Multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, engineer, educator, builder

Kalar is currently playing electric guitar with Richmond ensemble Miramar,
a DapTone and Ansonia records recording artist, and a number of Turkish instruments in Zarove,
a trio heavily influenced by Bulgarian, Middle Eastern, and avant-rock music.
He also plays guitar for composer and keyboardist Curt Sydnor.
Kalar performs as a solo artist on guitar, with effects and samplers,
and creates electronic music under the moniker Vakarel.

Gary Kalar has spent many hours on the stage and in the studio, and has performed, written, arranged
and recorded a broad variety of styles on a number of instruments with diverse musicians from all over the world.
For over 10 years, he was a performer and composer for Chicago's legendary
Mucca Pazza, and Middle Eastern ensemble Lamajamal with Ronnie Malley,
including a memorable Chicago World Music Festival concert as backing band for Turkish clarinet master
Selim Sesler. Kalar has recently performed and recorded with Peni Candra Rini.
He's performed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, at Orchestra Hall in the Chicago Symphony Center, the Lincoln Center,
the Kennedy Center and in cities all over the US. Outside of working with strictly musical groups,
Gary Kalar has also accompanied contemporary dance and theatrical performances,
working with Mary Zimmerman, Shirley Mordine, Peter Carpenter, Mark Messing and many others.
Kalar designs and builds much of his own electronic gear under the make Morph Electronics Company.
You can hear some of it in his recent solo performances with guitar, effects and samplers.
It's also used extensively in his solo electronic music under the moniker Vakarel.