The Billington and Gonzalez Classical Flute and Guitar Duo, formed in the autumn of 1988, has performed extensively in the South Florida region. The repertoire of the Billington and Gonzalez Duo ranges from transcriptions of Elizabethan music for recorder and lute to original compositions of twentieth-century music for flute and guitar. The Duo specializes in the performance of works from the western hemisphere and is one of the signature groups of the LGEM Musical Ensemble.
Canadian-born flutist Robert David Billington earned his BA from Northern Michigan University, his MM from Western Michigan University, and his DMA in flute performance from the University of Miami. Dr. Billington is the principal and solo flutist with the Miami Bach Society Orchestra.
Guitarist Rene Gonzalez received his BM, MM, and his DMA in guitar performance from the University of Miami where he is the director of the classical guitar program. Dr. Gonzalez teaches guitar master classes and performs recitals throughout the United States and has released the CD “The Hummingbird” on the EFM label.
The Billington and Gonzalez Classical Flute and Guitar Duo has performed frequently for concerts, recitals, and festivals in the South Florida area. They have performed concerts in Springfield, IL for the Springfield Classical Guitar Society; in Jupiter, FL for the Hibel Museum Promenade Concert Series; in Tavernier, FL for the Church of San Pedro Concert Series; in Weston, FL for La Cucina Tuscana Dinner Concerts; in Coconut Grove, FL for the Barnacle Historic Site Concerts Under the Moonlight Concert Series; in Hollywood, FL for the Hollywood Center for the Performing Arts Concert Series and for the City of Hollywood Noontime Concert Series; in Fort Lauderdale, FL for Tea at Lily's Concerts; in Miami, and Coral Springs, FL for Borders Books and Music Concerts; and have performed concerts in Coral Gables and Miami, FL at the University of Miami Gusman Hall, the Biltmore Hotel, the Chapel of the Venerable Beade, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, the Cuban Museum of Art and Culture, and at various branches of the Miami-Dade Public Library. The Billington and Gonzalez Duo has also appeared as a group or as part of a larger LGEM Ensemble at the Beaux Arts Festival, the Fairchild Tropical Garden Ramble, the Miami Beach Art Deco Festival, and at the Fort Lauderdal Downtown Festival of the Arts.