Welcome to Boston GuitarFest XX!
Celebrating 20 Years of Guitar Excellence: Boston GuitarFest 2025, the Premier Guitar Landmark of Boston
Boston GuitarFest XX will celebrate its 20th consecutive year of uninterrupted operation in 2025. In this year's Festival we will look both forward and backward, celebrating what we have achieved but looking forward as well to new perspectives and possibilities.
Boston GuitarFest XX presents internationally acclaimed artists in concert and in masterclass settings and a wide variety of workshops, lectures, and individual private lessons.
In 2025 our “Masters of the Guitar" evening concert series will feature flamenco phenom, Grisha Goryachev (back by popular demand), Chinese superstar, Xuefei Yang, and GFest Artistic Director, Eliot Fisk. Highlighted performers will include: Adam Levin, Jérôme Mouffe, and Gohar Vardanyan.
Programs
Boston GuitarFest XX
Academy
Ages 15 - 28
- 2 Private Lessons OR 1 masterclass
- Workshops
- Competition (optional)
- Closing Recital Solo Spot (optional)
- All Access Pass to Events and Concerts
From Boston GuitarFest I in 2006 (“The Guitar in the Global Village”) to last year’s (2024) theme (“The Letter B”) Boston GuitarFest has brought together great musicians and music lovers from around the world in an international and cross disciplinary search for truth and beauty as seen through the marvelous, at times exasperating, but always inspiring lens of the classical guitar. Boston GuitarFest XX will continue that glorious journey.
Goryachev will perform his unique blend of flamenco past and present; Xuefei Yang her well loved mixture of old and new works from around the world while Eliot Fisk will perform some of his famous transcriptions as well the rarely heard Ein Kleines Requiem, Op. 97, (“Written for and with Eliot Fisk” ) by the great Viennese Composer, Kurt Schwertsik, who turns 90 in 2025.
GuitarFest XX will continue the Noon Time Concert Series featuring GFest Artist faculty such as Adam Levin, Jerome Mouffe.
We will also offer our all online International Academy program in collaboration with the Shanghai Conservatory and Prof. Zhenqi Min. The Online International Academy will precede the all in person Boston GuitarFest. Dates for 2025 will be May 30 and 31 and June 6 and 7 (Online International Academy ) and from June 11 - 15 (all in person Boston GuitarFest, which will immediately precede the annual Guitar Foundation of America Festival.
Once again Boston GuitarFest will present an international competition for guitar performance. As usual the first round of the contest will be the opening night of the Festival, on Wed., June 11. The first prize winner will perform a solo recital as part of the closing ceremonies on the final day of the Festival. First through 3rd prize winners will be awarded additional cash prizes.
Education will continue to be a vital part of BostonFest XX. We will offer individual lessons as well as classes, seminars and master classes. Master classes, open only to full time Academy program participants, will be taught by our 3 “Masters of the Guitar “ soloists:
Grisha Goryachev, Xuefei Yang and Eliot Fisk while individual lessons and some additional seminars will be given by in residence artists/faculty. Dr. David Malvinni will also continue his ever popular lectures combining the cutting edge musicology of today with a celebration of the glories of the past.
Competition
Boston GuitarFest XX
The BGFest XX Academy Performance Competition is open to participants enrolled in the Boston GuitarFest XX Academy program.
Rules
- First round: Participants must submit a video made specifically for the BGFest XX Academy Performance Competition. Candidates should introduce themselves and the pieces they will play at the beginning of the recording. The verbal introduction must include the following sentence: "This is my recording for the 2025 Boston GuitarFest XX Academy, round 1, performance competition." A legible poster or sign saying "2025 Boston GuitarFest XX Competition" must also be visible behind you for the duration of the video.
- Repertoire: Two contrasting pieces from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries (total duration: 12 to 15 minutes)
- Video Requirements: The recording must consist of one uninterrupted, unedited take with clear audio and image quality from a fixed camera position, preferably straight in front of the performer. The performer’s face, hands, and the entire guitar should be clearly visible in the video. Please note! A poster saying "2025 Boston GuitarFest XX Competition" must be visible behind you for the duration of the video.
- Video submission deadline: May 1st, 2025.
- Finalists will be announced on: May 31st, 2025 (or before).
- Second/Final Round: The four finalists must select a new program (not to include works performed in the first round) of their choice, about 20 minutes in length. The final round will be held live on June 11th, 2025, at 7:30pm, in Cambridge, MA, at the Foundry. The Final Round will be the concluding event of the first day of the Festival and is open to the public.
- The decisions of the jury are final.
- The first prize winner will perform a solo recital (20-30 minute duration) as part of the Boston GuitarFest final concert on Sunday, June 30th, 2025, at the Multicultural Arts Center in Cambridge, MA.
Awards
First Prize
- Solo recital on June 15th, 2025
- Cash prize of $2500
- Other prizes TBA
Second Prize
- $1000 Cash Prize
- Other prizes TBA
Third Prize
- $500 Cash Prize
- Other prizes TBA
Our Boston GuitarFest XX Faculty
Festival Artists
- Eliot Fisk, Director
- Xufei Yang
- Grisha Goryachev
YGW Faculty
- TBD
Academy Faculty
- Adam Levin
- Jerome Mouffe
- Lautaro Mantilla
- Gohar Vardanyan
Adult Education
- Robert Bekkers
- Lautaro Mantilla
Administration
- David Malvinni (Executive Director)
- Maurice Liu (International Academy)
International Academy (Online)
- Zhenqi Min
- Antigoni Baxe
- Danilo Cabaluz
- Cecilio Perera
- Kostas Tosidis
Tech and Events
- Joey Malvinni
Student Housing
We've secured a special rate exclusively for our registered students at the luxurious Seaport Omni Hotel, just a mere 10-minute stroll from the enchanting Multicultural Art Center. Here's the scoop: to make this experience even more accessible and enjoyable, we're offering the opportunity to split room costs with another talented student! $100 per night. This is a fantastic chance to forge new friendships and share in the excitement of this exceptional event. If you're keen to team up with a fellow attendee and enjoy the benefits of our special rate, e-mail us to send you a sign-up sheet below to find your perfect roommate match. However, if you prefer to savor the privacy and comfort of your own space, feel free to make a reservation for only $199 and indulge in all the amenities our wonderful hotel has to offer. Whichever option you choose, get ready for an incredible time filled with music, camaraderie, and inspiration. Don't delay – secure your spot and accommodation arrangements today and get ready to immerse yourself in the magic of Boston GuitarFest 2025!