Viva La Guitarra
Saturday, October 18, 2025
3:00 pm
Hosted by Rick & Nancy Prouser
20 guests • $100
Join us for a dazzling journey through Spain’s rich guitar tradition—where elegance meets passion, and every note tells a story. Master guitarist Cameron O’Connor is your charismatic guide through this vibrant soundscape. Set in the charming enclave of Lair Hill, the afternoon will be as flavorful as it is musical, with tempting bites, fine wines, and maybe even an ¡Olé! or two.
- More About Cameron O’Connor
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Award-winning and acclaimed as “stunning and emotive” (Eugene Register-Guard) and “accomplished and soulful” (Portland Magazine) Cameron O’Connor enjoys a diverse career in solo, chamber, and contemporary music. He is furthermore a prizewinner in many international competitions, including the Frances Walton and Tokyo International Guitar Competition. His playing has been featured in films, including James Franco’s Don Quixote and Scott Tennant’s instructional classic Pumping Nylon, and his performances have been featured on Seattle’s Classical 98.1 KingFM, All Classical Portland, American Public Media’s Performance Today, and KPFK’s Global Village. His recording of Michael Lee’s Unmasked (written for O’Connor) was chosen for Ablaze Record’s Millenial Masters, distributed by Naxos. As a composer, O’Connor won the 2019 Keene State College Call for Scores, the “Outstanding Winner” 2nd prize at the Changsha International Guitar Festival in China, and is a finalist in the 2nd Portugal International Guitar Composition Competition. O’Connor also performs regularly for musical theater productions on electric guitar, banjo, and mandolin, as well as in early music settings on the vihuela and lute.O’Connor’s teaching experience ranges from the Music Advancement Program at the Juilliard School to the Aspen Music Festival and School, as teaching assistant to Sharon Isbin; and at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music as a graduate assistant. He also gave several interactive performances each month in non-traditional venues - from hospitals to juveniles halls - as a fellow with the Thornton-Gluck Fellows Program.
O’Connor was a full scholarship recipient at CSU Northridge, where he studied guitar with Ron Borczon and lute with Ron Purcell; the Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Sharon Isbin; and at the USC Thornton School of Music under William Kanengiser. Upon receiving his degree, the Thornton School recognized him as the Outstanding Doctoral Graduate of his class. He has served on the faculties of Oregon State University, CSU Bakersfield, Riverside City College, and Bakersfield College, and his compositions and arrangements can be found through LACG Editions (lacg.net).
