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GRANTHAM, Pa. (Oct. 8, 2007) — Alex de Grassi, cited as one of the world’s top fingerstyle, steel-string guitarists, will perform at Messiah College on Oct. 29 at 8 p.m. in Hostetter Chapel on the college’s Grantham campus. The concert will include Charles Mingus’ “Good Bye Pork-Pie Hat,” Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight,” arrangements of traditional pieces and many of de Grassi’s original works.  Tickets to the concert are $23 and may be reserved by calling the Messiah College ticket office at (717) 691-6036.

Grammy nominee de Grassi brings a unique voice to the art of acoustic guitar. His trademark ability of creating highly orchestrated sounds from only a solo guitar draws audiences from around the world to hear his unique interpretations of jazz classics, folk melodies and his own compositions.  Through incredible skill, de Grassi intertwines melody, harmony, rhythm and many other sounds to create music unheard of in a solo guitar performance.  He has toured in many countries including Europe, Japan and throughout the states, performing in Carnegie Hall, the Interlochen Festival and the Montreux Jazz Festival. Grassi also earned a Grammy and an Indie Award nomination for his recording “The Water Garden.”

The remaining 2007-2008 Cultural Series lineup of performers includes the Philadelphia Brass in a selection of holiday music on Dec. 10; Leon Bates and Borealis Wind Quintet, covering a broad range of styles from opera aria to piano and wind pieces on March 7; and Triple Play with leader Chris Brubeck, son of jazz great Dave Brubeck, performing an eclectic collection of jazz, folk and classical on April 11.

Messiah College, a private Christian college of the liberal and applied arts and sciences, enrolls more than 2,800 undergraduate students in 60 majors. Established in 1909, the primary campus is located in Grantham, Pa., near the state capital of Harrisburg. A satellite campus affiliated with Temple University is located in Philadelphia.