- Concerts
- Festival Day Schedule
- Masterclass
- Workshops
- Students Recitals & Vendors Fair
- Competition
- TICKETS
Ana Vidović
Festival Opening Concert
Saturday April 18
7:30 pm
First Presbyterian Church
201 S 21st St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Gohar Vardanyan
Festival Closing Concert
Sunday April 19
3:30 pm
Settlement Music School
416 Queen St. (Free parking on site)
Philadelphia, PA 19147
Celebrate the classical guitar with a full day of music, learning, and community at the
39th Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival
Sunday April 19, 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:
- Introduction to Flamenco Guitar – Pat D’Aprile
- Efficient Technique on the classical guitar with Gohar Vardanyan
- Don’t Blame the Music Theory Guy! with Dr. Miroslav Loncar
- Ana Vidović masterclass
- PCGS Ensemble Performance
- Gohar Vardanyan closing Concert
- Competition Awards
Ana Vidović masterclass
For a chance to play in the masterclass: scroll down and click APPLY by March 22nd (video required)!
Join us for an exclusive masterclass with the legendary Ana Vidovic, a performer whose “liquid musicality” and flawless technique have defined the gold standard for the modern classical guitar.
More than just a lesson, this session offers a rare window into the meticulous artistry and thoughtful interpretation of a global virtuoso. Whether you are an aspiring professional seeking to refine your stagecraft or a dedicated enthusiast looking to deepen your understanding of the instrument, this is a unique opportunity to learn from a master who has graced the world’s most prestigious stages.
Student Performers
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Paxson Huang
Frog Galliard by John Dowland (1563 – 1626)
1:30 – 2:00 pm
Ed Dixon
Guárdame las Vacas by Luis de Narváez (1490 – 1550)
2:00 – 2:30 pm
Theo Anderson
Mazurka Appassionata by Agustin Barrios (1885 – 1944)
2:30 – 3:00 pm
Robert Laidlaw
Castle of Spain — Siguenza (La Infanta Duerme) by Federico Moreno Torroba (1891-1982)
HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS WITH YOUR SUNDAY FESTIVAL PASS
Open to Guitarists of all levels
Remember to bring your guitar!
Introduction to Flamenco
Pat D’Aprile
(9 am – 10 am)
Add new music and style to your repertoire in this hands-on flamenco guitar workshop that will introduce attendees to falsetas Solea and Tangos as well as accompanying Palmas (rhythmic clapping). All participants are welcome to observe or perform. Bring your guitar and participate in a group performance at the end of the session!
Pat D’Aprile
Guitarist Pat D’Aprile has studied in Madrid at the conservatory Amor De Dios, Cordoba at the International Festival of Guitar and Dance, Jerez at the Antonio El Pipa and Maria del Mar Moreno summer workshops and in San Lucar de Barrameda with Gerardo Nunez / Carmen Cortes’ Arte Danza Institute.
Efficient Technique on the classical guitar
Gohar Vardanyan
(10:15 am – 11:30 am)
“In this workshop, we will focus on the efficiency and comfort of playing classical guitar. Emphasis will be placed on good posture, proper body alignment, and correct left- and right-hand positioning. We will also discuss effective movement to support healthy and efficient technique development. We will concentrate on the basic building blocks of classical guitar technique, such as arpeggios, scales, rest stroke, free stroke, finger independence, and discuss how each technique advances as the level of the player develops.”
Don’t Blame the Music Theory Guy!
Dr. Miroslav Loncar
(2pm-3pm)
“This hands-on seminar introduces music theory in a fun, practical way that helps students better understand the guitar and how music is built. Through hands-on activities, students will explore patterns like scales and chords to make learning and memorizing music easier and more intuitive. Participants will write their own chord progressions and arpeggios, then experiment with improvising over them alongside other students in a supportive group setting.”
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.
2026 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition
The Semifinalists have been announced!
| 2026 PHILADELPHIA CLASSICAL GUITAR COMPETITION SEMIFINAL ROUND PROGRAM First Presbyterian Church 201 S 21st St. Philadelphia, PA 19103 | |
| ADULT DIVISION | |
3:00 PM Laurel Harned (Redlands, CA) | Cello Suite no. 3 Prelude by J.S. Bach Tarantella by J.K. Mertz Homenaje a Debussy by Manuel de Falla |
3:15 Benjamin Gascon (Baltimore, MD) | Six variations sur un thème original, Op. 20 by Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) Sonata no.1 para guitarra, by Carlos Guastavino (1912-2000) II. Andante III. Allegro spiritoso |
| 3:30 Adrian Montero (Cayce, SC) | Partita For Solo Guitar (Toccata) by José Mora Jimenez Sonata k.213 by Domenico Scarlatti Elogió de la guitarra by Joaquín Rodrigo |
3:45 Kyle Khembunjong (Milwaukee, WI) | Les tours de passe-passe, Ordre 22, No. 8 by François Couperin Sonate in A-Dur, Op. 17 by Werthmüller Lento Rondo Vivace Scherzo-Vals by Miguel Llobet Solés |
| 4:00PM Nattakarn Kijrattanakarn (Gainesville, FL) | Keyboard Sonata K377 by Domenico Scarlatti In The Woods by Toru Takemitsu I. Wainscot Pond Sonata para Guitarra by Antonio Jose IV. Final |
| 4:15 Django Klumpp (Penfield, NY) | Selections from Variations on a Catalan Folk Song by John Duarte Rite of the orishas by Leo Brouwer ii. Danzas de las diosas negras |
| 4:30 Aaron Baldauf (Milwaukee WI) | Variations on a Theme by Scriabin by Alexandre Tansman Cataluña by Isaac Albeniz |
| 4:45 Xingxing Yao (Philadelphia, PA) | Violin Sonata, BWV 1001, Fugue by J. S. Bach Introduction and Caprice, Op.23 by Giulio Regondi |
| YOUTH DIVISION | |
| 1:00 PM, Ruqi Jiang | Open up your ears by Bryan Johanson Rondeu de Concert Op.12 by Napoleon Coste |
1:10, Ryan Ivanov | Junto Al Generalife by Joaquín Rodrigo Cavatina (Preludio) by Alexandre Tansman |
| 1:20, Andy Lin | Lute Suite III, BWV 995 by J. S. Bach Prelude, Tres Vite Scherzo Vals by Miguel Llobet |
1:30, Lukas Lin | Lute Suite II, BWV 997 by J.S. Bach Prelude Ráfaga, Op. 53 by Joaquín Turina |
| 1:40, Theo Anderson | Mazurka Appassionata by Agustín Barrios Violin Sonata in Gm, BWV 1001 by J.S. Bach Fugue |
1:50, Luu Li C. Pham | Homenaje a Tárrega / Garrotin by Joaquín Turina Valseana by Sergio Assad |
2:00, Lucca Farkas | Campanas Del Alba by Eduardo Sainz de la Maza Sonata K. 209 by Domenico Scarlatti |
2:10, Damian Gadiyak | Sonata BWV 1001 by J.S. Bach Adagio Presto |
Sunday Tickets Options
(from as low as $15)
| FULL access to ALL events (best value) on Sunday including closing concert with Gohar Vardanyan | FULL ACCESS – Tickets HERE |
| Closing Concert only with Gohar Vadanyan – no admission to day events | CLOSING FESTIVAL CONCERT ONLY – Tickets HERE |
| Day events ONLY: excludes access to Closing Concert with Gohar Vardanyan | DAY EVENTS ONLY (no closing concert) – Tickets HERE |
