The Arts Division is welcoming Connie Sheu, an esteemed guitarist, to campus for a performance that is free and open to the public. The April 18 show will demonstrate Sheu’s deep commitment to the guitar’s rich tradition, and her dynamic approach to showcasing works from the classical repertoire.
Sheu’s career has led her to playing some of the most acclaimed venues in the world, such as Carnegie Hall. She is an internationally recognized performer who’s contributed to festivals including the Women in Guitar Festival, New York Guitar Festival, Denver Guitar and Guitar Foundation of America International Convention. “The best venues aren’t always the biggest ones,” says Sheu. “Some of my favorite venues for guitar have been smaller halls that sound good without any amplification.”
Her passion began at five years old, when she initially learned to play the guitar. For many years she considered a professional career in music. After college, and being dissuaded by internships in law and public policy, Sheu chose to pursue music full time and went on to receive her Master of Music from the Juilliard School and her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Southern California.
Sheu was invited to campus by Christopher Mallett, a beloved lecturer of classical guitar studies, who has performed at venues across the country. Mallett is also the co-founder of both the California Conservatory of Music and the Peninsula Guitar Series. His work has been hailed as “trailblazing” and “virtuosic.”
“Connie’s performance falls in line with a lot of what people at UC Santa Cruz really like,” says Mallett. “Not just traditional classical music, but stuff that is more accessible and fun for students who are coming from different musical backgrounds”.
One of Mallett’s main goals in bringing Sheu to campus was for students to see a professional female guitarist. Most of his students at UCSC are young men and female professional classical guitarists are rare, though Mallett believes this is changing. “She is a fantastic advocate of women classical guitarists and women composers,” says Mallett.
Along with the performance, Sheu also will be teaching a master class earlier that day which is free and open to the public. It will take place at 1:00 pm in Room 131 of the UC Santa Cruz Music Department.
All are welcome for An Evening of Classical Guitar with Connie Sheu, which will demonstrate the vibrancy of music and performance. “I want the audience to be surprised by what the guitar can sound like,” says Sheu. “I want them to hear colors and textures that they did not know could be produced on the guitar and have the pieces take them to another place mentally and emotionally.”
April 18, 2025 – 7:30 PM
Music Center Recital Hall
University of California, Santa Cruz
400 McHenry Road
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
Free and open to the public
No tickets required