The Okanagan’s celebration of classical guitar is back July 10-13 with festival favorites plus fresh faces, new venues and musical firsts!
The Okanagan’s celebration of classical guitar is back with festival favorites plus fresh faces, new venues and musical firsts! From July 10 to 13, the 4th annual Okanagan Guitar Festival returns to Kelowna with a beautiful weekend of guitar downtown and new this year in West Kelowna. The festival offers a full program of concerts, masterclasses, and workshops that bring together guitarists, local audiences, wineries and internationally recognized talent in a summer celebration.
At the heart of the festival are two familiar names who have been with the festival since the very beginning: Alec Pearson, the festival’s founder and artistic director, and Daniel Bolshoy, one of Canada’s superstar classical guitarists. Alec Pearson, a UBC and Vancouver Academy of Music instructor, has been instrumental in shaping the classical guitar scene in British Columbia, and his vision for a festival rooted in artistic excellence and warm community engagement has made this annual event a local favourite. Daniel Bolshoy, a world-renowned performer and former head of guitar at UBC, brings his virtuosic artistry and deep connection to the region, having performed with over 60 orchestras worldwide — including the Okanagan Symphony.
This year, the festival continues its tradition of offering top-tier performances in stunning venues with the addition of Grizzli Winery. The concert series begins on Thursday, July 10, with a performance by Luis Angel Medina and Tejay Liao at the beautiful Grizzli Winery in West Kelowna. On Friday, July 11, the concert stage at Grizzli welcomes Gwenyth Aggeler, winner of the 2024 Guitar Fest West Competition and a rising star in the classical guitar world. Then on Saturday, July 12, audiences will gather in the acoustically rich Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels in downtown Kelowna for a special evening with Daniel Bolshoy, who will perform three remarkable guitar concertos along with Alec Pearson and Gabriela Pimental . Sunday afternoon features our participants and faculty in a closing concert at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Alongside the concert series, the festival offers an intensive and welcoming educational experience for guitarists of all ages and levels with masterclasses and workshops led by this year’s faculty. These sessions, also held at St. Michael’s Cathedral Church, provide a unique opportunity for participants to study with some of the best in the field. Returning faculty Luis Angel Medina brings his performance expertise and teaching experience from Capilano University, while Tejay Liao offers fresh insights on how musicians can learn more effectively using principles from neuroscience. Gwenyth Aggeler will also take part in educational offerings, sharing her experience as a multi-award-winning young artist who has earned top honours at international competitions and appeared on NPR’s “From the Top.”
2 Masterclass Registration - $280 ($320 after June 14)
· 1 on-1 participation in two masterclasses (can be substituted for a private lesson if the student is very stage shy).
· Access to all workshops/lectures & concerts. NEW THIS YEAR - a parent or family member may attend with the registree and audit for free.
· 1 ticket to each concert event. This applies to the registrant only; family and friends should purchase tickets to the concerts they wish to attend.
1 Masterclass Registration - $200 ($230 after June 14)
· Perform in one masterclass (can be substituted for a private lesson if the student is very stage shy).
· Access to all workshops/lectures & concerts. A parent or family member may attend with the registree and audit for free.
· 1 ticket to each concert event. This applies to the registrant only; family and friends should purchase tickets to the concerts they wish to attend.
Additional Class - $80 per (must be registered for 2 classes).
3 Concert Pass - General: $70, Senior 55+/Student/Youth $50
Single Concert Tickets – General $30, Senior 55+/Student/Youth $20
For more information visit https://www.okanaganguitar.com/ or email Alec Pearson at okanaganguitar@gmail.com