Okanagan Guitar Festival

06/05/2025

Tickets are on sale now for three classical guitar concerts at the Okanagan Guitar Festival featuring Daniel Bolshoy, Luis Angel Medina, Tejay Liao, Gwenyth Aggeler and Alec Pearson. www.okanaganguitar.com

05/19/2025

The Okanagan’s celebration of classical guitar is back with festival favorites and fresh faces, new venues and musical firsts!
From July 10 to 13, the 4th annual Okanagan Guitar Festival returns to Kelowna with a beautiful weekend of guitar downtown and new this year in West Kelowna. The festival offers a full program of concerts, masterclasses, and workshops that bring together guitarists, local audiences, wineries and internationally recognized talent in a summer celebration.
At the heart of the festival are two familiar names who have been with the festival since the very beginning: Alec Pearson, the festival’s founder and artistic director, and Daniel Bolshoy, one of Canada’s superstar classical guitarists. Alec Pearson, a UBC and Vancouver Academy of Music instructor, has been instrumental in shaping the classical guitar scene in British Columbia, and his vision for a festival rooted in artistic excellence and warm community engagement has made this annual event a local favourite. Daniel Bolshoy, a world-renowned performer and former head of guitar at UBC, brings his virtuosic artistry and deep connection to the region, having performed with over 60 orchestras worldwide — including the Okanagan Symphony.
This year, the festival continues its tradition of offering top-tier performances in stunning venues with the addition of Grizzli Winery. The concert series begins on Thursday, July 10, with a performance by Luis Angel Medina and Tejay Liao at the beautiful Grizzli Winery in West Kelowna. On Friday, July 11, the concert stage at Grizzli welcomes Gwenyth Aggeler, winner of the 2024 Guitar Fest West Competition and a rising star in the classical guitar world. Then on Saturday, July 12, audiences will gather in the acoustically rich Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels in downtown Kelowna for a special evening with Daniel Bolshoy, who will perform three remarkable guitar concertos along with Alec Pearson and Gabriela Pimental . Sunday afternoon features our participants and faculty in a closing concert at St. Michael’s Cathedral.
Alongside the concert series, the festival offers an intensive and welcoming educational experience for guitarists of all ages and levels with masterclasses and workshops led by this year’s faculty. These sessions, also held at St. Michael’s Cathedral Church, provide a unique opportunity for participants to study with some of the best in the field. Returning faculty Luis Angel Medina brings his performance expertise and teaching experience from Capilano University, while Tejay Liao offers fresh insights on how musicians can learn more effectively using principles from neuroscience. Gwenyth Aggeler will also take part in educational offerings, sharing her experience as a multi-award-winning young artist who has earned top honours at international competitions and appeared on NPR’s “From the Top.”

2 Masterclass Registration - $280 ($320 after June 14)
• 1 on-1 participation in two masterclasses (can be substituted for a private lesson if the student is very stage shy).
• Access to all workshops/lectures & concerts. NEW THIS YEAR - a parent or family member may attend with the registree and audit for free.
• 1 ticket to each concert event. This applies to the registrant only; family and friends should purchase tickets to the concerts they wish to attend.

1 Masterclass Registration - $200 ($230 after June 14)
• Perform in one masterclass (can be substituted for a private lesson if the student is very stage shy).
• Access to all workshops/lectures & concerts. A parent or family member may attend with the registree and audit for free.
• 1 ticket to each concert event. This applies to the registrant only; family and friends should purchase tickets to the concerts they wish to attend.
Additional Class - $80 per (must be registered for 2 classes).
3 Concert Pass - General: $70, Senior 55+/Student/Youth $50
Single Concert Tickets – General $30, Senior 55+/Student/Youth $20
For more information visit https://www.okanaganguitar.com/ or email Alec Pearson at [email protected]

06/27/2024

Thank you Kelowna Capital News for featuring the Okanagan Guitar Festival. It all starts next Wednesday with a free concert at the Kelowna Downtown Library at 4:30 pm then three concerts with Alec Pearson, Daniel Bolshoy, Iliana Matos and the debut of the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet.

The Okanagan Guitar Festival returns for a third year from July 4 to 7.

06/15/2024

Get ready for a beautiful weekend of classical guitar in Kelowna. The Okanagan Guitar Festival July 4-7 www.okanaganguitar.com is for guitarists of all levels and music lovers with concerts, masterclasses and workshops. Check out this interview with festival star and acclaimed classical guitarist Daniel Bolshoy. He talks about performing as a teenager, his advice for guitar students, and watching Paw Patrol with his kids. Daniel Bolshoy is performing Friday, July 5th, 7:15 pm at St. Michael's Cathedral in Kelowna.

Welcome to our summer festival series of interviews. First aired on his TwitchTV Cactusroom channel, Tejay Liao talks with Dr. Daniel Bolshoy, faculty and pe...

06/11/2024

Alec Pearson is the founder and director of the Okanagan Guitar Festival coming up July 4 - 7 in Kelowna. Check out this interview where he talks about founding the festival and what you can expect. As a seasoned instructor at the University of BC and Vancouver Academy of Music, he shares experience as a teacher and performer with lots of helpful advice on achieving your goals as a musician. Here he is being interview by one of his former students Tejay Liao.

Welcome to our summer festival series of interviews. First aired on his TwitchTV Cactusroom channel, Tejay Liao talks with Alec Pearson, founder, director, c...

06/05/2024

The Okanagan Guitar Festival is back July 4th – 7th, with more concerts and a beautiful weekend of guitar in Kelowna.

Improve your guitar skills or simply enjoy brilliant classical guitar concerts. The 2024 Okanagan Guitar Festival is set for July 4th – 7th in Kelowna with a larger faculty, more concerts and an exciting debut. Now in its 3rd year, this beautiful weekend of guitar will feature four concerts plus masterclasses, workshops and more. The stellar faculty includes renowned classical guitarists Daniel Bolshoy, Iliana Matos, Alec Pearson, Galina Jitlina, Philip Hansen (cello) and the debut of the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet. The concerts will be held at the wonderful music venue of the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angel, 608 Sutherland Avenue, in downtown Kelowna with the masterclasses and workshops at UBC Okanagan. Registration and concert tickets at www.okanaganguitar.com

A larger faculty and the debut of a new quartet. Okanagan Guitar Festival founder and director, Alec Pearson explains what’s new. “This year’s festival boasts our largest faculty to date including returning favourites Daniel Bolshoy and Galina Jitlina. World-class guitarist Daniel Bolshoy is an ocean of guitar knowledge and musicality. Galina Jitlina is such a talented teacher with the most successful and active studio of young talent in the lower mainland.”
Joining the festival for the first time will be the legendary, award-winning Iliana Matos and the exciting newly formed Western Canadian Guitar Quartet made up of Josh Searles, Austin Culler, Tejay Liao and Carson Sautner. Alec explains, “I’ve known the members of this new quartet for the better part of a decade. All four have studied with some combination of myself, Daniel Bolshoy and Iliana Matos. For me, it is so important that the festival can now showcase new and deserving talent.”

More chamber music. There will be a stronger chamber music component with festival director, Alec Pearson, performing alongside Philip Hansen, the principal cellist of Brazil’s Minas Gerais State Philharmonic Orchestra. Alec met and worked with Philip last year for the Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music. “I think his beautiful cello tone is going to be an amazing combination with the guitar.”

Even more concerts. There are four concerts for music lovers to enjoy in this year’s festival. “We will now do a full concert Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Sunday's concert will be dedicated to showing off the talented students of the festival and is free to the public to attend (donations welcome!).”

• Thursday, July 4, 7:15 pm Alec Pearson, classical guitar and Philip Hansen, cello
Founder and artistic director of the Quadra Island Festival of Chamber Music, the remarkably accomplished cellist Philip Hansen has performed on four continents. He was a long-time faculty member of the Académie Internationale Musicale in Provence, France and is currently the principal cellist with Brazil’s Minas Gerais State Philharmonic Orchestra.
Alec Pearson is a brilliant performer, composer, teacher and champion of classical guitar. He is sessional instructor of guitar at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Academy of Music. Alec has performed across Canada and internationally. He is artistic director of the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society and the founder and director of the Okanagan Guitar Festival.

• Friday, July 5, 7:15 pm Daniel Bolshoy and the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet showcase with solo works by Tejay Liao, Josh Searles and Austin Culler.
Returning to the festival is renowned artist Daniel Bolshoy, a big draw for both the Friday concert and the masterclasses. Daniel, former head of guitar at UBC and the VSO School of Music, is an internationally acclaimed guitarist who has performed with over 60 orchestras internationally including the Okanagan Symphony. Daniel is currently head of guitar at the University of Georgia.
Enjoy a showcase performance of the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet members, Tejay Liao, Josh Searles and Austin Culler. The showcase will highlight the three playing virtuosic pieces solo ahead of their debut as a quartet on Saturday.

• Saturday, July 6, 7:15 pm Iliana Matos and the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet
Iliana Matos is a powerhouse in the classical guitar world. She brings with her an in-depth knowledge of both Cuban and Spanish approaches to guitar. Hailing from Cuba and now a beloved figure in the Canadian guitar scene, Matos's performances have graced stages across continents.
The Western Canadian Guitar Quartet is a newly formed ensemble making their debut at the 2024 Okanagan Guitar Festival. Hailing from B.C. and Alberta, the quartet will be performing original arrangements created by quartet founder Austin Culler. Other members include Tejay Liao, Josh Searles and Carson Sautner.

• Sunday, July 7, 2:30 pm Festival participants closing concert
The afternoon matinee features performances by the festival participants and also includes Suzuki method specialist Galina Jitlina with a youth ensemble. Admission to the Sunday concert is by donation.

For concert tickets, registration and information go to www.okanaganguitar.com You can email Festival Director Alec Pearson at [email protected] for registration inquiries.

The 2024 festival gratefully acknowledges financial support from the province of British Columbia.

06/03/2024

Your perfect summer of guitar starts here. Register now for the Okanagan Guitar Festival and grow your guitar skills with masterclasses, workshops and brilliant concerts. www.okanaganguitar.com

06/02/2024

What happens at a guitar festival? Check out this video from former participants at the Okanagan Guitar Festival to find out. Then register for the 2024 Okanagan Guitar Festival July 4 -7 for a beautiful (long)weekend of guitar.

We hope you enjoy these highlights from our 2022 festival and will consider joining us for our 2023 edition! Registration now open!Thank you to Francis Lumib...

05/29/2024

The 2024 Okanagan Guitar Festival is set for July 4th – 7th in Kelowna. Now in its 3rd year, this beautiful weekend of guitar in the Okanagan will feature three concerts plus masterclasses, workshops, open mics and more. Our stellar faculty includes classical guitarists Daniel Bolshoy, Iliana Matos, Alec Pearson, the Western Canadian Guitar Quartet, Galina Gitlina and Philip Hansen (cello). The concerts will be held at the St. Michael's Cathedral in downtown Kelowna with the masterclasses and workshops at UBC Okanagan. Registration is now open and concert tickets on sale at www.okanaganguitar.com You can email Festival Director Alec Pearson at [email protected] with any questions.