The Okanagan Guitar Festival July 6th-9th brings 3 beautiful concerts to Kelowna
Improve your guitar skills or simply enjoy the concerts
Kelowna’s newest summer festival is back – bigger and better with more beautiful music. The second annual Okanagan Guitar Festival is a unique opportunity for guitarists and music lovers to immerse themselves in 4 days of concerts, master classes and workshops from July 6th-9th. The festival includes three outstanding classical guitar concerts headlined by festival faculty artists Daniel Bolshoy and Luis Angel Medina, Alec Pearson and harpist Vivian Chen, Kelowna’s own Alan Rinehart and flutist Christine Moore, Galina Jitlina with a youth ensemble, and Louise Southwood. The concerts will be held at the wonderful music venue The Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels, 608 Sutherland Avenue, in downtown Kelowna. For tickets and registration, go to www.okanaganguitar.com
If you play guitar, this is a unique opportunity to participate in four days of workshops and individual masterclasses with top faculty from UBC, University of Georgia, the VSO School of Music and more. This year there is a wide range of workshop topics including flamenco techniques with Tatoul Hadjian and a special emphasis on young musicians with Suzuki Method specialist Galina Jitlina. All masterclasses and workshops take place at UBCO, 1137 Alumni Avenue, Kelowna.
Okanagan Guitar Festival founder, artistic director, performer and UBC lecturer Alec Pearson explains how the 2023 festival will be different. “This year's festival is a day longer meaning that we get to have more concert days and a faculty rooster of seven guest musicians. We’re also showcasing the classical guitar in duos featuring harp in our Friday concert and flute in our Sunday concert, something special for chamber music lovers.”
West Kelowna Academy of Music teacher Karen Emmons attended last year’s concerts and says, “I’m thrilled the festival is coming back with even more music. Last year, both concerts were world class and inspiring, a real treat.” She adds that this opportunity to learn from top teachers and performers is not to be missed by students and music teachers. “It’s perfect for any guitarist who wants to move beyond chords to melody and harmony.”
There are three concerts in the festival. On Friday, July 7th at 7:15 pm, harpist and top UBC graduate Vivian Chen will perform in a duo with festival director, UBC instructor and outstanding guitarist Alec Pearson. “Harp and guitar are a pretty magical combination,” says Alec. The duo will be premiering one of Alec’s original compositions.
Returning to the festival is artist Daniel Bolshoy, a big draw for both the Saturday, July 8th at 7:15 pm concert and the masterclasses. Daniel, former head of guitar at UBC and the VSO School of Music, is an internationally acclaimed guitarist who has performed with over 60 orchestras internationally including the Okanagan Symphony. He’ll be performing with his former student, Luis Angel Medina, now an award-winning guitarist originally from Mexico.
The Sunday, July 9th matinee concert at 2:30 pm will be bursting with talent including Kelowna’s own virtuoso guitarist Alan Rinehart teamed up with Christine Moore, well known as former principal flutist with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra. The afternoon also includes Suzuki method specialist Galina Jitlina with a youth ensemble and VSO School of Music teacher and performer Louise Southwood. Admission to the Sunday concert is by donation. Go to www.okanaganguitar.com for more information and tickets.