. The Avanti Trio transported us with their music. They play wonderfully as a trio, and obviously have fun together!- Saint Mary of the Woods Concert Series, Niles, ILA trifecta of guitar virtuosi! -K. Talapian, The Wright TimesAvanti sounds terrific - beautiful sound and nice warm and transparent blend.-Roddy Ellias, Composer, OttawaRooted in the classical guitar tradition and thriving in the 21st Century, the Avanti Guitar Trio performs an eclectic variety of music
 including: repertoire from the Renaissance through Romantic eras, music from Spain and Latin America, arrangements of folk tunes, pop music and contemporary compositions composed specifically for the Avanti Guitar Trio.Based in Chicago, AGT has performed in traditional and not-so-traditional concert venues throughout the Midwest. Their performances in concert halls, clubs, libraries, churches, historic homes, and college/universities all receive rave reviews. Passionate about new music, Avanti Guitar Trio collaborated with members of the Chicago Composers Consortium and premiered works written for and dedicated to the AGT, including compositions by Julia Miller, Martha Carlson-Horst , Tiffany Sevilla, and Timothy Edwards. AGT frequently performs their fresh and effective transcriptions of works by Bach, Schumann and Vivaldi.The Avanti Guitar Trio has performed in concert with guitarists Earl Klugh, Benjamin Verdery and William Coulter as well as with Las Guitarras de España.Avanti members have studied and graduated from some of our country’s most prestigious music conservatories and universities: Yale School of Music, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, and the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Each has performed as soloists throughout the country and all are currently teaching in Chicago area universities.Thomas Clippert Thomas Clippert savors the wide variety of music available for the guitar, from the early Renaissance to the present day. He has appeared with a variety of ensembles including L’Opera Piccola, Heartland Voices, CUBE, Northwest Chicago String Quartet, Northwest Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the University of Chicago New Music Ensemble. Tom has performed for noted events such as the Music Institute of Chicago’s George Crumb Project and the Chicago Humanities Festival. Tom has enjoyed several opportunities as an artist in residence, including Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario and Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. Tom is a graduate of the Yale School of Music where he studied with Benjamin Verdery and was awarded the Eliot Fisk Guitar Prize. Tom serves on the faculties of Oakton Community College, and the Chicago High School for the Arts.Julie Goldberg Named Guitarist of the year by Classical Guitar Alive, internationally-broadcast radio program, Julie Goldberg is the first guitarist to receive a doctorate in music performance from Northwestern University, and also holds degrees from the Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University and College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. Julie serves on the faculty of North Park University in Chicago. As Assistant Professor of Guitar at VanderCook College of Music since 1997 Dr. Goldberg directs the Chicago Community Classical Guitar Ensemble, and performs regularly as a soloist and chamber musician throughout the U.S. She is a sought after workshop clinician and competition adjudicator. Her debut CD, Dulce, has been released on the Sweet Pickle Music Label, and is available at www.cdbaby.com and at www.juliegoldberg.com.Wesley Hixson (6, 11-13)Wesley Hixson received his Masters of Music degree from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University, where he studied with Sergio Assad and Denis Azabagic. Before completing his Masters degree, Wesley received a performance and academic scholarship to study classical guitar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the tutelage of Bolivian guitar virtuoso Javier Calderon. Wesley has performed in the Chicago Guitar Duo, and as a soloist at music festivals throughout the United States. In 2007, Wesley made his international debut as a soloist in Ontario, Canada. Over the years, Wesley has shared the stage with William Kanengiser. Jeffrey Silva (1-5, 7-10, 14)A native of Chicago, Jeffrey Silva began studying classical guitar at the Merit School of Music and thereafter received a BM degree from DePaul University, majoring in classical guitar and composition with Mark Maxwell and Juan Campoverde, respectively. He is a recent graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied composition with Mara Helmuth, Michael Fiday, and Joel Hoffman. Mr. Silva has also participated in numerous summer festivals as a classical guitarist and/or composer including the Domaine Forget Summer Academy, Mount Orford Summer Electronic Music Workshop, and June in Buffalo. Jeff is currently a faculty member a Wilbur Wright College and ChiArts The Chicago High School for the Arts.