OKANAGAN GUITAR FESTIVAL

JULY 10-13, 2025

The Okanagan’s celebration of classical guitar is back! 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 passionate guitarists, local audiences, wineries and internationally recognized talent.

At the heart of the festival are two familiar names: 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. 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 guitar concertos in what promises to be one of the festival’s most memorable concerts to date.  Sunday afternoon features our participants and faculty in a closing concert at St. Michael’s Cathedral. (Read more about the festival faculty here.)

Alongside the concert series, the festival offers an intensive and welcoming educational experience with masterclasses and workshops led by this year’s faculty. These sessions, also held at the 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.”

REGISTRATION

• Early Bird Registration ends on June 14th, 2025.

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

• Registrations are refundable until July 1st, after which refunds will be subject to a 20% penalty.

For more information visit https://www.okanaganguitar.com/ or email Alec Pearson at okanaganguitar@gmail.com

Register here:

Please fill out the form below. Payment details will be finalized after speaking with one of our volunteers about your registration. Payment can be made by e-transfer or credit card. Credit card payments will be subject to an added processing fee.

---