GuitarFest 2025 at Appalachian State University
Schedule of Events • Artists • Competition Rules
March 28 - 30, 2025
Dr. Adam Kossler, Artistic Director
Appalachian GuitarFest is now combined with the Boone Suzuki Guitar Workshop.
REGISTER NOW for GuitarFest 2025! Registration closes Sunday, March 23.
Performers and clinicians include: Dr. Adam Kossler and John Kossler (Kossler Duo) • Dr. Michael McCallie and Alejandro Olson (Chattanooga Guitar) • Dr. Kami Rowan • Kenneth Kam • Dr. Douglas James • Anderson Page. More details to come!
Guest Artists
Sponsors 2025
Hotel Booking
Thank you to our GuitarFest hotel sponsors! La Quinta Inn & Suites and Graystone Lodge offer an exclusive discount for GuitarFest attendees. Booking early is recommended.
Use the links below to book at the discounted rates. You may need to navigate to the GuitarFest dates (March 28-30) in the hotel's calendar to see accurate pricing and remove the "rate not available" notice.
- La Quinta booking link for GuitarFest (10% discount)
- Graystone Lodge booking link for GuitarFest (15% discount)
Divison I Competition Prizes
Grand Prize: $1500 and Altamira Ganadora Classical Guitar (Gold Prize) valued at $3,999
2nd prize: $800 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
3rd prize: $500 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
4th prize: $300 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
See the full competition details here.
Please note: All prizewinners must complete appropriate IRS (Internal Revenue Service) forms to receive disbursement of prize monies. Payments of $1,500 or more may be subject to North Carolina or Federal withholding.
Prize Award eligibility is conditional upon authorization for employment in the United States, or otherwise eligible to receive payment under state and federal laws.
Special Prize
“George Thomas Panormo” awarded by Dr. Douglas James for the best interpretation of romantic guitar work.
For the purpose of this competition, “Romantic Guitar Work” is defined as: a work written for pre-Torres instruments that precedes the Spanish nationalist style during the 1800’s. Composers may include, but are not limited to Giuliani, Sor, Regondi, Coste, Carulli, Aguado, Legnani, Carcassi, Paganini, Lhoyer, etc. Please feel free to contact Dr. Adam Kossler with any questions about at repertoire: kossleraj@appstate.edu.
Click here to see Thomas Viloteau perform on a George Thomas Panormo.
School-Age Division Prizes
Division II
1st prize: $500 and Altamira N600 guitar (valued at $1799)
2nd prize: $300 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
3rd prize: $200 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
Division III
1st prize: $300 and Altamira entry level Torres guitar (valued at $899)
2nd prize: $200 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
3rd prize: $100 & Altamira 20% off online coupon
Division IV
1st Prize: Altamira N400 guitar (valued at $899) + Certificate and free registration for GuitarFest 2026
2nd Prize Certificate and free registration for GuitarFest 2026
ALL winners will also receive a gift box (valued at ($60) and a 20% discount on all Altamira N models!
See the full competition details here.
In order for a prize to be awarded to a winner who is under 18, the parent or legal guardian will need to complete the forms to receive the prize on behalf of the minor. See the Prize Eligibility section in the competition rules.
High school guitarists may be interested in Cannon Music Camp, a comprehensive music camp at App State from June 21 - July 12. Learn more at cannon.appstate.edu! Applying early to camp is recommended if seeking a camp scholarship.
Poster
Guitar at Appalachian State University
Guitar at the Hayes School of Music
The Hayes School of Music at Appalachian State University has a thriving guitar program with a wide variety of degree programs. Highlights of our program include...
- Undergraduate degrees, graduate degrees, and certificate programs for guitarists
- Appalachian State GuitarFest: March 28-30, 2025
- Matanya Ophee Music Collection in the Belk Library
- Guitar Orchestra with over 25 guitarists
- Cannon Music Camp for high school musicians
- Guitar lessons for youth and adults (non-credit) through the Community Music School
Degree Programs for Guitarists
The Hayes School of Music offers many music degree options for guitarists.
Auditions are required for all music degree programs, including the music minor.
Music Degree Programs
- B.M. in Music Performance
- B.M. in Music Education
- B.M. in Music Therapy
- B.S. in Music Industry Studies
- Master of Music Therapy
- Master of Music in Performance
Minors and Certificates
The Ophee Collection: Historical Guitar Music
Appalachian State University has recently acquired the collection of historical documents once belonging to publisher and musicologist Matanya Ophee. Highlights from the Ophee Collection include over five hundred first and early editions of major guitar composers including Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Matteo Carcassi, Ferdinando Carulli, and many others, as well as the only complete manuscript of the Dix Etudes by Giulio Regondi, discovered by Ophee in 1987. The collection also includes the personal scores and papers of Argentinian guitarist Doming Prat (1886–1944), as well as a large amount of rare music for the Russian 7-string guitar from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries