RISING STARS SCHEDULE
Stay tuned for the FULL 2026 schedule of events-coming soon!
RISING STARS PASSES ON SALE JUNE 1
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
URI Edwards Hall
64 Upper College Rd, Kingston, RI
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Friday, October 24, 2025
RISING STARS PROGRAM KICKOFF
URI Fine Arts Center, A110&A150
4:00-7:00 pm
INTRODUCTIONS
4:00–4:30 pm
TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP
4:30–5:15 pm
ENSEMBLE REHEARSAL
5:15–6:15 pm
PIZZA DINNER
6:15–7:00 pm
CONCERT
Mandolinists Catarina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall
Cicchillitti-Cowan Guitar duo
URI Edwards Hall
7:30 pm
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Saturday, October 25, 2025
RISING STARS PROGRAM
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
MORNING WARMUP
9:00–9:30 am
BEGINNER ENSEMBLE/ADVANCED WORKSHOP
9:30-10:45 am
ADVANCED ENSEMBLE/BEGINNER WORKSHOP
10:45-12:00 Noon
LUNCH BREAK
12:00 Noon-1:00 pm
LUTHIER TALK
Constructing Sound: An Introduction to Guitar Making for Young Musicians
Gef Fisher, Expo Curator
URI Music Annex
1:00- 2:00 pm
LESSONS
URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex
1:00–3:00 pm
ENSEMBLE SECTIONALS
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
3:00–5:00 pm
MUSIC JEOPARDY/GAMES
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
5:00–6:00 pm
DINNER BREAK
6:00–8:00 pm
CONCERT
Tommy Emmanuel
URI Edwards Hall
8:00 pm
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Sunday, October 26, 2025
RISING STARS PROGRAM
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
WARM-UP & WORKSHOPS
Kostis Zachariadis, Festival Artist &
2024 M.E. Brune competition Winner
URI Fine Arts Center, C100
9:00–10:30 am
LESSONS
URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex
9:00-11:30 am
DRESS REHEARSAL
URI Edwards Hall
10:30–11:30 am
LUNCH BREAK
URI Edwards Hall Lobby
11:30-12:30 pm
COMPETITION FINALS
URI Fine Arts Center
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: The Mega Guitar Orchestra, The Elite Mandolin Ensemble
Meng Su, Classical Guitar
5:00 pm