Gellman Concert Series

With roots in the Mississippi Delta, Chicago, and the Piedmont of Virginia, Richmond-based guitarist and songwriter Justin Golden’s origins are deeply vested in the blues. First picking up the guitar at age 19, Golden did what came naturally and let the music flow through him. With an extremely diverse musical palette, Golden aims to bring some new ideas to traditional blues forms. In addition to his work as a recording and performing artist, Golden maintains a busy teaching schedule and works with the non-profit The Rhapsody Project to provide community enrichment through cultural heritage programs. His new and critically acclaimed collaborative album with Virginia Bluegrass supergroup, Devil’s Coattails, “Golden Country: Volume 1” explores the intersecting roots of Blues, Bluegrass, and Country music.

Sally Irwin and Anne James, longtime chamber music collaborators, will present their latest recital. It includes a Telemann Sonata this year, as well as a return to the Poulenc Flute Sonata, possibly their favorite. Always eager to perform works by women, they’ve crossed the South Pacific to Australia and found Miriam Hyde’s flute sonata from the 1960’s. Gary Shocker’s sassy Oohlala completes the program.

The Sweet Potatoes are Johnny Hargrove, Reyna Pannell, Stephon Larue, and Brian Cruse.
Johnny Hargrove, the group’s founder, was a classical guitar major at VCU. Self taught in Jazz He has run several rock bands, and classical ensembles.
Reyna Pannell, was trained in classical Violin and is a self taught singer. Coming from the classical world Reyna has been a pivotal member in several different wedding quartets and has performed solo at many venues in the Richmond, D.C. and Maryland area.
Stephon Larue, Has been playing music for most of his life. A Jazz Drum set major trained at VCU he has been a popular drummer originating in the Charlottesville area.
Brian Cruse, is one of our newest members! He is a classical and jazz bass payer and has performed and recorded with a variety of ensemble including, The Petersburg Symphony (principal bassist), Brunswick Band and many more.

Richmond string band picking old time and bluegrass with traditional instrumental tunes and leftist lyrics. Composed of Ærn Stapel on fiddle, banjo, and vocals; Chris Gatens on guitar, banjo, and vocals; and Trey Burnart Hall on mandolin and guitar.

The Chamber Music Society of Central Virginia celebrates its 20th anniversary by focusing on the number 20 in a gorgeous concert of romantic music from the late 19th century. An ensemble of six musicians from CMSCVA’s superb artistic roster will perform Edward Elgar’s Serenade opus 20 in a special arrangement for strings and flute, and Borodin’s famous String Quartet in D major, written as a 20th anniversary wedding gift for his wife.

The name, TAM Trio (T3) , comes from the first letter of the performers last names and reflects their vision of performing “Thrilling Artful Melodies.” They are an eclectic piano trio based in RVA who enjoys performing everything from Baroque to modern pop music.

Jenny and the Ghouls began in January 2023 when five friends came together to learn songs made famous by The Dubliners, The Wolfe Tones, and The Clancy Brothers, as well as labor and protest songs by artists like Ewan MacColl and Dick Gaughan. Fill your glass to Jenny and Ghouls’ rousing renditions of Irish and folk classics both contemporary and traditional. Jenny and the Ghouls are: Izzy Bailey (tin whistle and flute), Julia Laing (vocals and accordion), Nora Lesko (vocals and mandolin), Patrick Miller (vocals and guitar), Brady Robinson (banjo, bodhrán, and guitar).

The Last of the Romantics? Eliot and Friends will surprise and delight with performances of repertoire from 1875 to 1955 that ranks among the most beautiful of romantic harmonies and melodies. Dvorak, Saint-Saens, Rachmaninoff, Mahler,Scriabin, Shostakovich and more. Featuring solo piano; art songs; and piano duets, trios and quartets for violin, flute, clarinet and cello.