Los Angeles Guitar Quartet

The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet (LAGQ) is a GRAMMY®-winning American ensemble formed in 1980. It consists of John Dearman, William Kanengiser, Scott Tennant and Matthew Greif (who replaced original member Andrew York towards the end of 2006). They are known for using nylon string guitars to imitate a variety of instruments and effects.

They have played in many styles; Baroque, Bluegrass, Flamenco, Rock, and new-age are among their repertoire. The quartet received a Grammy Award in 2005 for Best Classical Crossover CD, Guitar Heroes. Recent projects include their latest CD, Spin, a tour of new arrangements by the quartet as well as other modern composers.

The quartet was formed at the Thornton School of Music at USC in 1980 by Anisa Angarola under the oversight of Pepe Romero of the famed The Romeros guitar quartet. Among pieces in their repertoire are the works of now-former quartet member Andrew York. See: http://andrewyork.net/blog/Blogpage_lagq.php. His Pacific Coast highway, Quiccan and Bantu are among his more popular compositions for the quartet.

John Dearman is the quartet's seven-string guitar master. He had a special guitar made for him with an added bass string and extended fretboard allowing for greater range, both higher and lower. He currently teaches at El Camino College as well as being on faculty at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

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