"The "Long Island" in the festival title clearly refers to its location and origins, rather than to its scope." New York Times, March 2014
HarrisBecker
VIDAGuitar Quartet
AnaVidovic
DavidLeisner
BenjaminVerdery
SaigonGuitar Quartet
Huy ThanhNguyen
GoharVardanyan
RaphaellaSmits
Ming-JuiLiu
JoenneDumitrascu
JamesErickson
KangMin Shin
AlanHirsh
BMHS HonorsGuitar Ensemble
Brentwood H.S.Guitar Club
Susan E. Wagner Guitar Ensemble
Freedom H.S.Guitar Ensemble
KarlaMoe
VeronicaSalas
ChristinaMontalto
EmilyKlonowski
– David Gruber, The New York Times 2001
- Classical Guitar Magazine about Festival 2016
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25th Annual Long Island Guitar Festival
Festival 2017
Program Book
Festival Flyer
Festival Press Release
Competition Flyer
Welcome to the Long Island Guitar Festival Web site. In 2017 we celebrated our 25th season!
Performers at our 25th Festival included: David Leisner, Huy Thanh Nguyen, Raphaella Smits, Benjamin Verdery, Ana Vidovic, Gohar Vardanyan, Harris Becker, James Erickson, the Saigon Guitar Quartet (Nguyen Thanh Huy, Nguyen Tri Doan, Huynh Ba Tho, Tran Hoai Phuong), VIDA Guitar Quartet and Emerging Artist Kang Min Shin, first prize winner of the 2016 National High School Classical Guitar Competition. Showcase performers included Arvo Duo (Joenne Dumitrascu, violin and Ming-Jui Liu, guitar.)
High School Guitar Ensembles appearing at this year's Festival included: Bishop McGuinness High School Honors Guitar Ensemble (Kernersville, NC), Susan E. Wagner Guitar Ensemble (Staten Island, NY), Brentwood High School Guitar Club (Brentwood, NY), Harlem School of the Arts Guitar Ensemble (New York, NY), Freedom High School Guitar Ensemble (Orlando, FL) and Rocky Point Guitar Ensemble (Rocky Point, NY)
National High School Classical Guitar Competition
The Festival presented its National High School Classical Guitar Competition, open to high school students of all 50 states. Find out more on the Guitar Competition page.
Long Island Guitar Festival Guitar Orchestra
The LIGF Guitar Orchestra for high school students and others returned to the Festival in 2017, conducted by Alan Hirsh. Visit the Guitar Orchestra page to find out more.
Master Classes for Guitarists and Performers
In 2017 the Long Island Guitar Festival continued its tradition of presenting excellence in guitar performance and pedagogy with master classes given by the VIDA Guitar Quartet, Raphaella Smits, Benjamin Verdery and David Leisner.
Ensemble Showcases
Through its history the Long Island Guitar Festival has featured ensembles representing high schools from the tri-state area and other states including Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. Learn more on the Ensemble Showcases page.
Long Island Guitar Festival 2017 was funded in part by grants from The Augustine Foundation, The D'Addario Foundation for the Performing Arts, Murphy's Music & Violin Shop, Savarez, The John P. McGrath Fund of LIU and the LIU Post Department of Music.
Learn how you can make a tax-deductible contribution to the Long Island Guitar Festival or how your company or organization can become a Festival sponsor or advertise in the Festival program book distributed at all Festival events. For more information about making a contribution or sponsoring or advertising, e-mail us or call 516-299-3181.
Join the Festival Mailing List.
Festival Address:
Long Island Guitar Festival
Department of Music
LIU Post
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, NY 11548
Long Island Guitar Festival
Harris Becker, Director
James Erickson, Assistant Director
John Meschi, Advisor & Website Manager
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Last update: May 8, 2017
Festival Notes
Since 1993 the Long Island Guitar Festival has proudly presented such distinguished guitarists and performers as (in alphabetical order):
Music Events of Interest
A Midsummer Music Dream Music School & Festival
Long Island Guitar Festival
Department of Music
LIU Post
720 Northern Blvd.
Brookville, NY 11548