -- with Arabesque Trio (2001-2003)

                  The Clubhouse, Rhinebeck, NY -- with Ars Choralis (2009)

                  Utopia studios, Bearsville, NY -- with Ars Choralis (1999)

                  Photography credits:

                  Daphne Weld Nichols/Synergism (GD & Parnassus Duo), Dion Ogust (GD), Dan Chidester, Bob Haines for Daily Freeman (GD), Michael Gold (GD), Howard Herman (GD & Akiko Kamigawara), Phil Book, Tania Barriklo (Ars Choralis), Santino Rovereto, Cynthia del Ponte (Cantilena), Chris Johnston (Arabesque Trio), Ed Surowitz (TimePieces)

                  Publications:

                  articles:

                  live music reviews -- Woodstock Times

                  CD reviews -- "Instant Classics" column for Kingston Daily Freeman's "Preview" Magazine (1991-1994)

                  Segovia reissued LP review -- Journal of the Association For Recorded Sound Collections (1978)

                  articles on guitar/lute -- "The Essential Listening Companion to Classical Music" (Third Ear - 2003)

                  music:

                  "Theme, Variations and Fugue" by Herbert Haufrecht, fingering by GD, published by Bourne Co.

                  "Paduana" by Isaias Reusner, transcribed by GD, published by Music Arts Graphics

                  "Four Mazurkas, Op. 17" by Frederic Chopin, transcribed by GD, published by Music Arts Graphics

                  Venues & Organizations:

                  concert series:

                  Lunch ’n’ Listen, Poughkeepsie

                  Pacem In Terris, Warwick

                  Shawangunk Chamber Music Series, Pine Bush

                  "Clifftop Concerts" at Lake Minnewaska

                  Philipstown Concerts, Cold Spring

                  Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society

                  Andes Musical Moments, Andes

                  Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society, Rhinebeck

                  John Street Jam, Saugerties

                  “Fascinating Rhythms” Series, Kleinert Arts Center, Woodstock

                  Cami Hall, New York City

                  Hudson Valley Classical Guitar Society, New Paltz

                  “Live at the Library,” Woodstock Library

                  organizations:

                  The Pone Ensemble

                  New Paltz Summer Repertory Theatre

                  Golden Stone Productions

                  Shadowland Stages Theater

                  Mid-Hudson Women’s Chorus

                  New York Conservatory of the Arts Theater Company

                  Rhinebeck Theatre Society

                  Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company

                  Ars Choralis

                  Mid-Hudson Classical Guitar Society

                  Woodstock Chamber Orchestra

                  Hudson Valley Philharmonic Orchestra

                  Cappella Festiva

                  Rhinebeck Chamber Music Society

                  Hudson Valley Recital Project

                  Rondout Valley High School

                  Cairo-Durham High School

                  libraries:

                  Ellenville Public Library

                  Olive Free Library, West Shokan

                  Kinderhook Memorial Library, Kinderhook

                  Woodstock Library 

                  Morton Library, Rhinecliff

                  churches:

                  Holy Cross Church, Kingston

                  Cragsmoor Stone Church, Cragsmoor

                  Huguenot Church, New Paltz

                  Holy Trinity Church, Poughkeepsie

                  Walkill Reformed Church

                  Redeemer Lutheran Church, Kingston

                  St. John’s Roman Catholic Church, West Hurley

                  Old Dutch Church, Kingston

                  St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hook

                  Reformed Church of Saugerties

                  Christ Episcopal Church, Greenville

                  Overlook Methodist Church, Woodstock

                  St. John’s Episcopal Church, Ellenville

                  St. James Church, Hyde Park

                  Christ Lutheran Church, Woodstock

                  First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie

                  St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church, Woodstock

                  Gardiner Reformed Church, Gardiner

                  St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church, Hyde Park

                  New Paltz Methodist Church, New Paltz

                  Hyde Park Reformed Church, Hyde Park

                  St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Poughkeepsie

                  Pointe of Praise, Kingston

                  historic sites:

                  Roosevelt - Vanderbilt National Historic Site, Hyde Park

                  S. F. B. Morse State Historic Site, Poughkeepsie

                  Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site, Liberty

                  The Senate House Historic Site, Kingston

                  schools:

                  Dutchess County Community College (DCCC), Dutchess Hall, Poughkeepsie

                  Music Institute of Sullivan & Ulster counties (MISU), Ellenville

                  Vassar College, Skinner Hall, Poughkeepsie

                  Bard College: Blum Hall, Bard Hall, Chapel, Olin Hall

                  SUNY Ulster, Quimby Theater

                  McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ

                  SUNY New Paltz: Shepard Recital Hall, Studley Hall, McKenna Theatre, Parker Theatre

                  New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA

                  Perkins School For the Blind, Worcester, MA

                  other:

                  Mohonk Mt. House, New Paltz

                  Barnes & Nobles, Ulster

                  Stamell String Instruments, Poughkeepsie

                  RhinebeckAtHome at Brookmeade, Rhinebeck

                  Mills Mansion, Staatsburg

                  Woodstock Artist Association, Woodstock

                  The Sheeley House B&B, High Falls

                  Maverick Concert Hall (“Prelude” programs), Woodstock

                  Pucker-Safrai Gallery, Boston, MA

                  Kleinert Gallery, Woodstock

                  The Elmendorff Inn, Red Hook

                  Byrdcliffe Theatre / Woodstock Guild

                  The Fountains at Millbrook

                  Solway House, Saugerties

                  Rosendale Street Festival, Rosendale

                  Katsbaan Art Center, Tivoli

                  Creative Music Studios, West Hurley

                  Woodstock-New Paltz Arts & Crafts Fair, New Paltz

                  Opus 40, Saugerties

                  Comeau House, Woodstock

                  The Chance, Poughkeepsie

                  Ulster Performing Arts Center (UPAC), Kingston

                  Pine Ridge Dude Ranch, Kerhonkson

                  Arts Society of Kingston (ASK)

                  The Howland Center, Beacon

                  Woodstock Playhouse, Woodstock

                  Unison Arts, New Paltz

                  Mountain View Studio, Woodstock

                  “Manor Lake,” Kingston

                  Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights

                  Onteora Mountain House, Boiceville

                  clubs, bars & restaurants:

                  The Bear Cafe, Woodstock

                  Darby O'Gill's, Hyde Park

                  Enchanted Cafe, Red Hook

                  High Falls Cafe, High Falls

                  Ivan's at Rondout Golf Course, Accord

                  Joshua's, Woodstock

                  The Joyous Lake, Woodstock

                  Hagar's Harbor, Athens

                  La Puerta Azul, Millbrook

                  Lydia's, Stone Ridge

                  Ramada Inn, Newburgh

                  Benny's Pizza, Marbletown

                  The Rustic Wheelhouse, Chester

                  Tinker Street Cafe, Woodstock

                  Uncle Willy's Lounge, Kingston

                  Wok & Roll, Woodstock

                  Reviews

                  Solo recitals

                  “This serious, accomplished artist capped the evening with a superb performance [of Barrios’ La Catedral] that left us satisfied as at the end of a fine meal.  Greg Dinger is a young man with tremendous sensitivity and touch on the classical guitar.  Don’t miss his playing.  You’ll thank yourself for it.”

                  Allan Duane - Daily Freeman (1981)


                  “Mr Dinger made the most of [Scarlatti on the guitar], and the performance captured the inventinveness and rhythmic verve of the music very effectively.  Clear textures and sustained momentum brought particular vigor to the fast movements.  The Bach had exciting, demanding tempos … and the pacing of the Chaconne was well-planned.  The Malats encore also received a lively assured performance.”

                  Lawrence Kramer - Taconic Newspapers (1982)


                  “…A very effective and worthwhile recital.  Manuel Ponce’s Twelve Preludes are engaging little pieces, covering a wide ranger of styles from quasi-Bach to Mexican folklore.  [Dinger’s] playing ha lovely tone (the guitar sounded particularly good in the church), good rhythmic impulse, and some very beautiful phrasing.  [Albeniz’ Asturias] was exciting and dazzling in its outer sections with good lyrical contrast in the center.  The Bach [Lute Suite No. 3] was respectful of Baroque conventions, yet outgoing and expressive.  Giuliani’s  Variations on a Theme by Handel …was colorful, with a great deal of rapid, accurate playing and hardly a dropped note.   …The music of Leo Brouwer, a Cuban guitarist who writes some of the most advanced music being composed for this instrument … brought out the most assuredly virtuosic playing of the recital.  Elogio  de la Danza and Canticum were played with very strong projection, and then La Espiral Eterna had me on the edge of my seat, although I know the piece well. ”

                  Leslie Gerber - Woodstock Times (1980)


                  “GUITAR RENDERS A POETIC TOUCH

                  …[Dinger] plays with introspection and marked poetic touch.  …his phrasing is sure and he can extract surprisingly effective color contrasts from his instrument.  He tossed [Turina’s Fandanguillo] off with complete confidence.  This reviewer has heard [these Barrios waltzes] performed by artists of international renown and it is a pleasure to report that Dinger’s rendition of these gems did not suffer at all in comparison.”

                  Nathan Scheib - Daily Freeman (1981)


                  “In Bach’s 4th Lute Suite the playing was full of character.  …It’s a pleasure to hear Greg play Baroque music with embellished repeats, a most satisfying performance practice rarely observed today.  …[Barrios’] Estudio de Concierto is a virtuoso treat, and it received a virtuoso performance.  Even more exciting is the Dance Maxixe … his playing was almost as dazzling as that of John Williams in a notable recording.  I was impressed with the artistry of this recital and pleased with the performers artistic growth as it continues.”

                  Leslie Gerber - Woodstock Times (1985)


                  “Dinger’s musical ability was visibly clear throughout the performance …the passion and emotion he expressed was evident and enchanting.  It truly was something special to watch the dedication and emotion with which he played.”

                  Jacob Rothberger - The Oracle (1991)


                  “STRUMMING TO PERFECTION

                  Gregory Dinger’s acoustic guitar playing kept the packed audience at Studley Theater on Tues. Feb. 26 in awe.  There was no singing and no elaborate light, just Dinger sitting on a stool with his guitar playing every note with style and grace.  His inspiring love for these composers was evident throughout the three-page handout on their history that was given to the audience along with the program as they walked in.  He showcased these composers enduring vision with his own creative style and played each song as if he were telling a story.  The fast intricate pickings were playful and powerful; they invigorated and brought joy to the audience.  The serene slow notes wailing sorrowfully brought a whole wave of hating emotions to everyone.  Dinger sitting with his handmade instrument in hand displayed the effortless beauty that can be created through a guitar.”

                  Maritza Norr - The Oracle (2002)

                  Chamber music

                   praise for The Arabesque Trio:


                  "[I celebrate the] musicianship, virtuosity and voicing of each player...in what just might become 

                  the next traditional ‘classic’ combo. A musically fastidious performance.” 

                  Kitty Montgomery - Kingston Freeman (1992)  
                   

                    “...A wide and varied dynamic range, virtuosity and musical expressiveness. ...[Dinger's] arrangements display intelligent, musical decisions... The individuals blend into a single organism. They are three terrific instrumentalists.” 

                  Howard Vogel - Woodstock Times (1999)  

                  Concerto

                  "...Dinger (an old friend of mine) got through the [Concierto de Aranjuez] unscathed, and his playing was gratifyingly expressive.  He and WCO conductor Jonathan Handman gave us a performance with good coordination, splendidly precise ensemble, and uncommonly good balance."

                  Leslie Gerber, Woodstock Times (2018)


                  “…[Dinger’s] playing was first-rate [in the Villa-Lobos Guitar Concerto].  He fulfilled every technical challenge this piece offered and shaped the music with rhythmic elasticity and dynamic variation.  Conductor [Luis Garcia-Renart], soloist, and orchestra were in tune with each other’s feeling and made of this work, written for Andres Segovia in 1951, a tour de force of expressive playing.”

                  Howard Vogel - Woodstock Times (1993)


                  “[In Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez] Dinger’s transparent articulations, evocative without rambling discursive from the ensemble …let profound emotion wake among us as our own, with the orchestra achieving fusions surpassing timed synchronization.”

                  Kitty Montgomery - Daily Freeman (2004)


                  “Gregory Dinger cast his own kind of spell in his guitar solo with the orchestra, [the] Fantasia para un Gentilhombre by Joaquin Rodrigo.  Dinger evoked the mood of each of the four parts of the work, with the orchestra under Garcia-Renaat also flawless and compelling in their roles.  Whether the mood was stately, or flaring in a dance patter, Dinger and the orchestra transported the audience to the Spain of everyone’s imagination — and perhaps reality.  This was a perfect match between soloist and orchestra.”

                  Marianne Darrow - Ulster County Townsman (1999)

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