The Okanagan Guitar Festival is hosting 3 days of live classical guitar performances on August 6, 7, and 8. The festival brings 4 classical guitarists from around BC with international presence and award-winning styles of music. The concerts are being hosted by the Vancouver Classic Guitar Society and are being held at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael and All Angels at 7 pm each day.

Unfortunately, this year the festival won’t be hosting its usual workshops and classroom-like events for people to participate in, but still wants to share the love and appreciation for classical guitar with the performances.

Professional Guitarists tune up for 5th annual Okanagan Guitar Festival | iNFOnews.ca — Simon Farintosh

Thursday Night has Simon Farintosh performing a solo recital. Simon was named one of CBC’s “30 Under 30 Classical Musicians” in 2023. He is known for his unconventional programming choices, connecting with audiences by integrating the classical guitar with more contemporary musical forms such as ambient electronica. Simon will be performing classical pieces of Alexander Scriabin, Maurice Ravel, Isaac Albeniz, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and Claude Debussy.

Friday will be hosting Vivian Chen and Alec Pearson as a Harp and Guitar duo performance telling the magical journey of a bard who has lived hundreds of years. From his disappeared hometown to the hidden treasure under the sea. The performance will have both original compositions and classical arrangements such as Debussy’s Danses and Caroline Lizotte’s Stellae Saltantem.

Saturday’s concert will be split into 2 performances. The first half will be Tejay Liao, a young guitarist who merges science and art in his approach and technique. His programming choices are unique, and his playing has been praised as sensitive and technically brilliant. Following Tejay in the second half is Catherine Huo, a musical prodigy who has won numerous awards at the young age of 14, competing in both youth and adult divisions of competitions.

More information and ticket pricing are available on the festival’s website here.