The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, 2003 Grammy nominees, will perform at Hope College through the Great Performance Series on Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m. in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.

Popularly know as LAGQ, the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is recognized as one of the world's premier instrumental ensembles.

"One of the finest guitar quartets in the world... If you haven't heard a classical guitar quartet before, the one won't just show you what you've been missing--they'll blow you away," says "Guitar Player Magazine."

In recent seasons, LAGQ has been heard coast-to- coast on radio programs such as "Performance Today," "St. Paul Sunday" and "World Café." LAGQ's performance of the deFalla's "Fire Dance" was nationally broadcast as part of the PBS special "Evening at Pops." LAGQ had also been featured on CNN's "Show Biz Today," CBS's "Saturday Morning" and A&E Network's "Breakfast with the Arts."

LAGQ records for SONY Classical, Telarc and Delos. Most recently, LAGQ has received a 2003 Grammy nomination for Best Classical Crossover Album for "LAGQ Latin," released in 2002.

"It's clear by now that the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet is one of the wonders of the chamber music scene," says the "Los Angeles Times."

All four guitarists are seasoned soloists who combine to create a unique and powerful sound. Their individual skills allow them to share "first chair" responsibilities in their concerts.

Andrew York's solo CD, "Denouement," was voted Best Classical Album by "Guitar Player Magazine." An accomplished composer as well as guitarist, York has had his work performed by guitarists such as John Williams and Christopher Parkening.

William Kanengiser was the classical guitarist for the film "Crossroads," and he is one of the few guitarists to win the Concert Artists Guild New York Competition.

Detroit-born Scott Tennant is currently completing a solo recording of the complete solo guitar works of Joaquin Rodrigo. He is also author of the best-selling book and video "Pumping Nylon," a technical handbook for classical guitarists.

John Dearman's eclectic repertoire ranges from samba to bluegrass, and from flamenco to classical. When performing with LAGQ he often plays a unique seven-string guitar with extended upper and lower registers.

Tickets for the event will be on sale on Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 12-14, and Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 17- 18, at the theatre lobby box office in the DeWitt Center. The box office will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be called at (616) 395-7890.

Tickets cost $14 for regular adult admission, $12 for senior citizens, and $5 for children 18 and under. Seating will be general admission.

The DeWitt Center is located on Columbia Avenue at 12th Street. Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located on College Avenue at 12th Street.