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The Buffalo International Guitar Festival is set to return UB 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 last year, the festival returns to the Department of Music, College of Arts and Sciences, and the Center for the Arts on the North Campus. The event highlights the existing excellence of musical culture through the guitar in Western New York 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’s Asia Research Institute, the Center for the Arts and UB Guitar Club.

“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.”

Among the festival highlights:

• Concerts: 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 new event.
• Education: Master teachers will conduct workshops, presentations, master class lessons and ensemble coaching.
• 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.”

For more details and to register for events or purchase tickets for performances, visit the festival website or email Conn Jimenez-Knight Sullivan.

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. The group’s 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.