By KARAN MINNIS,Guardian Lifestyles Reporter,karan@nasguard.com

Classical musical lovers this one's for you.

The Nassau Music Society is kicking off its new year concert series in the right way, with Italian guitarist Roberto Porroni alongside College of the Bahamas assistant music professor Christine Gangelhoff on the flute for two nights only, Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Balmoral Club, Sandford Drive and Sunday, Jan. 18 at St. Paul's Church, Lyford Cay.

This duo is expected to play compositions including Falla, Lorca, Gershwin and more. Concert attendees will definitely be impressed.

"The Nassau Music society has planned an exciting season thanks to the continual support of its sponsors," says society president Patrick Thomson. "Our goal is to promote and encourage the art of music by organizing concerts and other musical activities and to provide financial and other assistance to students of music which we do that through our concerts and our scholarships. This event is just another product of that goal and our commitment. Therefore we hope to see as many supports as possible at this event."

Gangelhoff, a local lecturer, who has taught music worldwide, has an extensive and widely varied musical background. She holds degrees from the University of Minnesota, Yale University, and the University of North Texas, and has been an active freelance musician in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Vancouver, and British Columbia, as well as several chamber ensembles. She is also on recordings with the Minnesota Orchestra and the Sunriver Music Festival in Sunriver, Oregon.

Porroni is considered to be one of the best known Italian classical guitarists in the world. He has won a number of youth competitions and completed his advanced studies with Julian Bream and John Williams and did his first recording in 1977.

In 1978, Porroni was invited to Spain by Andrés Segovia, marking the beginning of a brilliant international performing career throughout Europe, North America, Middle East, Far East (Korea, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam) Australia and South Africa for some of the most important concert societies including the Musikverein in Vienna, La Scala in Milan, and the Fairfield Hall in London. He has also participated in major festivals such as the Dubrovnik Summer Festival, the Berliner Festtage, the Gewandhaus Festtage, the Festival d'été in Québec City, and the Miami Festival.

Porroni often collaborates with the Italian Radio Television, for whom he prepares programs on guitar music and has also recorded programs for several foreign broadcasting corporations. Today Porroni teaches master classes in several countries, and he has also made a number of transcriptions of piano music of the 19th century which he recorded in his third CD "Dal pianoforte alla chitarra". In 1992 he recorded a CD devoted to 19th century guitar music.

Tickets for this event are $25 for society members; $35 for non-members; $10 for students. They can be purchased from A.D. Hanna & Co and Moir & Co (Lyford Cay), or at the door.

Next up on the society calendar will be pianist Alberto Nose on Saturday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 8.

Nassau Music Society Concert Calendar

Christine Gangelhoff on flute and Roberto Porroni on classical guitar

When: Friday, Jan. 16

Where: Balmoral Club, Sandford Dr.

When: Saturday, Jan. 17

Where: St. Paul's Church, Lyford Cay

Tickets: $25 for society members, $35 for non-members, $10 students

Ticket outlets: A.D. Hanna & Co and Moir & Co (Lyford Cay), or at the door

Nassau Music Society Concert Calendar

Saturday, Feb. 7-8 — Alberto Nose on the piano

Saturday, Mar. 14 — Steve Koven on Jazz piano

April 3-4 — Polina Leschenko and Mark Drobinsky on piano

and violin