Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra

The Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra is a unique large ensemble consisting of some 20 electric, classical, steel string and bass guitarists hailing from a variety of musical backgrounds. These musicians come together under the leadership of Artistic Director Joseph Ricker to perform a wide ranging repertoire that includes reconstructions of songs from the recorded legacies of such artists as The Beatles, Weezer, The Cranberries, Stereolab, soundtracks from video games like Sonic the Hedgehog, F-Zero and Final Fantasy IV, curated selections plucked from the history of classical music by composers such as Bach, Stravinsky, Villa Lobos, and original works composed for the guitar orchestra. Since its founding in 2009 by Peter Blanchette, the HVGO has fulfilled its mission to enrich the Valley’s cultural scene by providing a musical home for guitarists in the community and by thrilling audiences with their unique sounds.