The Long Island Guitar Festival is an annual international festival with a thirty-year history of showcasing top performers and educators in the guitar world. The festival has established a continuing commitment to reach out to the artistic community and continue an established tradition of excellence in guitar performance and pedagogy. The 2023 Guitar Festival is presented in partnership with the Setauket Presbyterian Church and the Oberon Foundation.
The Long Island Guitar Festival presents master classes, concerts, and workshops by the world's most outstanding guitarists and teachers. Workshops have included Computer Music Notation for Guitarists, Composers and Arrangers, High School Guitar Ensemble Workshops,19th Century Performance Practices, Fingerboard Harmony, and Chamber Music Workshops. Special concerts have included the "Legacy of Segovia" with Segovia protégé Michael Lorimer, the U.S. debut of renowned guitarist/composer Carlo Domeniconi and U.K. guitarist/composer Laura Snowden, LIU Post alumni concerts, Emerging Artists Concert Series, and new music concerts including over forty world premieres. The festival has established partnerships with high schools, including Susan Wagner High School, Brentwood High School, Bishop McGuiness High School, Freedom High School, Greenwich High School, the United Nations International School, and local colleges and universities. The festival features a National High School Classical Guitar Competition.
In the past the Long Island Guitar Festival has proudly presented such distinguished guitarists and performers as:
The 30th annual Long Island Guitar Festival was held May 11 to 15, 2022 at the Setauket Presbyterian Church in Setauket, NY. (Directions)
The 2022 Guitar Festival was presented in partnership with the Setauket Presbyterian Church and the Oberon Foundation.
Performers included David Russell (first Long Island Concert), Benjamin Verdery, Beijing Guitar Duo, Evan Taucher, Harris Becker & Friends, Laura Lessard, Michael Roberts, James Erickson, Paul Cesarczyk, Chinnawat Themkumkwun, Olson/De Cari Duo, Jeffrey Marcus, Maureen Hynes, Rie Schmidt, Alan Morris, and Samantha Clarke.
Ensembles that performed included the NJMEA HS Honors Guitar Orchestra, the New Jersey Guitar Orchestra, the Susan E. Wagner HS Guitar Ensemble, and the Metropolitan Guitar Academy.
Featured events at Festival 2022 included two world premieres composed by Carlo Domeniconi and the "live" premiere of New York Sketches composed by Sérgio Assad.
Festival 2002 – In 2002 the Long Island Guitar Festival celebrated its tenth anniversary. As part of the celebration, Guitar x 2 (Festival Director Harris Becker and Pasquale Bianculli) premiered Long Island Suite, a guitar duo written for them by Carlo Domeniconi to mark the anniversary.
Festival 2012 – Featured during the 2012 Festival was the World Premiere of Harrisdale Concerto for Guitar & Saw/Violin and Guitar Orchestra by Dr. Alan Hirsh, celebrating the Festival's twentieth anniversary.
Festival 2012 – Festival 2012 was dedicated to the memory and music of Howard Morgen. A special tribute to him, "Remembering Howard Morgen" was held on the last day of the Festival Sunday, April 22.
Festival 2019 – Laura Snowden Makes U.S. Debut at Long Island Guitar Festival
Festival 2020 – the 2020 Festival was dedicated to the memory and music of Julian Bream (1933-2020). Julian Bream’s ability to communicate and touch us emotionally with his sound and artistry lives forever and forever makes the world a better place.
To learn more about the history of the Long Island Guitar Festival, please visit these past Festival Web pages:
Photos by Nina Krebs
Last update: November 25, 2023
