The five-day festival will feature concerts, master classes on technique and artistic development, lectures, a youth guitar orchestra and an international competition with a first prize of $1,000.

Stephen Mattingly, UofL guitar instructor and festival director, said that the event is open to all enthusiasts and playing levels.

“The festival attracts guitar enthusiasts of varied stylistic preferences who meet with artists from around the world,” Mattingly said. “Many are returning from last year including artists from the U.S., Serbia, Greece, Mexico and Canada.”

Concerts will be held in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall, School of Music, on UofL’s Belknap Campus. The opening concert will feature the award-winning Tantalus Quartet. Later concerts will present an array of virtuosic solo guitar music. Highlights include:

  • Tantalus Quartet, 7 p.m., May 24
  • Brendan Evans and Huston/Todd Duo, 4 p.m. and Goran Ivanovic and Andreas Kapsalis Duo, 7 p.m., May 25
  • Old Toad Guitar Duo and Lynn McGrath, 4 p.m. and Adam Holzman, 7 p.m., May 26
  • Competition finalists, 3 p.m. and Youth Guitar Ensemble and Orchestra Showcase, 6 p.m., May 27 (both of these concerts are free)
  • Participants’ concert, 1 p.m., May 28 (free)

Except for the free concerts as noted above, tickets for each concert are $20 for adults, $10 for students and seniors. A package price for all concerts is $50. The general registration fee for participants is $150 for adults or $75 for a youth weekend fee. Tickets and registration forms are available at the door or online.