Guitar student, builder will perform greatest hits in April concert

By Danilynn Welniak/ne news editor

A guitar is simply a machine made out of wood that exposes the talent and truth behind a performer, Dallas Kaemmerling said describing his relationship with his guitar.

A NE guitar student, Kaemmerling will perform a guitar concert April 28 with Akesa Afumango and Imran Kissoon.

He wants the concert to be pure enjoyment for both himself and the audience.

“I don’t expect anyone to be utterly wowed with my technical skills,” he said. “I am going to play several standard pieces of the guitar repertoire; ‘the greatest hits’ if you will.”

Currently, Kaemmerling studies with Jan Ryberg, a NE adjunct music instructor and professional guitarist.

“My favorite part of studying with [Ryberg] is that he is really career-oriented,” he said. “He is always looking ahead and talking to me about how to use my guitar to make money in the future. Whether it be performing or teaching, he is always thinking of how best to approach making a living by being a professional guitarist.”

Kaemmerling received his first guitar on his eighth birthday with absolutely no prior musical knowledge or experience. By the age of 15, he finally learned to read music.

“This concert is simply an occasion for me to perform for an extended period of time and gain more experience as a performer,” he said.

Not only does he play guitars, but he also builds them. Doing both adds a different dimension to how he views instruments and the music they make.

“To me, it is the person playing the instrument that makes the music good or bad,” he said. “Not the instrument itself.”

This concert is open to the public, but Kaemmerling acknowledges that some people might walk away with knowledge while others take with them pure entertainment.

“I think that other guitar students will benefit most from this concert,” he said. “Just about everything that I perform is a standard of the guitar repertoire.

“So other guitar students are bound to have to learn some of these pieces sooner or later. Hearing them performed is always helpful when it comes time to learn them.”

NE music department will sponsor Kaemmerling’s concert 6-7 p.m. in the Old Bedford School Auditorium. Admission is free, and no reservations are required.