Award-winning singer/songwriter Christie Lenée joins the outstanding CU Denver guitar faculty for a night of music celebrating one of the world’s most versatile instruments.

CU Denver’s Guitar Night is an annual event, the brainchild of Professor Sean McGowan, guitarist and chair of the Music & Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS) department in the College of Arts & Media (CAM).

Special Guest Christie Lenée

“This Guitar Night is notable by featuring one of the brightest lights in contemporary fingerstyle acoustic guitar today, Christie Lenée,” says McGowan.

A celebrated musician, Lenée is the 2017 International Fingerstyle Guitar Champion and the 2019 winner of the Acoustic Guitarist of the Year Award. Her most recent album, Coming Alive, is described as a “spiritual and sublime” work that occasionally features an electric guitar, but sticks close to Lenée’s acoustic proclivity.

McGowan explains Lenée stands out in the guitar world because of her versatility.

I first met Christie a few years ago when we taught together at the Swannanoa Guitar Gathering in North Carolina, and she immediately impressed me with her technical virtuosity, ingenue, and musical spirit. In addition to being a remarkable guitarist, she is a noted singer/songwriter, and weaves sampling, looping, and layered harmonies throughout her original compositions. Christie performs for audiences around the world, and just finished a tour with internationally acclaimed Australian guitarist, Tommy Emmanuel.

Performance Faculty Members to Lend Their Talent

A full night of talent on display is in store for Guitar Night attendees. McGowan is just one of the faculty members who will take the stage. An accomplished and well-known fingerstyle jazz guitarist himself, McGowan released his sixth album, Union Station, last year. Additionally, guitar instructors Michael Lancaster and Paul Musso, along with recent graduate Dylan Kober will play a variety of pieces ranging from classical guitar to jazz. Instructors Todd Reid and Drew Morell will provide the rhythm section (drums and bass, respectively).

Guitar Night will be held Friday, March 31, 2023 at 7:30pm (doors at 7) in the King Center Concert Hall on the Auraria Campus in Denver. The public is welcome, and tickets are available here.