There are a number of exciting Summer Schools and other guitar events happening in 2024! Even if you do not attend the courses themselves, each of them include numerous concerts, all of which are well worth putting in the diary. The places can also fill up quite quickly.
Guitar Foundation of America
Date: 17 – 22 June 2024
Website: 2024 Convention & Competitions (guitarfoundation.org)
The Guitar Foundation of America is a course and a huge convention and will take place on 17 – 22 June 2024. It is sited peripatetically around the USA (last year New York) and this year it is in Fullerton, LA. If you really want a big event with 4 concerts a day, lectures and multiple performance competitions then this is the event for you. Steve Goss will also be running an academic programme in parallel.
Royal Greenwich Guitar Festival
Date: 8 – 10 July 2024
Website: ROYAL GREENWICH GUITAR FESTIVAL
This course runs at Greenwich (now the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance) London, on 8 – 10 July 2024. You will be able to see the famous chapel and painted hall. I had the privilege of living there for a while many years ago (when it was a Naval college), on the edge of the Thames and dining in the painted hall every day. You will then also have London if you extend your stay.
Guitare en France
Date: 20-27 July – 2024
Website: Home | Guitare En France (guitarenfrance.org)
‘Guitare en France’ (formerly held in Ligoure) takes place in the Château de Celon (XVe siecle), near Argenton-sur-Creuse, a picturesque town named ‘la Venise du Berry’. A gem of a venue in a peaceful environment surrounded by silence, make it an ideal place for an intensive yet convivial course.
Our mission is to provide an all-round guitar experience to a limited number of guitarists of all levels (Grade 5 and above) and to foster artistic growth and creativity in a non competitive environment.
Run by Eleftheria Kotzia www.eleftheria.info
Ham Farm Festival
Date: 26-28 July
Website: HAM FARM FESTIVAL – Home
Not a course, but a festival of music, run and organised by Francisco and Emily in Bristol. Well worth attending and WAGO will be playing on one of the days.
Ammerdown
Date: 11-17 August 2024
Website: Guitar Summer School – Guitar Summer School
This is the replacement venue for the Dillington Summer School which will now take place at Ammerdown Retreat Centre – Sanctuary of Peace in Somerset (near Bath). Chris Stell, Mark Eden and Debbie Adamson-Brattland are the tutors. Due to the change in venue this year, the dates of this course unfortunately clashes with the IGF Bath Summer School.
IGF Bath Summer School
Date: 13 – 17 August
Website: Bath Summer School 2024 Classical – International Guitar Foundation & Festivals (igf.org.uk)
This course runs at Bath Spa University Campus and is led by BCGS’s musical director, Francisco, so well worth attending.
This year’s tutors include Irina Kulikova, Judicaël Perroy, Laura Snowden, Sam Brown (Lute), Declan Zapala, Francisco Correa, Tom Kerstens and Stephen Goss.
There’s also a classical singing track, and the source runs the same time as the Popular styles (Blues, Rock, Folk etc.) so there’s opportunity to interact with musicians from other genres.
West Dean
Date: 17 – 22 August
Website: Classical Guitar Festival | West Dean
This course runs at West Dean College (near Chichester). Our BCGS Patron Berta Rojas will be a tutor on the course together with Andrew Gough (Course director), Gerald Garcia, Alison Bendy and others. This course has an open day on Sunday 18 Aug to which anyone can attend for a small fee. Why not run straight from Ammerdown or the IGF into a week at West Dean?
Classical Guitar Masterclass by Craig Ogden
Date: Fri 30th Aug – Sun 1st Sept
Website: For now, see the brochure at https://www.hawkwoodcollege.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/2024-Brochure-Web.pdf pp. 26-27
An opportunity to study with one of the best classical guitarists of our
generation. Craig Ogden will give expert insight on effective practice strategies. There will be ensemble work, concerts and tutorials.
Cawsand
Date: 6 – 8 September
Websiite: Cawsand Bay Guitarfest 2024
This course is run by Alison Smith and has Craig Ogden and the Vida Quartet as concerts and tutors. This will run 6 – 8 Sep 2024 in the beautiful Cornish coastal town of Cawsand and Kingsand.
Guitars by the Sea
Date: 18 – 20 October 2024
Website: https://www.brightonguitargroup.co.uk/gbts
Location: Brighton, UK
We are very pleased to announce that Mark Eden, well-known from the internationally recognised Eden-Stell guitar duo, will be leading the ensemble tutoring this year at GBTS 3.Young emerging artist Kia Robeson will give an evening recital this year, and also contribute to the ensemble tutoring during the course.
Ullapool Guitar Festival
Date: 4 – 6 October 2024
Website: ullapoolguitarfestival.com
Location: Ullapool, UK
Hillscourt Guitar Weekend Break
Date: 15 – 17 November 2024
Contact Raymond Burley at raymond3325@gmail.com
Location: Rednal, UK
Want your event listed here?
If you organise a classical guitar festival, summer school, or event, contact us to be added to the list!