SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
5 Years of Diversity in Music
From its inception in 2015, the San Diego Guitar Festival evolved into a global ambassador of guitar artistry. Over the years, it celebrated the rich cultural and artistic traditions within the guitar community.
2015
Embarking with three generations of musicians from San Diego State University, the festival's journey was set in motion by their shared vision and unwavering commitment.
2016
Launching in 2016, SDGF featured a stellar lineup of acclaimed guitarists, including Irina Kulikova, Vladimir Gorbach, and Jorge Caballero, setting a standard for artistic excellence that would define subsequent years.
Dedicated to inspiring the next generation of guitarists, each guest artist conducted masterclasses with six time slots for individual instruction. This commitment resulted in over 100 masterclass performances from regional guitar majors, who received tailored teaching from visiting artists from 2016 to 2019.
2017
Expanding on the acclaim of 2016, SDGF soared to new heights by featuring six international artists, including a USA debut artist and the legendary David Russell. This represented a pivotal milestone, strengthening SDGF's position as a global platform for showcasing exceptional talent and broadening its influence within the international guitar community.
2018
Establishing itself as a champion of diverse cultural and artistic traditions, SDGF 2018 showcased the wide spectrum of the guitar, spanning from baroque to heavy metal. This year emphasized the festival's commitment to embracing a wide range of musical styles, fostering inclusivity, and celebrating the versatility of the guitar as an instrument.
2018 hosted esteemed guests, including Maestro Shin-Ichi Fukuda, Grammy-Award winner Kiko Loureiro, the Beijing Guitar Duo, Gohar Vardanyan, and early music specialist Richard Savino, who collaborated with soprano Jennifer Ellis Kampani.
2019
Celebrating the women in the arts and beyond whose mentorship and contributions elevated SDGF to a global ambassador, 2019 showcased a distinguished lineup of outstanding women guitarists, emphasizing commitment to diversity and the acknowledgment of exceptional talent within the guitar community.
2020
Poised to commemorate its extraordinary cultural exchange, hosting 23 artists from 12 different countries over a 5-year journey in the arts and within the community, SDGF 2020 faced an uncertain future due to the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“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.”