THE VANCOUVER CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2024 WILL TAKE PLACE AS IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND CONCERTS FROM JULY 11-14 AT CAPILANO UNIVERSITY, 2055 PURCELL WAY, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC.
The Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival is back July 11-14! This year’s festival is designed as an intensive learning experience in the beautiful setting of Capilano University in North Vancouver. The VCGFest is a unique opportunity for guitarists of all levels to participate in masterclasses, workshops, guitar orchestra, a participants’ concert and to be inspired by faculty concerts by Iliana Matos, Dr. Jeffrey McFadden, Dr. Daniel Ramjattan, Alec Pearson and Luis Angel Medina.
Launched in 2020 by guitarist Luis Angel Medina, the Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival has evolved into a much-anticipated annual celebration of classical guitar. Dozens of guitarists from Metro Vancouver and beyond have participated in a week of masterclasses, workshops and faculty concerts with top-tier faculty from all over the world including Iliana Matos, Daniel Bolshoy, Marc Teicholz, Ben Verdery and Jorge Caballero.
Festival Schedule
(subject to change)
Thursday, July 11
Orientation
5:00-5:30 pm
Managing Performance Anxiety
5:30-7:30 pm
Snack Break
7:30-8:00 pm
Participant's Performance Night
8:00-9:00 pm
Friday, July 12
Workshop I
9:00-10:00 am
Musicianship
10:00-10:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
11:00-12:30 pm
Workshop II
1:30-2:30 pm
Workshop III
2:30-3:30 pm
Masterclass I
4:00-6:00 pm
Opening Concert
7:30-9:30 pm
Saturday, July 13
Workshop IV
9:00-10:00 am
Musicianship
10:00-10:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
11:00-12:30 pm
Masterclass II
1:30-3:30 pm
Masterclass III
4:00-6:00 pm
Saturday Concert
7:30-9:30 pm
Sunday, July 14
Workshop V
9:00-10:00 am
Musicianship
10:00-10:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
11:00-12:30 pm
Masterclass IV
1:30-3:30 pm
Student Closing Concert
6:00-8:00 pm
Concert Tickets
As a celebration of classical guitar artistry, the festival also offers single concert tickets to each of the concerts as well as a fantastic concert-pass with a built-in discount. Both faculty concerts will take place at the BlueShore Financial Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University.
2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver
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Single-concert tickets range from $20-35.
Concert-passes range from $30-60 and include admission to both concerts.
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Click on the images below for each of the concerts and you will be directed to the Eventbrite pages to purchase your concert tickets!
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NOTE: Festival registration (masterclass or full-registration) includes one Concert pass for the participant to attend the concerts. In the case of underage participants, the registration includes one-concert pass for the participant as well as one Accompanying Adult Concert Pass.
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Opening Concert
Fri. July 12, at 7:30 pm
Featuring Dr. Jeffrey McFadden, Dr. Francisco Barradas, and Luis Angel Medina.
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Saturday Concert
Sat. July 13, at 7:30 pm
Featuring Iliana Matos and Dr. Daniel Ramjattan.
Concert-pass
Fri. July 12, and Sat. July 13, at 7:30 pm
Enjoy both faculty concerts by getting a concert-pass.
Faculty
This year's VCGFest, presented in collaboration with Capilano University and the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society, is delighted to welcome to the faculty:
Iliano Matos
University of Lethbridge
Iliana Matos has an extraordinary career spanning more than three decades that has earned her a place among the world’s pre-eminent guitarists. She has performed extensively throughout North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. “Her name deserves to go down in guitar history as one of the great players of our time" (Classical Guitar Magazine).
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Read Iliana Matos' full bio at her website: http://www.ilianamatos.com/
Over the course of a thirty year career, Jeffrey McFadden has established a place among the most admired guitarists of his generation. His professional debut was at the final Toronto guitar festival 'Guitar ’87,' and he has since performed across North and South America, and Europe.
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In 1992, Jeffrey McFadden was awarded a Silver Medal in the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America Competition.
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Read Dr. Jeffrey McFadden's full bio at his website: https://www.jeffreymcfadden.com/biography
Dr. Jeffrey McFadden
University of Toronto
Dr. Daniel Ramjattan
Wilfrid Laurier University
Dr. Daniel Ramjattan has become anambassador for the classical guitar in Canada, having premiered dozens of chamber and solo works for guitar. In 2020, he joined Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Music as a classical guitar instructor, and designed and inaugurated the the Faculty of Music’s first music performance anxiety and performance skills course in Fall 2022 .
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Read Dr. Daniel Ramjattan's full bio at his website: https://www.danielramjattan.com/
Alec Pearson enjoys a career based in Vancouver where he currently serves as sessional instructor of guitar at the University of British Columbia. Alec has performed both solo and in ensemble across Canada, Spain, Colombia, Greece and the U.S. He currently serves as president of the “Vancouver Classic Guitar Society” where he works to organize many concerts, lectures, masterclasses and social events.
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Read Alec Pearson's full bio at his website: https://www.alecpearson.com/bio
Alec Pearson
University of British Columbia
Lucida Zhao
Co-director
Lucida has over 15 years of experience teaching piano and music theory to students of all ages and levels. She also has extensive experience as a music educator in International Baccalaureate (IB) schools, bringing the benefits of IB values, such as the importance of being an inquirer and communicator, to her teaching across diverse settings. Beyond teaching, Lucida has gained recognition as a collaborative pianist, performing with choirs and other musicians. During her time in Europe, her collaboration with music producers, both as a composer and singer, resulted in signed tracks with record labels such as Blue Soho Recordings.
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Lucida holds a Bachelor of Music as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of British Columbia. She will be starting her Master of Arts in Music Education degree at the University of Toronto in the fall of 2024.
Luis is the founder and director of the VCGFest. He is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) program at the University of Toronto, where he is conducting research on the life and music of the prolific contemporary Mexican composer, Julio Cesar Oliva, under the guidance of world-renowned guitarists Dr. Jeffrey McFadden and Jorge Caballero. He is the instructor of guitar at Capilano University, one of the sponsor's for this year's festival.
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Read more on Luis Angel Medina's teaching, performances, and community involvement at his website: https://www.medinaguitar.com/
Luis Angel Medina
Capilano University
Founder and Director
How to register
Be sure to read the registration details before submitting your registration and note that, in order to help participants save on fees, we will be accepting e-transfers but will also be accepting credit card payments.
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Instructions:
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After reading these instructions, go to the Vancouver Classical Guitar Society website by clicking the "Register Now" button below.
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Fill out the registration form
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Payment details will be finalized after speaking with one of our volunteers about your registration after submitting your form. Payment can be made by e-transfer or credit card. Credit card payments will be subject to an added processing fee.
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Important note: No refunds will be issued after June 28th.​
Early registration is encouraged.
Registrations must be received by July 1. Registrations after July 1 may be accepted at the discretion of the festival’s director. Please inquire at luismedina@capilanou.ca or outreach@vancouverguitar.org
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Fees and other information...
Full registration
$240 CAD before June 7th*
$290 CAD after June 7th*
Full registration includes admission to all workshops, masterclasses, lectures, and concerts, now being offered in-person. Full participation includes auditing all masterclasses.
Masterclass registration
$320 CAD before June 7th*
$370 CAD after June 7th*
The Masterclass registration includes admission in all workshops, seminars, concerts and one masterclass time slot with the guest faculty.
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A Masterclass is a one-on-one lesson given to by the guest faculty with an audience. It is a great opportunity for students to learn from someone else’s performance. This year's masterclasses are being taught by Iliana Matos and Dr. Jeffrey McFadden. Only six (6) masterclasses spots are available with each of the artists.
Extra masterclasses/lessons:
Extra masterclasses are currently not offered but may become available. If you are interested in a private lesson with a faculty member, please inquire with the festival director
Accommodations:
The closest and most convenient accommodation would be the Holiday Inn & Suites North Vancouver which is a 10 min walk to the festival venues or a 6 min bus ride on the 255 or 245.
*Early Bird extended to June 7th!!
Registration includes admission to all of the following events and workshops:
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Musicianship with Lucida Zhao
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Guitar Orchestra with Luis Medina
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Masterclasses with Dr. Jeffrey McFadden and Iliana Matos
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Friday Night Opening Concert featuring Dr. Jeffrey McFadden and Luis Medina
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Saturday Night Concert featuring Iliana Matos and Dr. Daniel Ramjattan
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Managing Music Performance Anxiety Workshop, with expert Dr. Daniel Ramjattan
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Technique Workshop with Alec Pearson
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Deconstructing the Score with Dr. McFadden
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Workshop with Iliana Matos
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Thinking Music Performance Critically with Luis Medina
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Participants’ Closing Concert featuring the Festival's guitar orchestra