SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
San Diego Guitar Festival: A Journey of Artistic Excellence
Since its inception in 2015, the San Diego Guitar Festival (SDGF) evolved into a global ambassador of guitar artistry, celebrating the rich cultural and artistic traditions within the guitar community.
2015: The Beginning
The festival's journey began with three generations of musicians from San Diego State University, driven by a shared vision and unwavering commitment to high-quality artistic and educational programming.
2016: The inaugural Edition
The inaugural festival in 2016 featured acclaimed guitarists Irina Kulikova, Vladimir Gorbach, and Jorge Caballero. This stellar lineup set a standard for artistic excellence that would define future editions.
SDGF dedicated itself to inspiring the next generation of guitarists through masterclasses tailored for individual instruction. From 2016 to 2019, over 100 masterclass performances were conducted, providing regional guitar majors with personalized teaching from visiting artists.
2017: An International Stage
Building on the acclaim of its first year, SDGF 2017 featured six international artists, including the legendary David Russell and a USA debut artist. This milestone strengthened SDGF's global presence and reach within the international guitar community.
2018: Embracing Musical Diversity
In 2018, SDGF showcased a wide spectrum of guitar music, from baroque to heavy metal, demonstrating its commitment to artistic diversity and the versatility of the guitar. Esteemed guests included Maestro Shin-Ichi Fukuda, Grammy-Award winner Kiko Loureiro, the Beijing Guitar Duo, Gohar Vardanyan, and early music specialist Richard Savino with soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani.
2019: Spotlight on Women guitarists
The 2019 festival spotlighted the exceptional contributions of women guitarists, emphasizing diversity and remarkable talent within the guitar community. This edition celebrated the women in the arts and beyond, whose mentorship and contributions elevated the San Diego Guitar Festival to new heights.
2020: A Milestone Amidst Challenges
Poised to commemorate its cultural exchange milestone, hosting 23 artists from 12 different countries over five years, SDGF 2020 faced an uncertain future due to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through its commitment to artistic excellence, education, and cultural diversity, the San Diego Guitar Festival established itself as a premier platform for guitar artistry on the global stage.
“As its name implies, the communication between East and West promotes a multicultural artistic exchange for a more inclusive world.”
“There isn’t another guitarist quite like Felix Martin... known not only for his impossibly dextrous 14- and 16-string electric guitar technique, but also his ability to seamlessly combine prog and world fusion.”
“…always tasteful and deeply expressive without any exaggeration. He takes his place as one of the finest of this emerging generation of magnificent artists.”