Nicholas Mellen to Present Senior Guitar Recital “This Old Guitar”

Nicholas Mellen to Present Senior Guitar Recital "This Old Guitar"

Apr 21, 2026 8:00 AM

Frostburg State University's Department of Music, Theatre and Dance pleased to announce the senior recital of guitarist Nicholas Mellen, titled "This Old Guitar." The performance will take place on Sunday, May 10, at 7 p.m. in the Pealer Recital Hall of FSU's Woodward D. Pealer Performing Arts Center. The recital is free and open to the public and will also be live-streamed. Viewers can access the stream by visiting https://www.frostburg.edu/concerts.

Mellen will be joined by guest artists Chassady Redhead on violin and the FSU Guitar Ensemble, directed by Dr. Felipe Garibaldi de Almeida. Mellen studies guitar with current FSU instructor Dr. Garibaldi and previously with Dr. Thomas Clippinger.

The program features a diverse selection of classical and contemporary works for guitar, showcasing the instrument's rich expressive range. Mellen opens his recital performing Villa-Lobos' "5 Preludes" and Bach's "Lute Suite No. 1 in E minor. He continues in the second half with the solo works "Un Dia de Noviembre" and "Danza Caracteristica" by Leo Brouwer. Mellen is then joined by the FSU Guitar Ensemble to present Gaspar Sanz's "Canarios," and then joined by violinist Chassady Redhead to perform Schubert's "Serenade". The recital concludes with Mellen as soloist performing "Dee" by Randy Rhoads.

A 2022 graduate of Calvert Hall College High School in Towson, Md., Mellen has earned consistent recognition during his time at Frostburg State University. He has been named to the Dean's List and was selected for the FSU 2026 Honors Recital. He is a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME). Mellen will graduate in May 2026 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music. He plans to continue his studies in FSU's Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program with the goal of becoming a public-school music teacher.

This performance marks a significant milestone for Nicholas Mellen as he completes his studies in the FSU guitar program. The eclectic program spans Baroque masterpieces, 20th-century Latin American works, and a nod to rock guitar legend Randy Rhoads, highlighting Mellen's versatility and technical command of the instrument.

For more information about the event or the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance, contact the department at 301-687-4109 or [email protected]. Additional details on FSU concerts and live streams are available at https://www.frostburg.edu/concerts.