SATURDAY 2/22: Tidewater Guitar Orchestra at Palace Theatre

Tidewater Guitar Orchestra performs at the Historic Palace Theatre, 305 Mason Avenue,  8 p.m. Saturday, February 22 Tickets are $15 adults, $5 students, and are available at the box office immediately before the performance.

The Tidewater Guitar Orchestra (TGO) was founded in 1996 by Sam Dorsey. Inspired by a similar orchestra in Costa Rica led by Luis Zumbado, the TGO was formed based on the concept of a large group of musicians playing on three different types of guitars. The orchestra is composed of traditional classical guitars, supplemented by soprano guitars, tuned a fifth higher, called requintos, and bass guitars, tuned a fourth lower, called bajas.

The musicians in the group come from diverse backgrounds. Several members of the orchestra are established guitarists, performing and teaching throughout the Hampton Roads area, while many of the other muscians come from professions outside the field of music. The orchestra’s repertoire ranges from traditional Central and South American music, contemporary works dedicated to the TGO, original compositions by members of the orchestra, and, classical compositions from Bach to Bartok arranged by members of the TGO.