This September we’re celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Classic Guitar Series at the Skaneateles Library. Over the years we’ve hosted close to 100 musicians, who’ve delighted more than 3,000 guitar lovers with their talent and passion for the instrument. Our stage has been home to guitarists at every level and from all over the globe—from local students to Grammy-winning industry greats. And it all started with a chance encounter at the library.

In 2014 we hosted a performance by Dr. Timothy Schmidt, a classical guitarist who has taught at Hobart and William Smith, Nazareth, and OCC. In the audience that night was James Horan, a classical guitarist himself with deep roots in the CNY arts scene. James and I happened to sit next to each other, and he mentioned how much he’d love to see this wonderful concert become a series. I agreed that it was a great idea, and we started planning the following week. 

Our vision for the series was to provide a stage for musicians to practice their craft and really connect with an audience. Venues for live performance can be difficult to sustain, and finding a good performance space is one of the biggest hurdles for musicians—even established ones. Bars and coffee houses often welcome live music, but it can fade into the background when competing with conversations and televisions. 

In 2018 we launched a monthly series that’s been growing ever since. James, always sharply dressed—he’s the owner of Vagabond Clothing in Syracuse—has been a staple at every show. Not only does he curate the series with his fellow guitarists in the Great Lakes Guitar Society, he also introduces each performer and promotes the shows in the music community. 

We’ve built an audience that loves guitar and a series that guitarists love to play. In the current season performers like Emma Rush, Cochran & McAllister, Loren & LJ Barrigar, and Stephen Bennett have played amazing shows to packed houses, and we’ve already booked several giants of the guitar world for 2025. On May 17 we’ll host the Ukrainian standout Marko Topchii, first-prize winner at the 2023 Guitar Federation of America Competition and winner of more than 80 awards worldwide. The fact that our little library in Skaneateles is a stop on the world tour of an artist of Topchii’s caliber is the result of James Horan’s passion for guitar and his commitment to supporting his fellow musicians. I hope to see you at the next show!