Classical Guitar Festival Coming to UTSA in March

The Southwest Guitar Symposium (SWGS) is set to return to UTSA this March for a three-day celebration of classical guitar music. As San Antonio’s largest classical guitar festival, the event will bring together musicians, guitar makers, and music enthusiasts for performances, masterclasses, and solo guitar contests.

The symposium will feature internationally renowned guitarists and highly competitive solo guitar contests for artists of all ages. In addition to the musical performances, the event will host the Southwest Luthier and Vendor Expo, where guitar luthiers and shops will display and sell their instruments on campus.

Artistic director Isaac Bustos expressed his excitement for this year’s symposium, which marks the fifth edition of the event. Guest artists from Mexico and Costa Rica, including Grammy award-winning guitarist William Kanengiser, will be featured in the lineup.

Originally established as the Southwest Guitar Festival in 1991, the event has a rich history of showcasing the best in classical guitar music. Former UTSA guitar professor Matthew Dunne took over as director in 1995 and grew the festival to become the largest acoustic guitar festival in the United States by 2000. After a hiatus, Bustos revived the event in 2020 as the SWGS.

UTSA will host the symposium from March 8-10, featuring En Vivo Guest Artists such as Pablo Garibay, Jay Kacherski, and Cuarteto de Guitarras de la Ciudad de México. Faculty artists like Dúo Fortis and Tracy Cowden will also perform during the event.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to experience the beauty and versatility of classical guitar music at the Southwest Guitar Symposium at UTSA in March.