Since its inception in 1997, the San Francisco Guitar Quartet has become one of the most sought-after classical guitar ensembles performing today. Committed proponents of new music as well as the classics, SFGQ draws from a rich background of musical traditions including classical, world and ethnic traditions, and improvisation. The diverse list of composers represented in concert and on recordings includes Leo Brouwer, JS Bach, Sergio Assad, Luigi Boccherini, Carlo Domeniconi, Phillip Houghton, and Dusan Bogdanovic.

The SFGQ’s recordings have garnered praise. Compadres was lauded by Acoustic Guitar Magazine as one of the “Top CDs of 2003.” London’s Classical Guitar Magazine had this to say: "Here is a nice release from a very capable, technically and musically, group of players who give strong performances throughout in this particularly interesting programme." Composer Phillip Houghton remarked on the performance of his work, Opals, on the Quartet’s debut recording Black Opal: "Congratulations on such a superb CD! Opals is wonderfully played! It is beautiful!"

The members of SFGQ, Mark Simons, David Dueñas, Patrick O'Connell, and Jon Mendle have each distinguished themselves as soloists and chamber musicians with first prizes in the American String Teachers Association Competition and the Baltimore Chamber Music Awards Competition, a Fulbright Scholarship, and concert appearances in Carnegie Hall. Group members also hold faculty positions in Bay Area colleges and universities.

San Francisco Guitar Quartet's Website