GuitarFest West 2025

We’re back with everyone’s favourite week of the year! GuitarFest West returns August 4-8, 2025 with guests Katie Lonson, Rob MacDonald, the Ibison Guitar Duo, and Gwenyth Aggeler. Our visiting artists will be joined by co-directors Brett Gunther and Emma Rush, as well as local stalwarts Ralph Maier and Darren Young.

The 2025 edition of GuitarFest West will also include an International Guitar Competition with prizes ranging from $250 to $1000. Find out more about this wonderful program below or click on the link to register.

A week of guitar immersion guaranteed to excite and inspire.

Registration for GuitarFest West 2025 is now open!  Join us at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta from August 4th to the 8th for an incredible week filled with classical guitar.  

In addition to masterclasses, workshops, concerts, and ensemble rehearsals, GuitarFest West 2025 will once again feature an International Guitar Competition!

This year we are incredibly excited to welcome a number of artists for the first time to the festival including Katie Lonson, Rob MacDonald, as well as the Ibison Guitar Duo (Chad Ibison and Janet Grohovac).  This year's full line up includes:

 

  • Gwenyth Aggeler (1st Prize Winner GFW 2025)

  • Brett Gunther (Mount Royal University Conservatory) Program Director

  • Katie Lonson (School for Music and Art in Böblingen, Germany.)

  • Rob MacDonald (University of Toronto)

  • Ralph Maier (University of Calgary)

  • Ibison Guitar Duo (Chad Ibison and Janet Grohovac, Austin Community College, Concordia University Texas)

  • Emma Rush (Performer, Clinician, and Educator) Program Co-Director 

  • Darren Young (Mount Royal University Conservatory)

 

Register now to secure your spot and to take advantage of the early bird registration fees:

 

Full Festival: $450 (10% Early Bird Discount Available)

Half Days: $225 (10% Early Bird Discount Available)

Competition Only: $150

Competition AND Festival: $500 (10% Early Bird Discount Available)

Sponsors:

2025 GFW Concerts

All concerts in the TransAlta Pavilion, Taylor Centre for the Performing Arts, Mount Royal University. Admission is by donation, with a suggested donation of $20.

TBA