If we’ve missed your festival/competition here, let us know and we’ll add it! And if you’d like to send us information about events in the coming months, you can write to us at blair.jackson@stringletter.com. Also, please inform us who wins the competitions so we can publicize their names!
MARCH 20–22
Guitares Au Beffroi International Festival
Montrouge, France
March 22 is the classical guitar day/night of this festival held in a Paris suburb, with the finals round of the international competition (named for Roland Dyens), and performances from last year’s competition winner, Fu Ping Liu, and also two great French guitarists, Gerard Abiton and Jérémy Jouve. Also, concerts featuring acoustic guitarists, plus a luthier fair/product exposition.
guitaresaubeffroi.com
MARCH 25–28
19th Concours International de Guitare
Antony, France
All-ages and -nationalities competitions. A new piece written for the competition by Dusan Bogdanovic, called Prélude et Toccata will be featured (among others).
ville-antony.fr/concours-international-guitare
APRIL 3–5th
URI Guitar Festival & Rising Stars Competition
Kingston, Rhode Island
At the University of Rhode Island concerts, master classes, workshops, lectures, and Rising Stars competition. Once again, Adam Levin is the artistic director. He will be performing with his Great Necks Trio, along with Redmond O’ Toole and a guest cellist on Joseph Williams III’s score for the Alfred Hitchcock silent film The Lodger; that should be something! Also playing at the fest is 2019 Rising Stars winner Bokyung Byun, Pierre Bibault, Rapahel Feuillatre, 10-string guitar virtuosos Nicolo Spera, and in the final concert, African Kora master Yacouba Sissoko and the wonderful South African guitarist Derek Gripper. uriguitarfestival.org
Bokyung Byun won the 2019 Rising Stars competition at the URI Guitar Festival:
April 22–26
Zagreb Guitar Festival
Zagreb, Croatia
In addition to an international competition, master classes, workshops, lectures and more, the ever-growing Zagreb festival features concerts by Biréli Lagrene, EuroStrings 2019 grand winner Mateusz Kowalski, the finals of this year’s Zagreb competition, and Ana Vidovic joined by the EuroStrings Orchestra. zagrebguitarfest.com
March 27–29
PLU Guitar Festival & Northwest Guitar Festival
Seattle, Washington
Three days at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington with artists including Matthew Anderson, Hilary Field, Duo Tenebroso (David Franzen and Kristen Waligora), Sam Krahn, Scott Kritzer, Jessica Papkoff, James Reid, Neil andf tamara Culkins, Leon Christian, Mario Diaz and Cameron O’Connor Duo, Alexander Dunn, and Sebastian Robles. Northwest U.S. and Canada regional collegiate and youth competitions, guitar orchestra, workshops and concerts, master classes, luthier fair, and more. northwestguitarfestival.org
March 28–29
Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival and Competition
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Ana Vidovic plays the opening concert and gives a master class. Also, adult (under 30) and high school competitions; concert by 2019 competition winner Congyi Zhang ; workshops; vendor fair featuring luthiers, composers, and sheet music sellers; student recitals, and more. Closing concert is with Jay Kacherski. phillyguitar.org/Annual-Festival
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March 31–April 5
Long Island Guitar Festival
Brookville, New York
The 2th LIGF takes place on the campus of Long Island University’s Post campus and will be another in the festival’s great track record of attracting top worldwide talent. This year’s lineup includes David Russell, Jérémy Jouve, the Beijing Guitar Duo, Yenne Lee, Evan Taucher, and the Olson–Cari Duo. Also, lectures, master classes, the National High School Classical Guitar Competition, guitar orchestra, ensemble showcase, and more. postmusic.liu.edu/gfest
APRIL 4–6
Sarajevo International Guitar Festival
Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Five different levels of competition (including EuroStrings competition), master classes, and concerts featuring Nairuz (flamenco/Sufi fusion), Pablo Marquez, 2019 Eursotrings winner Mateusz Kowalski, EuroStrings artists, and Danijer Cefrovic, more. sigf.ba/
APRIL 5–9 MORE TK TK
International Guitar Festival Rust
Rust and Vienna, Austria
Competitions (including composition), plus performances to be announced. guitarfestivalrust.at/en/
APRIL 16–19
Szeged Guitar Festival
Szeged, Hungary
EuroStrings international competition, youth competition, performances, master classes, and lectures. Featured artists include Judicael Perroy, David Pavlovits, Bandini-Chiacciaretta Duo, EuroStrings winner Mateusz Kowalski, Agustin Nazzetta, Thomas Fellow, Jonas Egholm, and many more. Plus, Tango & Flamenco Night! gitarfesztival.hu/en/home
David Pavlovits is among the featured performers at the Szeged Guitar Festival in Hungary:
APRIL 18–20
San Diego Guitar Festival
San Diego, California
The theme of this year’s fifth anniversary fest is “Five Years of Diversity,” with concerts and master classes featuring Bokyung Byun, Jiji (Jiyeon Kim), and guitarist/soprano Alexandra Iranfar, plus a concert by Duo Chinoiserie (guitar and guzheng), at the Inamori Pavilion and friendship garden in Balboa Park, and other nearby locales. Other events to be announced. sdguitarfest.org/
Alexandra Iranfar, who both sings and plays beautifully, will be part of this year’s San Diego Guitar Festival:
APRIL 24–26
Toronto Guitar Weekend
Toronto, Canada
At St. Andrews Church: Artists include Jason Vieaux (who also gives a master class) and competition winners Timothy Beattie and Felix Dallaire. Two lectures plus the fest’s famous Sunday Brunch with the Artists. guitarsocietyoftoronto.com
APRIL 19–26
Gitarrenfestival Nordhorn
Nordhorn, Germany
In northwest Germany, near the Netherlands border, with seven competitions, including composition and video contests. Concerts featuring Raphaella Smits, Jesus Serrano, Simone Rinaldo & Stefan Grasse, Duo NiHZ, Ivan Petricevic and many others. Master classes, luthier fair, and more. gitarrenfestivalnordhorn.de