Patrick Rafferty, a Southeast Missouri State University professor, performs classic guitar at River Campus

Patrick Rafferty's guitar has a raw spot just below the strings because he's played it so much.

Rafferty, who grew up in Jackson, earned a bachelor's degree in music from Southeast Missouri State University in 2004 and received his master's of music and his graduate performance diploma from the Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

He returned to Southeast as and adjunct professor of guitar in the music department.

"It is great to be home and working with great faculty members at the new River Campus," Rafferty said in an e-mail interview.

While he enjoys teaching, Rafferty said he loves playing. He will perform a solo classical guitar concert at 7:30 p.m. today in the Shuck Recital Hall.

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.comGuitarist Patrick Rafferty.

Rafferty, who has been playing the guitar since the fourth grade, will perform music by Manuel Ponce, Julian Arcas, Eduardo Sainz de la Maza, Roberto Sierra and Mauro Giuliani.

Since learning to play, Rafferty has earned many honors and awards including several performance awards from Southeast and first place in the Missouri Music Teachers Association in 2003. He has performed all over the Midwest and the eastern United States with the Alexandria Guitar Fest and Mid-America Guitar Festival.

Rafferty said he remembers always wanting to play the guitar, though he's not sure why.

"My parents made me take piano lessons for three years before I could do guitar," Rafferty said.

Rafferty said he has many influences, including pianists and guitarists like Artur Schnabel, Pepe Romero and Angela Hewitt. He also said famous guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn have been major influences as well.

Aside from teaching, Rafferty said he has many things in the works. One of his main goals is to perform at area schools.

"I really want to help the SEMO guitar and music departments have an impact on local schools," Rafferty said. "I always have a great time playing for high school through elementary kids. It's amazing, so few of them have any idea of what classical guitar is, and they really like it."

Rafferty's main hobby is his guitar. He said most of his fond memories are from just sitting around and practicing his guitar for hours on end.

"When I am into the sixth and seventh hour of practice and I am 'in the zone,' those are such great times," Rafferty said. "Although, performing for large audiences has a way of really making me feel alive."

When Rafferty is not practicing, he said he likes to read, cook and hang out with his friends. Before he became a professor, he taught private lessons. He still offers lessons in Jackson.

"My dad always said, 'You get out of it what you put into it,'" Rafferty said. "I have seen a lot of guitarists. The best ones are always the ones that have practiced the most. Of course it helps immensely when you have a great teacher."

Tickets are $8 and available at the River Campus box office, by calling 651-2265 and online at metrotix.com.