Musical Homecoming: MHS Alum to Enchant with Classical Guitar
(Moorpark, California) February 22, 2024—When Michael Gullo plays the first notes of the beloved guitar piece the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquín Rodrigo in front of the Moorpark Symphony Orchestra on March 9, it will mark the end of a musical journey that began more than two years earlier with an email.
“Michael had reached out to the orchestra about two years ago and shared that he was a musician who would like to perform with us,” said Geri Freeland, a founding member of the Moorpark Symphony and the head of its programming committee. “He struck me as a very serious, very nice student musician who was learning the ropes of how to be a performer and was looking for an opportunity to perform.”
Gullo, a 26-year-old classical guitarist who graduated from Moorpark High School and recently earned his bachelor’s from Pepperdine University, met with Freeland to discuss a possible accompaniment with the nonprofit orchestra that began in 2019.
The pair eventually decided on Rodrigo’s 85-year-old masterpiece, the Concierto de Aranjuez, to highlight Gullo’s talent as a classical guitarist. The concert is called Espana, in honor of the three Spanish composers on the program.
Over the past six months, Gullo has been perfecting the concerto’s three movements, working alongside Freeland, the orchestra’s conductor Charles Fernandez, and the nearly 60 members who make up the Moorpark-based symphony.
“You’re going to hear, in my opinion, one of the most human compositions ever made,” Gullo said. “Its theme of love, loss, and celebration brings together the triad of the human experience.”
Freeland said Gullo’s choice to play the Concierto de Aranjuez speaks volumes of his talent and commitment to the art.
“It’s hard to fully articulate how difficult this music is and how well he is taking it on and how well he is performing with the orchestra,” Freeland said.
Gullo, who grew up in Moorpark and attended Peach Hill Academy, Mesa Verde Middle School and Moorpark High, began playing guitar when he was 8 years old.
“I wanted to be a rocker but my dad decided an acoustic guitar would be a lot quieter than an electric guitar,” he said with a laugh.
Gullo said he took private music lessons for guitar but also played as an electric guitarist in the Mesa Verde Middle School jazz band and a percussionist in both the Mesa Verde wind ensemble and Moorpark High wind ensemble. While attending Moorpark College, Gullo studied under Professor Ron Borczon until he transferred to Pepperdine University where he studied under classical guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening.
In addition to working as a music teacher and performing for his church, Gullo said he practices sometimes up to six hours a day in preparation for an upcoming performance.
“I love performing because you can only get so much enjoyment from practicing hours each day,” he said. “With an audience, you get the satisfaction of connecting with them through the music and the performance, it makes it all worth it.”
What would he have told his younger self about the artistic career choice he made?
“I would have told myself that this isn’t going to be easy,” he said. “And not to get discouraged by hard work, sacrifices, and the time it would take to improve with the instrument.”
Freeland said she is looking forward to the March 9 concert at Walnut Canyon school and for the chance to introduce the remarkably talented hometown musician.
“I think even if you’ve never heard a classical guitarist play, it’s clear that Michael is very special. He’s a phenomenal technician and the concert promises to be a golden opportunity for our symphony and for Michael to showcase the musical talent that began right here in Moorpark.”
The concert, Espana, will be March 9 at 7 p.m. at Walnut Canyon's auditorium, 280 Casey Road, in Moorpark. For tickets, visit https://www.