About the Festival. Long Island Guitar Festival, April 1 to 9, 2017. 25th Year

"Ana Vidovic, an exceptionally gifted and interesting musician - who, at 25, is about to release her sixth recording has been steadily building a reputation as one of the most technically accomplished young players around. And her playing on Saturday was virtually immaculate - detailed, precise and polished. But this was no mere virtuostic display. Vidovic's playing is nuanced and intensely personal, both deeply felt and deeply thought." – Washington Post Review of the concert at the Marlow Guitar Series

New York Times Article
About Festival 2014

"Long Island Guitar Festival...a very impressive concert lineup"
- Classical Guitar Magazine about Festival 2016

About the Festival

The Long Island Guitar Festival is an annual international festival presented by the Department of Music of the School of Performing Arts at the LIU Post Campus of Long Island University. The Festival represents the continuing commitment of Long Island University to reach out to the artistic community and continue an established tradition of excellence in guitar performance and pedagogy.

Festival 2016

The 24th annual Long Island Guitar Festival was held April 13 to 17, 2016 on the LIU Post campus of Long Island University in Brookville, NY USA.

Festival concerts in 2016 featured Andrew York, Berta Rojas, David Starobin, lutenist Ronn McFarlane, and Hilary Field.

Also appearing were the Artesian Guitar Quartet and Emerging Artist Michael Vascones (First Prize, Festival 2015 High School Classical Guitar Competition.)

Groups which performed in Festival 2016's Ensemble Showcases included the Bishop McGuinness High School Honors Guitar Ensemble (Kernersville, NC), Brentwood High School Guitar Club (Brentwood, NY), Susan E. Wagner Guitar Ensemble (Staten Island, NY), POBJFK Guitar Nation (Planview-Old Bethpage, NY) and the Harlem High School of the Arts Guitar Ensemble.

In addition Festival 2016 included master classes given by Ronn McFarlane, Andrew York, Berta Rojas and David Starobin.

Also featured were our National High School Classical Guitar Competition, Ensemble Showcases and the LIGF Guitar Orchestra.

The Long Island Guitar Festival presents master classes, concerts and workshops by the world's most outstanding guitarists and teachers. Workshops have included Computer Music Notation for Guitarists, Composers and Arrangers, High School Guitar Ensemble Workshops, Fingerboard Harmony and Chamber Music Workshops. Special concerts have included the "Legacy of Segovia" with Segovia protegé Michael Lorimer, the U.S. debut of renowned guitarist composer Carlo Domeniconi, LIU Post alumni concerts and new music concerts including world premieres. The festival has established partnerships with high schools including Greenwich High School and the United Nations International School, as well as local community colleges.

Special Festival Events

In 2002 the Long Island Guitar Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary. As part of the celebration, Guitar x 2 (Festival Director Harris Becker and Pasquale Bianculli) premiered Long Island Suite, a guitar duo written for them by Carlo Domeniconi to mark the anniversary.

Featured during Festival 2012 was the World Premiere of Harrisdale Concerto for Guitar & Saw/Violin and Guitar Orchestra by Dr. Alan Hirsh, celebrating the Festival's twentieth anniversary. At YouTube: First Movement, Second Movement.

Festival 2012 was dedicated to the memory and music of Howard Morgen. A special tribute to him, "Remembering Howard Morgen" was held on the last day of the Festival Sunday, April 22.

In the past the Long Island Guitar Festival has proudly presented such distinguished guitarists and performers as (in alphabetical order): Howard Alden, Artesian Guitar Quartet, Amaryllis Project, Denis Azabagic, Douglas Back, Manuel Barrueco, Rebecca Baulch, Harris Becker, Gene Bertoncini, Pasquale Bianculli, Bishop McGuinness High School Guitar Ensemble, Gunnlaugur Björnsson, Brentwood High School Guitar Ensemble, Winslow Browning, Jorge Caballero, Thibault Cauvin, Centreville High School Wildcat Guitar Ensemble, Paul Cesarczyk, Amanda Cook, Dennis Cinelli, Kevin Dolen, Carlo Domeniconi, Curtis High School Guitar Ensemble, John Dearman, Roland Dyens, Jérôme Ducharme, Cem Duruöz, Mark Elf, Eden Stell Guitar Duo, Eduardo Fernández, Hilary Field, Eliot Fisk, Paul Galbraith, Boris Gaquere, Pia Gazarek-Offermann, Derek Gripper, Guitar Trilogy, Frederic Hand, Freedom High School Guitar Ensemble, Olav Chris Henriksen, Adam Holzman, William Kanengiser, Koh Kazama, Dennis Koster, David Leisner, Michael Lorimer, Mare Duo, Mark Marino, Ronn McFarlane, Chieli Minucci, Ben Moran, Howard Morgen, Newman & Oltman Duo, Pat O'Brien, Matt Palmer, Bucky and John Pizzarelli, POBJFK Guitar Nation, Simon Powis, Gyan Riley, Berta Rojas, Hayley Savage, Cecilia Siqueira, Raphaella Smits, David Starobin, Ernesto Tamayo, Scott Tennant, Stony Brook Guitar Quartet (Jose Maldonado, Barkely Heuser, Yannis Petridis, James Kerr), Threefifty Duo, Benjamin Verdery, Ana Vidovic, VIDA Guitar Quartet, Jason Vieaux, Frank Vignola, Susan E. Wagner High School Guitar Ensemble, Weaver Academy, Jack Wilkins, Jerry Willard, Williams-Etheridge Duo (John Williams and John Etheridge), Andrew York, John Zaccari, Fabio Zanon.

To learn more about the history of the Long Island Guitar Festival, please visit these Web pages:

Past Festival Web sites: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996

Festival Poster/Flyers: 1995, 1994 and 1993