Guitar Festivals and Organizations
(Listed Alphabetically)
Allegro Guitar Society of Dallas/Fort Worth - Enjoy a full season of music performed in Dallas or Fort Worth, or send them your artist proposal and perhaps be accepted to perform in concert! Season tickets can be purchased or review their schedule and attend the concert of your choice.
Boston Guitar Fest - is a music festival with a stellar array of exciting concerts; a series of seminars and master classes taught by an incomparable faculty; and a meeting place for all those seeking a deeper message, more enduring values and a more genuine human interchange than can often be found in the world of today’s “music business”.
Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute - Students attending this festival at Oklahoma City University have an opportunity to learn from the Royal Family of Guitar, featuring Celin Romero. Enjoy private lessons, master classes, chamber coaching, and evening performances.
Classical Minds Festival - Valerie Hartzell, Artistic Director. For 14 years, the festival was held every June in Houston, Texas for those who play or appreciate classical guitar. In 2019 the venue was moved to England and is held in October. The festival features private lessons, guitar orchestra classes, technique classes, master classes, competition and lectures. In addition, patrons and musicians can enjoy the Festival Faculty Artist Concert Series.
The GFA- Guitar Foundation of America, founded in 1973 this organization provides its members the advantages of a guitar society, a library, publisher and an educational resource, plus an arts council.
American Guitar Society - They operate to raise awareness and celebrate the richness and diversity of the guitar and its music through monthly meetings, concerts and workshops, special presentations, community outreach and community service.
Texas Guitar Competition and Festival - Held at the University of Texas at Dallas, this annual festival is designed to showcase outstanding classical guitar performers from around the world and offers a generous cash prize to the winners.
Instructors and Performers
(Listed Alphabetically)
Issac Bustos - Currently the Head of Guitar Studies at the University of Texas - San Antonio Department of Music. Mr. Bustos is also part of the Texas Guitar Quartet.
Russ Callison - A Texas native transplanted to Colorado, Russ actively performs and teaches in the Denver metro area. Since earning his Master’s Degree, Russ has explored contemporary guitar music in his duo Derelict Hands with Scottish guitarist Calum Borthwick. Russ plays a Wood Ring Guitar.
Michael Dailey - Michael passed away on 9/21/21. Michael had been educating Fort Worth in classical guitar since 1986 and was an Adjunct Professor of classical guitar at Texas Wesleyan University and at Tarrant County College, Northwest Campus. He was one of the most requested local solo performers in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex. He influenced many prominent classical guitarists through his teachings and his friendship. He will be missed.
Jonathan Dotson - Jonathan holds three degrees in music including a Doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, where he was the recipient of the Mary Winton Green Endowed Presidential Scholarship in music. In the past he has served on the faculty of the Texas Southmost College (TSC) department of Humanities and the University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Department of Music. He was a founding member of the Texas Guitar Quartet. Currently, Johnathan resides in St. Augustine FL, and continues to teach and perform regularly as a soloist.
Will Douglas - Will has a Doctorate in Music Performance degree from the University of North Texas. Will is currently the director at The Guitar Studio in Fort Worth, TX and is an Adjunct Professor of Instrumental Studies in Guitar at Tarrant County College Northwest and Arlington Baptist College. Will plays a Wood Ring Guitar.
Eddie Healy - Classical Guitarist and Instructor at The University of Texas at Dallas, Eastfield College, the Spring Creek and Central Park campuses of the Collin County Community College District and the Gray School of Music. He recieved his Master's degree from Southern Methodist University and has studied under Robert Gutherie and also Dr. Enric Madriguera. He performs regularly around the DFW metroplex. His newest CD, Direction, has been released. Please visit his web site to listen and purchase the album, it will be well worth your time!
Adam Holzman - Adam Holzman is founder of the Guitar Department at the University of Texas at Austin where, in addition to his active performing career, he heads a thriving guitar studio.
Tom Johnson - Tom Johnson has been active as a performer and teacher for over thirty years. His career has taken him to Canada, Italy, France, Mexico, South America and Spain. Tom is the founder and head of the classical guitar program at the University of North Texas.
Jacob Johnson - Jacob Johnson is a musician based in the Dallas area. Mr. Johnson specializes in guitar and lute performance, and offers personalized private instruction. His repertoire spans the 15th century to the current day, and includes many popular tunes arranged for solo guitar. Mr. Johnson is a published arranger and composer of music for guitars and other instruments, and has been published as a music essayist.
Kithara Duo - The critically acclaimed Kithara Duo was formed in 2002 by Fernand Vera and Olga Amelkina-Vera. Since then they have performed in Europe and South America as well as nationally in the US for numerous organizations. The duo performs original compositions written by Olga. They also offer private instruction for students in the Denton, DFW Metroplex. They also provide classical guitar instruction at Collin College in Plano, TX.
Dan Kyzer - Dan teaches at the University of Texas at Tyler, where he runs the guitar studio. He also teaches applied lessons at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. Dan is making his mark on the music world not only as a performer, but also as an educator. Whether teaching classical or popular music on the guitar, Dan brings a unique teaching philosophy to the guitar and seeks to develop his students' through a holistic approach to musicianship. Before moving to Texas, Mr. Kyzer earned a Master of Music degree at the prestigious New England Conservatory in Boston, MA. He completed his Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of North Texas. Dan plays a Wood Ring Guitar.
Enric Madriguera - Enric Madriguera holds the Russell Cleveland Director of Guitar Studies an endowed professorship at the University of Texas at Dallas. As both a performer and educator of the guitar Madriguera has traveled to and presented in five continents during the span of his career. Madriguera is a co-founder and artistic director for the Texas Guitar Competition and Festival, and the Guitar Series at UT Dallas. The Texas Competition attracts an elite level of competitors from around the world.
Vadim Timinsky - A Classical Guitarist and Performer, Vadim completed his Master of Music in Classical Guitar from Southern Methodist University under Professor Robert Guthrie in 2005. He has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe, Israel and throughout North Texas. He also gives private lessons. He is located in North Texas.
Colleges and Universities
Collin College - Music Department - My alma mater! Located in Collin County, Plano, Texas. Collin College offers several associate degree programs for music majors. Their classical guitar ensemble currently directed by Fernand Vera has won numerous awards.
Oklahoma City University - The Bachelor of Music in Guitar Performance degree program is designed to develop comprehensive musical skills and literacy, leading to a professional career as a performer in a broad variety of idioms or to graduate study in music.
SMU University - The faculty of the Meadows School of the Arts is committed to the highest standards of teaching and to active professional participation in music performance and research. Guitar students benefit from the broad experience of the Division of Music faculty, the excellent resources that abound in the Hamon Arts Library and performance facilities, interaction with visiting artists, and a close alliance with the Dallas Classical Guitar Society and the Allegro Guitar Society.
University of North Texas - The Instrumental Studies division of UNT's College of Music offers Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts performance degrees with a specialization in guitar.
Univeristy of Texas at Austin - The Guitar Studio at The University of Texas at Austin enjoys being one of the most competitive and strongest guitar studios in the world. Founded by Professor Adam Holzman, the Guitar Studio's students have won an array of international prizes.
University of Texas at Dallas - The Guitar Studies Program at UTD offers students many opportunities to perform and study by offering both ensemble and solo playing opportunities.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley - The The UTRGV Department of Music offers students many opportunities to perform or study music. In addition, the University sponsors an annual Guitar Ensemble Festival and Competition which features master classes, clinics and great performances. Attendees are treated to performances by talented performers. Among those who have performed are The Texas Guitar Quartet and The Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
University of Texas at San Antonio - The Guitar program at UTSA is an exciting musical experience for guitarists from around the United States and beyond. Their graduates have achieved considerable success in competitions, auditions at leading graduate schools, and have built careers in music as performers and teachers.
Websites that Promote Classical Guitar
This Is Classical Guitar - Exploring classical guitar with videos, lessons, sheet music, and reviews. This Is Classical Guitar handpicks media by current professionals with a preference toward young emerging artists. Based in Victoria, BC.
