Philadelphia Classical Guitar Festival
April 9-11, 2027
- Concerts
- Festival Day Schedule
- Masterclass
- Workshops
- Students Recitals & Vendors Fair
- Competition
- TICKETS
2027 PCGS FESTIVAL
Friday to Sunday April 9-11, 2027
Check the TICKETS tab for tickets options
Celebrate the classical guitar with a full day of music, learning, and community at the
40th Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival
Sunday April 11, 9 am – 5:30 pm
ONE PASS FOR ALL SUNDAY’s EVENTS
Festival Day brings together rising young players, dedicated students, and world-class artists for an immersive experience that moves seamlessly from competition and recitals to workshops, masterclasses, and concerts.
- Classical Guitar Competition FINALS (Junior and Adult divisions)
- Students Recitals
- Workshops:
- TBA 1
- TBA 2
- TBA 3
- David Russell masterclass
- PCGS Ensemble Performance
- Meng Su “Festival Grand Finale” Concert
- Competition Awards
DETAILED SCHEDULED COMING SOON (-ish)
David Russell masterclass
For a chance to play in the masterclass: scroll down and click APPLY by March 19th (video required)!
Join us for a rare masterclass with David Russell, Grammy Award-winning guitarist, Royal Academy of Music Fellow, and one of the most admired teachers and performers in the classical guitar world.
Known for his patience, warmth, and extraordinary ability to help players transform their approach to the instrument, Russell offers more than technical advice: he opens a window into the musical imagination, discipline, and interpretive insight behind a lifetime at the highest level of the art. Whether you are a serious student, an aspiring professional, or a dedicated listener, this masterclass is a unique opportunity to learn from a true master of the guitar.
Masterclass with David Russell – 1:00 to 3:00 pm
Student Performers: TBA
HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS WITH YOUR SUNDAY FESTIVAL PASS
Open to Guitarists of all levels
Remember to bring your guitar!
WORKSHOPS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Free and open to the public
STUDENTS RECITALS
Celebrate our diverse community of players at the Student Showcase Recitals this Sunday. Recitals will take place in two 45′ sessions: Session 1 from 12:00 pm to 12:45 pm and Session 2 from 1pm to 1:45pm. These sessions provide a welcoming stage for guitarists of all ages—from young beginners to dedicated adult students—to share their progress with a supportive audience of peers. This event is free and open to the public, and we invite all music lovers to join us in supporting these performers.
To participate, please contact your teacher to be added to the roster. With dozens of performers expected, all registrations must be finalized by the April 1. Whether you are performing or attending to cheer on your colleagues, we look forward to an inspiring afternoon that highlights the hard work and artistry of our entire student community.
VENDORS’ FAIR
Whether you’re a dedicated performer or a curious listener, the Vendors’ Fair serves as the convention’s vibrant hub for discovery and connection. This year’s exhibition brings together a curated selection of world-class luthiers, leading music publishers, and celebrated authors who are shaping the discourse of the classical guitar world. It is a rare chance to trial a wide range of concert-level instruments, browse new editions of essential scores, and meet the writers behind the latest pedagogical and historical texts.
By stepping into the exhibit hall, you are engaging directly with the craft and scholarship that sustain our community. We invite you to explore the booths, test-play the displays, and find the tools or inspiration for your next project.
Hear the Next Generation of Great Guitarists!
Festival Day includes the final round of the PCGS Classical Guitar Competition, where outstanding young and emerging guitarists perform live before an audience and distinguished judges.
Presented in both Youth and Adult divisions, these finals unfold as a series of short recital performances—each finalist presenting a carefully prepared program. For the audience, the experience feels less like a contest and more like a sequence of mini concerts, offering a fascinating range of repertoire, styles, and musical personalities throughout the day.
The PCGS competition has helped launch remarkable careers. Past winners include internationally acclaimed artists such as Celil Refik Kaya, Alan Liu, and Bokyung Byun, winner of the Guitar Foundation of America 2021 International Concert Artist Competition.
Whether you are a guitarist, music student, teacher, or simply a lover of great music, the competition finals offer a rare opportunity to hear rising artists at the moment their careers begin to take shape.
Get you Festival Sunday Pass NOW and come hear tomorrow’s great guitarists today.
Festival PASSES and TICKETS options
FULL FESTIVAL PASS Access to all 3 Concerts (Fri-Sun) and Full Sunday One Pass – Full Festival Experience! | FULL FESTIVAL PASS Options Here |
SUNDAY FULL DAY PASS (including Meng Su concert) | Full Festival Sunday PASS Options Here |
SUNDAY Partial Day-Pass (all activities EXCEPT concert with Meng Su) | Partial Festival Sunday PASS Options Here |
Xingxing Yao & Jiujiu Wu “Rising Stars” Friday concert Only | “Rising Stars” concert Tickets options HERE |
David Russell Satuday April 10, 2027 – 7:30 pm (concert access only) | David Russell Tickets options HERE |
Meng Su Festival Grand Finale (concert access only) | Meng Su Tickets options HERE |
Photography & Recording Notice
By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree that the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society (PCGS) may photograph, film, or otherwise record the event, in whole or in part, and that you may appear in such recordings, including as an audience member.
Such recordings may be used by PCGS for marketing, promotional, educational, archival, and communications purposes, in any media now known or later developed. PCGS shall be the sole owner of all such recordings, and attendance at the event constitutes consent to their use without compensation.
Personal photography, audio recording, or video recording by attendees is not permitted, except by PCGS staff or others expressly authorized by PCGS.
For events involving minors, a parent or legal guardian who permits a minor to attend or participate in the event acknowledges and agrees that the minor may be photographed or recorded under the same terms.