Boyd Meets Girl: Songs of Love and Despair

Join us for a captivating performance by Boyd Meets Girl, the acclaimed cello and guitar duo of Australian classical guitarist Rupert Boyd and American cellist Laura Metcalf. Known for their “beguiling... enchanting” musical chemistry (Gramophone), the duo brings their signature blend of classical elegance and contemporary flair to a program inspired by their album Songs of Love and Despair.

This evocative program features music that spans centuries and continents, from the sultry, bittersweet tangos of Astor Piazzolla (Café 1930) to the rhythmic fire of Heitor Villa-Lobos, the passionate lyricism of Manuel de Falla, and original arrangements of works both classical and popular. True to their reputation for genre-defying artistry, Boyd Meets Girl may also surprise with reimaginings of modern favorites, creating a soulful journey through sound.

With over 4 million streams on Spotify and performances that have taken them across the USA, Australia, India, Nepal, and beyond, Boyd Meets Girl is celebrated not only for their virtuosity — Boyd hailed as “truly evocative” (The Washington Post), Metcalf as “brilliant” (Gramophone) — but for their engaging, conversational stage presence. As arrangers of much of their own repertoire, they break down the boundaries between musical genres — and between audience and performer.

Both artistic directors of New York's GatherNYC concert series and a happily married couple, Boyd and Metcalf invite you to experience a deeply personal and unforgettable evening of music.

6PM | Family Friendly Concert: Mini-Concert featuring short performance and peak backstage to meet the musicians and their instruments. Perfect for children and parents ages 3+.

6:30PM | King Family Wine* and BYOP (Bring your own picnic!) to enjoy on the grounds

7:30PM | Concert in the Carriage House

*available for purchase

BOYD MEETS GIRL

RUPERT BOYD, GUITAR & LAURA METCALF, CELLO

Boyd Meets Girl pairs Australian classical guitarist Rupert Boyd with American cellist Laura Metcalf. The duo has toured the world sharing their eclectic mix of music from Debussy and Bach to Radiohead and Beyoncé, and their two studio albums have received over 4 million streams on Spotify alone. Both acclaimed soloists in their own right, Boyd has been described as “truly evocative” by The Washington Post, and as "a player who deserves to be heard" by Classical Guitar Magazine, while Metcalf, who has also toured as a member of the popular chamber ensembles Eighth Blackbird, Break of Reality and Sybarite5, has been called "brilliant" by Gramophone. Boyd Meets Girl has toured throughout the USA, India, Nepal, New Zealand, and every state and territory in Australia, including engagements at Caramoor, Newport Classical, Festival Napa Valley, Austin Classical Guitar, Moab Music Festival and many others.

The duo’s debut album, released in 2017 on the Grammy award-winning label Sono Luminus, reached #3 on the Billboard Traditional Classical chart, and received the following praise in Gramophone: “They play like one, with a harmony of purpose as sure as their intonation.” Their sophomore album, Songs of Love and Despair, released in 2022 was also praised in Gramophone as “Beguiling... fascinating... enchanting... their mutual understanding is manifest in every bar, not least the way they listen to each other.” Their music is broadcast on radio stations around the world, including regularly on New York’s WQXR and SiriusXM.

In 2024, Boyd Meets Girl gave the world premiere performances of ANAHATA, a cello and guitar double concerto composed by the Grammy-nominated Clarice Assad, and commissioned for the duo by the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Carolyn Kuan, the Artistic Director for the HSO, conducted the world premiere of the three-movement piece, which Assad describes as “a musical reflection on the complex nature of love.

The duo arranges much of their repertoire themselves, drawing inspiration from artists across all genres, and often speak from the stage about the works to create an engaging, conversational concert experience that breaks down boundaries not only between musical genres but between audience and performer.

Artistic directors of the acclaimed Sunday morning concert series GatherNYC, and a happily married couple, the duo lives in New York City with their son Milo.

www.boydmeetsgirlduo.com

Praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “perfectly balanced” and offering “the virtue of variety” the MARINUS ENSEMBLE is a chamber music collective that draws on the best emerging international performers to bring music alive. At the heart of Marinus is a commitment to engage audiences with a distinctive concert approach, giving performances that are both searching and authentic. Our musicians have great training (Curtis, Juilliard, New England Conservatory) and are based out of outstanding organizations (the Metropolitan Opera, National Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, A Far Cry). Most importantly, they have a shared vision of making great music come alive for diverse audiences.

Marinus invites artists to team up on creative musical projects around a range of repertoire. Each project leads to a group of concerts that form our performance season. Through the juxtaposition of styles, composers, and instruments, each Marinus concert program reinforces the idea that when we stop to listen, all great music has the power to challenge and enrich our lives. Beyond the concert hall, Marinus is committed to educating all its listeners—creating space for learning through interactive concerts, accessible program notes, and teaching residencies at schools and universities.

Founded in 2010 by siblings Rachel Kuipers Yonan and Joseph Kuipers, the Marinus Ensemble has been ensemble-in-residence at Washington and Lee University and Eastern University, and performs regularly at concert halls and universities around the country. The ensemble is based out of Charlottesville with participating artists from Boston, Dallas, New York, Raleigh and Stuttgart. Recent performances include appearances on the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Curtis Presents, WRTI Performance Studio, and the Rochester Chamber Music Society.

Info: Join us for a mini-concert and peak backstage to meet the musicians and their instruments before picnicking on the gorgeous lawn of KFV. Learn how cellos produce sound that imitates the range of the human voice. How can songs be arranged for guitar? Perfect for both children and adults.

Info: King Family Wine available for purchase. Bring a picnic to enjoy on the beautiful vineyard grounds before the concert.

Info: Grab a glass of wine and take your seat in the Carriage House to hear the “Beguiling... fascinating... enchanting" (Gramophone) voice of Boyd Meets Girl.

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