The Radford University Guitar Ensemble is composed of Guitar majors, minors and is open to non-majors by audition. The ensemble began with ad hoc meetings in the late fall semester of 1993, with the multiple purposes of building sight-reading, ensemble and finally performance skills and proceeds as for-credit ensemble. The ensemble performs both on and off-campus and is directed by Robert Trent.

Performance have often involved singers and other instrumentalists and in recent years the University Guitar Ensemble has collaborated with students in the Department of Dance.

Since 1996, the ensemble has been selected by the Roanoke Symphony to perform for schools in the region. This program sponsored by the New River Friends of the Roanoke Symphony has helped the ensemble to grow and has allowed hundreds of school children to hear music for guitar ensemble.

"It is my philosophy that true musical solidity can be inculcate via a chamber music approach, whereby 'leaders' change within the group varying from piece to piece. It is a difficult interdependency, but one which begins to form security both individually and collectively.

Robert Trent - Director

Sample performances may be heard by clicking on the links below:

Les Rues mas Fameé by Patrick Roux Video

Carnivale by Patrick Roux Video

For more information please contact Dr. Robert Trent or visit his home page.