Sponsored Story The 2016 GFA International Convention and Competition will be held at Metropolitan State University in Denver, CO from June 20-25, 2016 with local host Alex Komodore. This year’s featured artists include Judicael Perroy, Raphaella Smits, Ben Verdery, Jason Vieaux, and Fabio Zanon. Experience three concerts daily, along with workshops, lectures, master classes and private lessons with the top artists in our field. The Vendor Expo runs all week long and will feature the industry’s finest guitar luthiers, gear […]]]>
Calling all classical-guitar fans! We’ve done the hard work—rounded up a handful of classical guitar fests taking place this weekend. Now all you have to do is get yourself there—or, more realistically, to the festivals’ websites to find the latest details and updates. The two-week long 38th Guitar Course/Festival at Chateau De Ligoure in Solignac-Le Vigen, France winds down this weekend with the final day of lessons, master classes, presentations, and concerts taking place Saturday, August. 22. Visit guitarenfrance.org […]]]>
June 28-July 12 Le Domaine Forget Guitar Competition; Saint– Irénée, Quebec Two-week young guitarists and advanced instruction programs, culminating in competitions in both categories. 5 Rang Saint Antoine, C.P. 672, Saint-Irénée (QC) G0T 1V0, Canada. domaineforget.com/en/1/stages/guitar July 3-6 Guitar Festival of Ireland; Dublin Ireland Master classes, workshops, and concerts with Assad Duo, Berta Rojas, Gareth Pearson, GuitaRIAM, John Feeley, Alec O’Leary, and more; in assorted Dublin venues. gfi.ie July 11-14 East Carolina University Summer Guitar Festival; Greenville, North Carolina […]]]>
Here’s Xavier Jara award-winning performance from last year’s Boston Guitar Fest. Jara will be performing a solo recital at this year’s festival, Boston Guitar Fest X: The Eternal Feminine. In addition to youth and adult competitions, this year’s festival will feature concerts and master classes by Oscar Ghiglia, Xuefei Yang, and performances featuring fest director Eliot Fisk, Zaira Meneses, Kim Perlak, Jennifer McNeil, Maarten Stragier, a luthier’s expo, and more. See the full schedule of events here. In the above […]]]>
Krishna took home the Gold Medal in this year’s Young Guitarist Competition. Watch him in action at the 2011 GFA competition!]]>
The 17th Ivor Mairants Guitar Award (IMGA), administered by the Worshipful Company of Musicians, was held this year on March 26 in the lecture hall of London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The steeply raked auditorium provided a slightly austere setting for a guitar competition, but the clear acoustics enabled all of the performers to show their musical skills and insights to good advantage; and they stood to gain considerable rewards, including prize money, a valuable collected edition of […]]]>
by Paul Fowles At the time of writing, much of the recent news from Ukraine has varied between grim and positively alarming. So it’s a pleasure and a relief to report that, on arriving in Kiev for the 6th “GitAs” Classical Guitar Concourse (March 26-28, 2015), the atmosphere was one of “business as usual,” with the metro full to capacity and the street-corner kiosks enjoying brisk trade. Under the directorship of Kostyantyn Chechenya, who is also a key figure in […]]]>
Danish guitarist Jakob Bangsø won his first guitar competition in 2004. Since then he has been winning competitions all over the world. Bangsø’s rendition of Scarlatti’s Sonata in D minor at last year’s Antony Guitar Competition won him first prize and the audience award. The 2015 competition is happening March 25-28 in Antony, France. Click here for more information on the event.]]>
Canadian guitarist Xu Kun Liu took first place in the Junior Division at the 2014 GFA Competition in June. In the above clip, Liu performs Fernando Sor’s Grand Solo. At 14 years old Liu, who has been studying guitar (and piano) since age five, shows no signs of slowing down. The Vancouver Classical Guitar Society reports that Liu “has won several scholarships to support his studies.” For more on the Guitar Foundation of America Competition, click here.]]>
John Bogan took first place in the Senior Division at the 2014 GFA Competition in June. In this clip from his performance Bogan plays Bryan Johanson’s “Open Up Your Ears.”]]>