THE VANCOUVER CLASSICAL GUITAR FESTIVAL 2025 WILL TAKE PLACE AS IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS, MASTERCLASSES, AND CONCERTS FROM JULY 17-20 AT CAPILANO UNIVERSITY,
2055 PURCELL WAY, NORTH VANCOUVER, BC.
The Vancouver Classical Guitar Festival is back July 17-20! 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 workshops and concerts by Marc Teicholz, Michael Kolk, David Sossa, Alec Pearson, Tejay Liao, Lucida Zhao 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, Jorge Caballero, and Jeffrey McFadden.
Festival Schedule
(subject to change)
Thursday, July 17
Orientation/Social
5:30-6:30 pm
Faculty Warm-up with Luis Medina
6:30-7:30 pm
Open Mic
7:30-9:00 pm
Friday, July 18
Workshop with David Sossa
10:00-11:00 am
Musicianship
11:00-11:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
11:30-1:00 pm
Workshop with Tejay Liao
2:00-3:30 pm
Masterclass I with Marc Teicholz
4:30-6:30 pm
Opening Concert
7:30-9:30 pm
Saturday, July 19
Workshop with Alec Pearson
10:00-11:00 am
Musicianship
11:00-11:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
11:30-1:00 pm
Flex-time
1:00-6:00 pm
Saturday Concert
7:30-9:30 pm
Sunday, July 20
Musicianship
110:00-10:30 am
Guitar Ensemble
10:30-12:00
Workshop with Marc Teicholz
12:00-1:00 pm
Masterclass IV
1:00-3:00 pm
Student Closing Concert
4:00-6:00 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 $25-40.
Concert-passes range from $40-70 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 (Links for Festival Concerts 2025 coming soon)!
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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.
Opening Concert
Fri. July 18, at 7:30 pm
Featuring Michael Kolk and Local Artists.
Links to concert tickets coming soon!
Saturday Concert
Sat. July 19, at 7:30 pm
Featuring Marc Teicholz and Local Faculty
Links to concert tickets coming soon!
Concert-pass
Fri. July 18, and Sat. July 19, at 7:30 pm
Enjoy both faculty concerts by getting a concert-pass.
Concert-Pass tickets coming soon!
Faculty
This year's VCGFest, presented in collaboration with Capilano University and the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society, is delighted to welcome to the faculty:
Marc Teicholz
San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Marc Teicholz, winner of the 1989 International Guitar Foundation of America competition, is a renowned classical guitarist who has performed worldwide, including with major orchestras like the Pacific Symphony and Lisbon’s Metropolitan Orchestra. He collaborates with composers such as Andrew Imbrie and Dusan Bogdanovic, premiering new works. His acclaimed recordings on Naxos and Sugo include Valseana and an Ernesto Nazareth album produced by Sergio Assad. Teicholz teaches at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and California State University East Bay and is a frequent guest at international festivals, shaping the guitar world through performance and education.
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Read Marc Teicholz's full bio at his website: https://marcteicholz.com/
Michael Kolk is one of Canada’s leading classical guitarists, performing across North America and Europe as a soloist and with the HK Guitar Duo. He has toured with Prairie Debut and violinist Laurence Kayaleh, collaborating with major ensembles like the Vancouver Symphony and Canadian Opera Company. A prolific recording artist, he has released nine albums on Naxos, Alma Records, and Deosonic Music, featuring classical staples, rare works, and contemporary compositions. A top prize winner in guitar competitions, he holds an ARCT and a Master’s from the University of Toronto. Based in Vancouver, he teaches at Vancouver Community College.
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Read Michael Kolk's full bio at his website: https://www.michaelkolkguitar.com/
Michael Kolk
Vancouver Community College
David Sossa
David Sossa, a versatile guitarist born in Toronto and raised in Colombia, captivates global audiences with his charisma. He has performed solo in over fifteen countries, including Japan, Egypt, and the USA. David received early training from Humberto Montoya and Gerardo Giraldo, later studying under renowned musicians like Jairo Cardona and Daniel Bolshoy. As first guitar of The Toronto Guitar Society Orchestra from 2011 to 2013, David recorded multiple albums, including a solo CD on Salty Road. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Universidad de Antioquia and a Master of Music from the University of British Columbia. David co-founded and directed "Semana de la Guitarra" in Colombia and led the Guitar Department at the British Columbia Conservatory of Music from 2015 to 2023. An adjudicator and mentor at international festivals, David is fluent in English, Spanish, and Italian, actively contributing through lectures and workshops worldwide.
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Read David Sossa's full bio at his website: https://www.davidsossa.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 has collaborated with major ensembles and Canadian companies, including the National Ballet of Canada and the Canadian Opera Company. 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/
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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
$250 CAD before June 1st*
$300 CAD after June 1st*
Full registration includes admission to all workshops, masterclasses, lectures, and concerts, now being offered in-person. Full participation includes auditing all masterclasses.
Masterclass registration
$325 CAD before June 1st*
$375 CAD after June 1st*
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 Marc Teicholz. Only eight (8) masterclasses spots are available.
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.
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 Marc Teicholz
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Friday Night Opening Concert featuring Local Faculty with Michael Kolk
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Saturday Night Concert featuring Marc Teicholz and other Local Faculty
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Maximizing Your Practice Efficiency with Neuroscience, with Tejay Liao
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Technique Workshops with Alec Pearson and Luis Medina
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Latin-American Rhythms with David Sossa
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Workshop with guest faculty Marc Teicholz
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Participants’ Closing Concert featuring the Festival's guitar orchestra