UB Hosts the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival

The Buffalo International Guitar Festival is set to return to the University at Buffalo from March 28–30 hosted in collaboration with Guitar Reach Buffalo.

The festival is a community-oriented event that focuses on cultural enrichment and educational opportunities for guitarists of all ages in the Buffalo community and beyond. After the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, the festival returns to the Department of Music in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus. The event highlights the existing excellence of musical culture through the guitar in the Western New York region and attracts guests and participants nationally and internationally. The festival is organized in partnership with Guitar Reach Buffalo and the Department of Music in collaboration with UB Asia Research Institute, UB Center for the Arts and UB Guitar Club.

Festival Highlights:

• Concerts: Enjoy performances by world-class guitarists and musicians showcasing a diverse range of music from around the world.
• Youth and Collegiate Competition: Students in four divisions (elementary, middle school, high school and college) compete for prizes in this brand new event for this year!
• Education: Learn from master teachers in workshops, presentations, masterclass lessons and ensemble coachings.
• Ensembles: Participate in the Community Guitar Orchestra and the auditioned Youth Honors Guitar Ensemble (aka All-NYS Guitar Ensemble)
• Vendor Expo: Explore top quality instruments and network with professionals, teachers and fellow students.

"We are thrilled to host this festival at UB again," says Sungmin Shin, associate professor of practice in the Department of Music and festival artistic director. "Our goal is to inspire audiences and educate guitarists of all levels through celebrating the artistry of our humble instrument."

Registration is open as well as individual concert tickets for all audience members. For more information, visit the festival website at or email Conn Jimenez-Knight Sullivan at connjks@guitarreachbuffalo.com.

Guitar Reach Buffalo is dedicated to creating a stronger community in the Buffalo Niagara region and enrich individuals and organizations by fostering appreciation and understanding of diverse cultures through the guitar. Their mission is to coordinate events and programs to provide opportunities for personal and professional development through elevating students of the guitar through culture, community and excellence.