The Santa Cruz Guitar Orchestra, directed by guitarist/composer Mesut Özgen, is comprised of professional players, teachers, and students from the local community in the Santa Cruz County, California. The orchestra aims to present new ensemble works for guitar, in addition to transcriptions and arrangements of the traditional repertoire. Among the composers who have written guitar ensemble works for Özgen and his orchestra are Benjamin Verdery, Jack Vees, Christopher Pratorius, and Phil Collins. The SCGO presents concerts regularly three times a year and has also been invited to perform in various other venues, such as New Music Works, Davis Art Center, UCSC Gamelan Orchestra, and Santa Cruz Baroque Festival. The orchestra meets in three two-month sessions: October-November, January-February, and April-May. In each session, ten 2-hour rehearsals will take place during the weekends, culminating with a public concert. Other than classical guitarists, mandolin and bass players are also welcome to join the orchestra. Auditions can be arranged by appointment with the orchestra director via email at guitar@mesutozgen.com.
