In Memoriam

Oscar Ghiglia (1938-2024)
Oscar Ghiglia first performed in Chicago in 1964 for the Mid-America Guitar Society, which later became the Chicago Classical Guitar Society. He subsequently performed at every major Chicago venue, including Symphony Center, the Ravinia Festival, and Northwestern's Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, as well as many appearances on WFMT, including the Studs Terkel show. He taught many master classes for the CCGS and began an annual performing and teaching residency at Northwestern University in 1986. He has left a legacy amongst generations of Chicago guitarists that is immeasurable. His unique imagination and artistry reached beyond the guitar and will continue to inspire future performers, teachers, students, and listeners.

Robert Arends (1946-2024)
CCGS board member Robert Ahrens first performed for the Chicago Classical Guitar Society in 1967, when he was twenty years old. He studied classical guitar with John Mavreas and taught guitar lessons for several years at Sherry-Brenner Ltd. After studying fire protection engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, he was the owner and president of Exigency, Inc., a risk management consulting firm; a longtime member of the National Society of Professional Engineers; and the fire commissioner at the Prospect Heights Fire District.