McHenry County College Second Sunday Concert to feature classical guitarist Nov. 12

Classical guitarist Brian Torosian will perform a solo recital for the McHenry County College Second Sunday Concert Series at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 12, in the Luecht Conference Center.

Torosian, active soloist and chamber musician, will perform on his 10-string guitar, featuring works by J.K. Mertz, baroque lute composer Silvius Leopold Weiss, Brazilian music by Paulo Bellinati, Spanish classics by Isaac Albéniz, and harp guitarist/composer Stephen Bennett.

Torosian is best known for his work relating to 19th-century guitarist and composer J.K. Mertz.

In addition to standard six-string guitar, he plays baroque guitar, Terz guitar, and 10-string guitar replicas, the latter two including those made for him by R. E. Bruné after 19th-century Viennese instruments. He is the current president of the Chicago Classical Guitar Society and directs the guitar program of Northeastern Illinois University where he is a multiple recipient of the Instructor Excellence Award. He received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from Northwestern University. He was a student of Anne Waller and studied with Oscar Ghiglia in Italy at the Accademia Musicale Chigiana where he received the diploma of merit.

Concert performances include appearances with Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Grant Park Symphony, Chicago Opera Theater, His Majesties Clerkes, and Classical Symphony Orchestra. His recordings include a collection of Mertz's guitar and piano duos.

The college is at 8900 Route 14 in Crystal Lake. The concert is free and open to the public. For information, call Mike Hillstrom at (815) 479-7814.