Guitarist Mark Kroos, winner of Guitar Player’s Magazine International Competition and whose Dueling Banjos video went viral on YouTube, will perform in Jamestown and Russell, PA this week. Submitted photo

Guitarist Mark Kroos will perform two free concerts locally this week – one in Russell and the second in Jamestown.

Kroos, which rhymes with Bruce, is a winner of Guitar Player Magazine’s International Competition. His instrument is a little different than most guitars since it has two necks. Although designed to be two guitars in one and to be played one neck at a time, he chooses to play both at the same time.

“Many of the techniques I use, I have created for myself,” he shares. “I do get inspiration from a lot of other guitar players. Michael Hedges had a big influence on me. I implemented a lot of his techniques.”

Kroos started playing guitar when he was 12 years old. Suffering from depression as a child, he found music to be a good outlet.

“I love writing songs and writing music was a good way of expressing my feelings,” Kroos said.

When he enrolled in college, he chose jazz and classical guitar classes, but learned that wasn’t the right direction for him and dropped out of music courses after a year and a half. He found his gift and it wasn’t classical and jazz guitar.

When he got on the road in 2010 he knew no one and had no connections. He lived out of his car for the first couple of years, but didn’t actually sleep in it. The Crossing Cafe in Warren, where he met Caleb Pangborn, was very supportive and Kroos has returned every year since.

His “Dueling Banjos” video went viral in 2013. He has opened for some well-known Christian performers such as Phil Keaggy and just last month he opened for country and gospel singer Larry Gatlin.

Kroos said he believes joy and inspiration are like road maps and when one has the feeling of joy when doing something, that’s God saying “maybe you should do more of that.” If asked what others should do with their lives, he would say they should do good things as a service for others.

The two area shows will be very different. The first concert will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, at Calvary Chapel, 8160 Market St., Russell, as part of For the King’s album release show. The central Florida resident will be joining his friend, Caleb Pangborn of For the King. Pangborn, also a guitarist, sings, writes and plays Christian alternative rock, while Kroos will be playing mostly instrumental guitar music.

“Caleb has done more for my music career than anyone else,” says Kroos about his friend.

There will be a door prize giveaway at this event.

The second concert will be played solely by Kroos, who will be honoring National Day of Prayer, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Koinonia Christian Fellowship, 1427 Peck Settlement Road, Jamestown.

Although the concerts are free, an offering will be taken at each to support the artists’ ministry.