Alexandria Press

Alexandria Guitar Festival Returns for 7th Year!

Alexandria , VA , May 1, 2008 - the sixth annual Alexandria Guitar Festival, presented by the International Guitar Institute, returns to Old Town Alexandria this summer from July 12 through July 20, 2008. The festival, created to appeal to every lover of guitar music, will feature seminars, adult classes, children's classes, concerts, and a vendor's fair for people of all ages and levels of interest.

Master classes with some of the guitar's most acclaimed artists will be offered at The George Washington Masonic National Memorial, located at 101 Callahan Drive , Alexandria , VA.

Continuing into its fourth year, the Alexandria Suzuki Guitar Institute (ASGI) will take place July 12-20 at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House at 321 South Fairfax Street . Classes for children will be July 14-18.  The ASGI includes classes for teachers seeking specialty training in the Suzuki method, children studying repertoire based on Suzuki principles, and anyone who is interested in learning about the Suzuki Method. For the very beginners, the Suzuki Guitar Institute will offer Introduction to Suzuki Guitar.  A concert series takes place at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House each afternoon from 1:00-1:50 PM, July 14-18, which is free and open to the public.

Enrollment is filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please see the festival web site at www.AlexandriaGuitarFestival.com for details about tuition and how to register online or by mail. Auditor tickets are available for anyone who wishes to observe the lessons of world class students taught by the masters. 

This year's concert series, July 16 through 19, includes performances by national and international award winning guitarists. Evening Concerts will feature: Soloduo (Italy's world-renowned guitar duo), Wednesday, July 16; Ana Vidovic, Thursday, July 17; Marcin Dylla, Friday, July 18; and Adam del Monte, Saturday, July 19. Evening concerts will begin at 8:00 pm at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Afternoon concerts will feature: Bastepe-Gray Duo , Wednesday , July 16; Ricardo Cobo Technique Workshop (not a concert), Thursday July 17; Andrew Zohn, Friday July 19; as well as a AGF participants concert, Saturday, July 21. Afternoon concerts will begin at 4:30 PM at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.

Evening concert tickets are $25 each and afternoon concert tickets are $12 each. Series tickets for the evening and afternoon concerts are $90 each.  Purchase tickets online at www.AlexandriaGuitarFestival.com on our concert series page (major credit cards accepted). All event registration and ticket information can be found at www.IGISecureCheckout.com.

Please contact IGI PR at mail@InternationalGuitarInstitute.com or (585) 733-0642 with any questions regarding Festival events or classes.

The 2008 Alexandria Guitar Festival is made possible by the generous support of the International Guitar Institute, the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, the Old Presbyterian Meeting House, the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, the Virginia Commission for the Arts, Suzuki Association of the Americas, Strings by Mail, Tom Rodriguez Guitars, Kirkpatrick Guitar Studios, and others.