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Talented city guitarist featured in this coming Sunday’s concert Solitude at Factory163

Talented city guitarist featured in this coming Sunday’s concert Solitude at Factory163

Guitarist Daniel Ramjattan, 22. He has dark hair and is wearing a black suit with a purple undershirt. Playing the guitar.

Guitarist Daniel Ramjattan, 22, will be a featured artist in this Sunday’s INNERchamber concert at Factory 163 in Stratford. (SCOTT WISHART, The Beacon Herald)

Stratford will welcome home one of its acclaimed young musicians at this Sunday’s INNERchamber event at Factory 163.

Classical guitarist Daniel Ramjattan is among the performers in the INNERchamber presentation of Solitude, an homage to the late Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, who died last year.

Ramjattan, 22, is well known in the city for his award-winning performances in the Kiwanis Festival of the Performing Arts over the years.

Since graduating from Stratford Central Secondary, he’s attained his Bachelor of Music degree in classical guitar performance at the University of Ottawa. After taking a few months off from his studies this spring and summer, he will return there this fall to study in the master’s degree program.

He will be joined this Sunday by flautist Liesel Deppe, percussionist Zachary Pulak and actor Irene Poole, who will read from Marquez’s works.

INNERchamber’s artistic director Andrew Chung said he was happy to be able to feature Ramjattan in the spotlight In Solitude. The repertoire — which includes works by South American and Spanish composers along with pieces by contemporary Canadian composers — is a perfect showcase for the guitarist’s musical gifts.

Chung recalled being impressed by Ramjattan’s classical guitar skills from the first time he saw him perform in the Kiwanis competition many years ago.

“He had an obvious connection and rapport with the audience,” Chung said. “And that’s a very special thing.”

For Ramjattan, the chance to come back to his hometown and perform is simply “amazing”.

“Stratford is infinitely kind to me,” he said. “I really love being here.”

He said he has been heartened by the welcome he has received since returning here just a few weeks ago. And the young artist said he doesn’t see Stratford as merely a “stepping stone” in his musical journey. Instead, he’s talking of plans for musical events here that would make use of his experience and connections.

“I’d really like to start a summer weekend of guitar, where I could bring together some of the really great guitarists I’ve met. I think people would really like it.”

Looking toward Sunday, Ramjattan said works by South Americans including Heitor Villa-Lobos and Maximo Diego Pujol will be featured, alongside the piece Soledad, by renowned Canadian guitar composer Patrick Roux.

A highlight will be the world premiere of a commissioned work by fellow Canadian Daniel Mehdizadeh, entitled In Solitude.

Tickets at $40 for adults or $10 for students (thanks to TD Bank Group) include a light dinner by The County Food Co. starting at 6 p.m. Tickets must be reserved before this Friday at midnight at www.innerchamber.ca or at Fanfare Books to include the meal.

Tickets are the same price at the door starting at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, but do not include a meal.?

Factory 163 is located at 163 King St. in Stratford.

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