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14th Annual Guitar Festival and Youth Competition

14th Annual Guitar Festival COmpetition | February 20th, 2027

The Latino Arts Strings Program is delighted to present the 14th Annual Guitar Festival and Youth Competition! We are thrilled to be celebrating over a decade of excellence in youth classical guitar performance.

The 2027 LASP Classical Guitar Competition intends to provide young musicians ages 8-18 with an opportunity to exhibit their talent and reward their hard work, as well as encourage them to appreciate music from different cultural origins. We wish to encourage new generations of young guitarists to:

  • Explore and discover the pleasure of playing classical guitar
  • Experience competing in a national/international competition

*Please note: Registration for the Youth Competition is $40 and includes the competition, workshops, and Master Classes as well as the student's admission to the Guitar Festival Concert on the evening of February 20, 2027 at 7:00 p.m.

*Registration deadline: February 1, 2027

Competition Judges:

  • Leonela Alejandro
  • Annika Nelson
  • Alberto Quintanilla
  • Ivan Reséndiz
  • Ramiro Rubio
  • Kasia Smolarek 

CLICK HERE to view the 14th Annual Guitar Festival Letter of Invitation
CLICK HERE to view competition information and guidelines
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER for the competition.

Registration Process

  1. To register to compete in the competition, Click on the registration link above.
  2.  Complete the registration form in the ticketing site
  3. Students entering the competition who would also like to perform in the Master Class will have the opportunity to demonstrate interest in the registration process. Master Class instructors will be announced soon!
  4. To register for the MASTER CLASS VIEWING ONLY, CLICK HERE. The link will take you to a separate registration page where you are able to register for the VIEWING ONLY of the Master Class. 

Winners of the Youth Competition will be announces LIVE at our Guitar Festival Concert on the evening of February 20th featuring soloist Kasia Smolarek. Good Luck!

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Testimonials

 

Testimonials

"We have really felt welcomed and enjoyed participating in the guitar festival for the past two years. It has also been a privilege to experience what you are doing for your community and the arts. Your love and dedication to both are evident. It was easy to see an atmosphere of mentoring, teaching, support, and caring by all the staff we encountered. It is not hard for us to imagine the impact on the community at large."

- Family of previous festival participant

"The Latino Arts Strings Program mission is at the core of what any community needs to build a strong foundation. Children are the future and we must provide the opportunities for them to grow and experience life in a way that was not perhaps possible with any of us. The LASP Guitar Festival brings joy and pride to them and the city of Milwaukee!"

- Rene Izquierdo, Classical Guitar Professor, Area Head, Guitar, Peck School of the Arts, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee