Early Music Missouri continues its new Early Music@MOCRA series with “The Early Guitar: Music for Baroque & Classical Guitars.” Guitarist Patrick Rafferty will play both Baroque and 19th-century guitars in this solo program which features music by Gaspar Sanz, Guilio Regondi, Johann Mertz, Julián Arcas and Francisco Tárrega. In the 200 years between Gaspar Sanz’s death (1710) and Francisco Tárrega’s death (1909), the guitar underwent a dramatic evolution in construction and repertoire. Playing a Baroque guitar modeled on 17th-century instruments and several 19th-century guitars, Patrick will explore this evolution in a concert that features unfamiliar pieces as well as standard repertoire presented and heard in a new way.

Patrick Rafferty has a busy career as one the region’s top professional performers and teachers, performing solo and ensemble concerts and teaching at a variety of institutions throughout the Midwest. Patrick’s solo performances features not only the works of the traditional guitar repertoire but also a wide variety of popular and world musical styles. In recent years, Patrick has developed his interest and expertise in early guitar history, technique and repertoire. He holds multiple degrees in Classical Guitar performance, including the M.Mus. and GPD from the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. Patrick has received numerous awards for his playing including top prize in the Artist Presentation Society Auditions in St. Louis, MO and other performance competitions. In 2021, the Missouri Arts Council recognized him as a Featured Artist. Patrick currently serves on the faculties of Southeast Missouri State University, Saint Louis University and the Webster Community Music School. His recently graduated students have been accepted into the prestigious guitar programs of The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University, The Jacobs School at Indiana University, Northwestern University and Denver University.

The concert will take place at the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art on the campus of Saint Louis University. MOCRA is an ideal acoustic space for plucked instruments that makes every listener feel like the instrument is right next to them. In addition, the walls and space are filled with evocative art that enhances the performance experience.

The concert takes place on April 2, 2023 at 3:00 p.m and is open to the public. Admission to the concert is by a suggested donation of $20 per person. Students, faculty and staff of Saint Louis University may attend at no charge.

The venue features plenty of on- and off-street parking and handicapped accessibility.