GUITAR SCHEDULE
Stay tuned for the FULL 2026 schedule of events-coming soon!
2026 Concert Artists
Eliot Fisk, Jorge Caballero, Eleonora Strino Quartet, Antoine Boyer & Yeore Kim, Vincent Beer-Demander & Fabio Gallucci, Ian Coury, João Luiz, Duo Sonidos (Adam Levin & William Knuth), Duo Mantar (Adam Levin & Jacob Reuven), Michal Shein, Alexey Shabalin, Joe Bentley, Gillian Gallagher, Sotiris Athanasiou, Suzuna Takahashi, Adrian Montero, Duke Robillard, The Atlantic Mandolin Quartet (Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Gabriel Locati, Carrera Stamile), URI student band, Heybrajan Tamariz, Andrew Ozwinkle
2026 Teaching Artists
Eliot Fisk, Jorge Caballero, Eleonora Strino, Antoine Boyer, João Luiz, Çelil Refik Kaya, Scott Borg, Matt Rohde, Adam Levin, Sotiris Athanasiou, Adrian Montero
2026 Workshops & Lectures
Technique, Brazilian Music, Composition, Jazz, Spanish Impressionism, Hand Health, Social Media for musicians, Bach, and even more!
2026 New England Invitational Luthier Expo
Four days of luthiers showing their craft and talking everything from Baroque guitars to doubletops, culminating in a guitar showcase on the final day when artists and competitors play the guitars for an audience on the main stage of the festival. This year's luthiers giving talks are: Aaron Green, Toby Rzepka, and Daryl Perry.
The Mega Guitar AND MANDOLIN Orchestra
That's right! Last year's inaugural Mega Guitar Orchestra had over 50 members, and this year we're bringing mandolins on board! If you want to join the orchestra, simply check the box when signing up- we'll send the music to you ASAP and talk about part assignments closer to the festival.
2025 Schedule of Events
See what happened last year and get a sense of
what a day at the festival looks like
VENUE LOCATIONS
URI Fine Arts Center
105 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
University Club/Music Annex Building
95 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
St. Augustine's Church
15 Lower College Rd., Kingston, RI
URI, Edwards Hall
64 Upper College Rd, Kingston, RI
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
3481 Kingstown Rd., W. Kingston, RI
General Stanton Inn
4115 Old Post Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813
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Sunday, October 19, 2025
General Stanton Inn Hosts URI Guitar Festival
DAY-LONG CONCERT
Featuring
Adam Levin, guitar
Duo Sonidos: Adam Levin, Guitar; William Knuth, Violin
Joe Bentley, Bass
Thatcher Harrison, Guitar
Peter Hand Trio: Guitars & Bass
Quentin October, Guitar
12:00–5:00 pm
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Monday, October 20, 2025
REGISTRATION
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
6:30–7:30 pm
CONCERT
Up Close: Spotlight on the Festival’s Creative Visionaries:
Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Norberto Cruz,
Céili Connors, Victor Main, Jim Davidson, Raffi Donoian
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
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Tuesday, October 21, 2025
REGISTRATION
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
6:30–7:30 pm
CONCERT
Francesco Russo, Mandolin Competition Winner
Kostis Zachariadis, M.E. Bruné Guitar Competition Winner
Enoc Leiton, Costa Rica National Guitar Competition Winner
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
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Wednesday, October 22, 2025
LECTURE
From Crisis back to Stage
Jacob Reuven and Norberto Cruz
URI Fine Arts Center, A223
12:00–1:00 pm
WORKSHOP
Mathias Duplessy
URI Music Annex 104
3:00– 4:30 pm
LECTURE
Composition
Curtis Stewart
URI Music Annex 104
4:45-6:00 PM
REGISTRATION
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
6:30–7:30 pm
CONCERT
Lone Star Strings: Texas Guitar Quartet &
Duo Mantar Premiere: Jacob Reuven, Mandolin; Adam Levin, Guitar
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts
7:30 pm
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Thursday, October 23, 2025
REGISTRATION
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
10:00 am–3:00 pm
LUTHIER EXPO
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 am–5:00 pm
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
Adam Cicchillitti
URI Fine Arts Center A110
1:00–2:30 pm
MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
5:00–7:00 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
CONCERT
Purbayan Chatterjee, Sitar
Amit Kavthekar, Tabla
Mark Lettieri, Guitar
Mathias Duplessy & Friends:
Michal Shein, Cello & Amit Kavthekar
URI, Edwards Hall
7:30 pm
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Friday, October 24, 2025
REGISTRATION
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
10:00 am–5:00 pm
LUTHIER EXPO
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 am–5:30 pm
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
Steve Cowan, Guitar
URI Fine Arts Center A220
10:00–10:45 am
LECTURE
Improving Chamber Music Skills
Steve Cowan/Adam Cicchillitti, Guitar duo
URI Fine Arts Center A220
11:00 am–12:00 pm
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH
URI Fine Arts Center A150
12:00 pm–1:30 pm
LECTURE
Amanda Kaya, guitarist
Creating an Authentic Social Media Identity
Convocation, URI Fine Arts Center
Concert Hall
1:00 pm
OPEN LESSONS
Open for observation
Adam Levin
URI Music Annex 104
1:00–4:00pm
PRIVATE LESSONS
Individual Lessons with Festival Artists:
Scott Borg, Thatcher Harrison, Joseph Palmer
URI Fine Arts Center, A148, A220, A221
1:00–4:00pm
LUTHIER TALK
My own 3 way intersection: Guitar Making, Guitar Playing, Guitar Composing
Kenny Hill, Luthier
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
1:30- 2:30 pm
LUTHIER TALK
How to Choose the Right Guitar
M. E. Brune, Luthier
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
3:00–4:00 pm
LECTURE
Conducting for future Plucked Instrument Ensemble leaders
Omer Meir Wellber, Dor Amran
URI Music Annex 104
4:30–5:30 pm
MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
4:30–7:30 pm
CONCERT
Mandolinists Catarina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall
Cicchillitti-Cowan Guitar Duo
URI, Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
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Saturday, October 25, 2025
REGISTRATION
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
9:00 am–5:00 pm
COMPETITION SEMIFINALS
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
9:30 am–1:00 pm
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
Isaac Bustos
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
9:00–10:00 am
LUTHIER EXPO
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00 am–5:00 pm
LUTHIER TALK
What Matters for Getting the Sound
Garrett Lee, Luthier
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:30–11:30 am
LECTURE
Neural Pathways of Music: Insights from Therapy and Neuroscience
Nicole O’Malley
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
12:00–1:00 pm
LUTHIER TALK
Constructing Sound: An Introduction to Guitar Making for Young Musicians
Gef Fisher, Expo Curator
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
1:00- 2:00 pm
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH
URI Fine Arts Center, A150
12:00–1:30 pm
OPEN LESSONS
Open for observation
Isaac Bustos
URI Fine Arts Center, A150
1:30-4:00 pm
PRIVATE LESSONS
Individual lessons with Festival Artists:
Jim Davidson, Jay Kacherski, Alejandro Montiel, Kostis Zachariadis
URI Fine Arts Center, A148, A220, A221, D208
1:30–4:00 pm
MASTERCLASS
Meng Su
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
2:00–4:30 pm
CONCERT
Elite Mandolin Soloists
St. Augustine’s Church
4:30 pm
MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL
4:30–7:30 pm
URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall
CONCERT
Tommy Emmanuel
URI Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
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Sunday, October 26, 2025
REGISTRATION
URI Fine Arts Center, A wing
9:00 am–1:00 pm
LUTHIER EXPO
Invited Builders from across the country
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
9:00 am–5:00 pm
STRING SEMINAR
Presented by Augustine Strings
URI Fine Arts Center, A110
9:00–10:00 am
OPEN LESSONS
Open for Observation
Adam Cicchillitti
URI Fine Arts Center, A150
10:00 am-12:00 pm
PRIVATE LESSONS
Individual lessons with Festival Artists:
Steve Cowan, Enoc Leiton, Matt Rohde
URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex
10:00 am–12:30 pm
TONEWOOD PANEL DISCUSSION / Q&A
With Luthiers Kenny Hill,
Garrett Lee, Marshall Brune,
Toby Rzepka, and Kevin Muiderman
Curated by Spencer Ladd
Moderated by Gef Fisher
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
10:00–11:00 am
GUITAR SHOWCASE
Guitars from the Expo played by festival artist Thatcher Harrison
Moderated by Gef Fisher
URI Fine Arts Center A219
Recording Studio
11:00 am –12:00 pm
FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH
URI Fine Arts Center A110
11:30 am–1:00 pm
COMPETITION FINALS
URI, Fine Arts Center Concertt Hall
12:30–1:30 pm
STUDENT CONCERT
Rising Stars Participants, Invited Guitar Ensembles, Mandolin Lovers
URI, Edwards Hall
2:00 pm
GALA FINALE CONCERT & COMPETITION PRIZE CEREMONY
Prelude: Mega Guitar Orchestra, Elite Mandolin Ensemble
Meng Su, Classical Guitar
URI Edwards Hall
5:00 pm