Couple to play classical guitar, flute at candlelight concert

OQUOSSOC — Rangeley Friends of the Arts will present a candlelight concert featuring classical guitar, flute and voice by Sue Downes-Borko and Victor Borko Monday and Tuesday, July 20 and 21, at the Log Church. Last year’s concert was sold out with standing room only.
Downes-Borko received her music-education degree from the University of Massachusetts. She has been teaching piano and flute lessons for more than 20 years in addition to eight years as a teacher in public schools in Alaska. After seven years as staff accompanist at the College of New Jersey’s School of Music, she and her husband settled in the western mountains of Maine.
In Rangeley, Downes-Borko is the minister of music at the Rangeley Congregational Church, serves on the executive board of the Rangeley Friends of the Arts, accompanies school choirs, directs a handbell choir, performs as a vocal/flute/piano soloist, is a member of the Hot Airs Flute Quartet, participates in community theater and has played at many weddings.
Borko is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of the Performing Arts, where he studied classical/jazz guitar and music education. As a professional guitarist, he has performed in musical productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Grease,” “Cabaret” and “Godspell.” He played with the professional touring production of the Broadway musical “Evita” and has played for many celebrities, including Bobby Rydell, Don Rickles and Bob Hope. Since age 12, he has performed in numerous musical groups/bands in a wide variety of musical styles. He also enjoys arranging and composing music.
After college, Borko, who was born and raised in Philadelphia, moved to Alaska where he was a music educator for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District and where he met his wife, Sue. The couple now reside in the Rangeley region and run Gull Pond Music Studio. Borko plays at St. Luke’s and Our Lady of the Lakes Roman Catholic churches and enjoys performing sacred music and hymns on the classical guitar.
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. Tickets, $15, are available at the Rangeley Lakes Chamber of Commerce, 864-5364.