By Bailey Faulkner
Do you love hearing and playing guitar music? Are you interested in all things guitar? If so, mark your calendar for April 8–10, because the 21st Annual Appalachian GuitarFest is coming back to ASU.
The Broyhill Music Center’s annual event gathers classical guitarists from around the country to perform compositions, teach master classes and lead workshops. GuitarFest also hosts competitions so attendees can showcase their talents and compete for cash prizes. This year, the main concert events in the Hayes Music building will include:
Stephen Robinson and Corde Cantanti: Friday, April 8 at 8 p.m. in Recital Hall RM 129 featuring Hazel Ketchum, Douglas James, and Corinne Cassini.
Stephen Mattingly and Ricardo Cobo: Saturday, April 9 at 8 p.m. in the Rosen Concert Hall.
Guitar Orchestra: Sunday, April 10 at 11 a.m. in the Rosen Concert Hall.
For more information on these artists, click here.
GuitarFest 2016
GuitarFest’s full package price, which includes all concerts, master classes and workshops, will be $75. Those participating in competitions must pay an additional fee. Division I and II registration will be $40 and Division III and IV registration will be $20.
Individual tickets for evening concerts and the Division I competition final round will be $15 for students and $25 for the general public. Sunday’s show will be free of charge. Students must show a valid ASU ID for student prices. You can purchase tickets at the door or order in advance through the Schaefer Center.
The competition portion of the event will be broken into four divisions.
Division I
To compete in Division I, you must have been born on or after April 1, 1986. This division is intended for grad students and young professionals.
Competitors should come with a program of music that lasts 22-25 minutes. Division I participants will compete for the $1500 first place prize. $1600 will be split among the other three finalists.
To compete, you must register by Friday, April 1. Program proposals are due by April 4. Don’t wait! Click here for more information on the Division I competition.
Division II
To compete in Division II, you must have been born on or after April 1, 1993. Also, Division II competitors cannot be graduates from an undergraduate music program.
Division II competitors should prepare a program that lasts 10–12 minutes. Participants in this division will compete for the $1000 first place prize.
To compete, you must register by Friday, April 1. Program proposals are due by April 4. Click here for more information on the Division II competition.
Division III
To compete in Division III, you must be a high school student (grades 9–12) or a former first-prize winner in a previous Division IV competition.
Programs for Division III will be broken into two separate, six-minute rounds. First prize for Division III will be $500.
To compete, you must register by Friday, April 1. Click here for more information on the Division III competition.
Division IV
To compete in Division IV, you must be student grade 8 or under.
Programs will be broken into two separate, four-minute rounds. First prize for Division IV will be $300.
To compete, you must register by Friday, April 1. Click here for more information on the Division IV competition.
More Information
The inaugural Boone Suzuki Guitar Workshop hosted by the Winston Salem Suzuki School will run concurrently with GuitarFest. For more information about the workshop, click here.
The Fairfield Inn and Suites and the Comfort Inn and Suites will be the official partner hotels for GuitarFest this year. The inns will offer special rates for GuitarFest attendees. Shuttle buses will be running from both hotels to ASU’s campus.
If you plan to stay at one of the partner hotels, just make sure that you mention you are attending GuitarFest when booking your room!
To register for GuitarFest, click here. If you’d like to see a more detailed schedule of events, you can check out GuitarFest’s page on the Hayes School of Music’s website.
If you love the guitar, make sure you don’t miss out on this awesome event!