The Okanagan Guitar Festival is back July 4–7th with more concerts and a beautiful weekend of guitar in Kelowna.
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 accepted!).”
· 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 okanaganguitar@gmail.com for room bookings and registration inquiries.
The 2024 festival gratefully acknowledges financial support from the province of British Columbia.