Guitar Festival 2025 - Workshops, Masterclasses and Seminars

This event is presented as part of the 2025 Guitar Festival at the Conservatorium

We're inviting guitarists of all ages, abilities and walks of life to come experience a weekend at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music! Participants will enjoy engaging workshops, connect with like-minded musicians, attend seminars by international artists and perform incredible music together.  

World renowned soloists Kanahi Yamashita (Germany/Japan) and Gabriel Bianco (France) will be visiting Australia for the first time for the festival. Both artists will perform captivating solo recitals and conduct insightful masterclasses. A major highlight will be the 100 Guitar Ensemble Extravaganza, featuring the participation of celebrated multi-instrumentalist and composer William Barton (Australia). He will arrange and perform a new piece specially for this occasion, offering participants a truly unique performance opportunity.

Other exciting events include a rare duo performance by local legends Doug de Vries and James Sherlock, along with workshops and masterclasses by the Guitar teaching staff of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Running concurrently, a symposium on the Guitar Concerto and the orchestral guitar will feature presentation from scholars worldwide, both online and in person. A concert tailored to the theme of the guitar concerto will showcase the world premiere of a new concerto by acclaimed composer Melody Eötvös.

In addition to the festival programming, the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music is pleased to host the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Altamira Guitar Competition! Attendees are invited to watch the Junior and Open Competition Finals on Friday and Sunday.

Each evening will culminate in a concert featuring a world class guitarists. Please register for tickets for those performances here.

During the festival there will be a wide variety of free events held throughout The Ian Potter Southbank Centre. When registering for ticket, simply select which day and events you would like to attend through the questions in the registration form. Further details about the schedule and each event are below. 

Schedule

Friday 8 August, 5PM - 7PM

3.30PM - 5PM: Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Altamira Guitar Competition - Junior Category, Final Round
5PM - 7PM: Keynote Presentation
7.30PM – 9.30PM: Concert – Guitar Concerto [Get tickets]

Saturday 9 August, 8.30AM - 7PM

8.30AM - 9AM: Registration at Ground Level foyer
9AM - 10AM: Warm up & Technique with Ken Murray
10AM - 12PM: 100 Guitars Ensemble Rehearsal with William Barton
12PM - 1PM: Masterclasses for Secondary Students with Conservatorium Artists
1PM – 2PM: Lunch Break Performances
2PM – 4PM: Masterclass for Conservatorium students with international guest artists
3PM – 4PM: Concert - Doug de Vries & James Sherlock [Get tickets]
5PM - 7PM - Keynote Presentation
7.30PM - 9.30PM: Concert - Kanahi Yamashita [Get tickets]

Sunday 10 August, 9AM - 7PM

8.30AM - 9AM: Registration at Ground Level foyer
9AM - 10AM: Warm up & Technique with Ken Murray
10AM - 11AM: Flamenco Guitar Workshop with Gerard Mapstone
11AM - 12PM: Brazilian Guitar Workshop with Doug de Vries
12PM – 1.30PM: Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Altamira Guitar Competition – Open Category, Final Round
2PM - 3PM: 100 Guitar Ensemble Rehearsal 
3PM - 4PM: 100 Guitar Ensemble Performance [Get tickets]
5PM - 7PM: Keynote Presentation
7.30PM - 9.30PM: Concert: Gabriel Bianco [Get tickets]

Workshops and Masterclasses 

During the day, participants will be able to participate in workshops and masterclasses with the Guitar Festival Artists.  For those wishing to participate in a masterclass, you will be able to express your interest through the ticket booking form. All other attendees will be welcome to attend and observe the masterclasses.

Warm up & technique with Ken Murray, 9AM 9 & 10 August
Start the day with fun guitar exercises, techniques and tips for enhanced practice.

Masterclass for Secondary students with Conservatorium Artists: 12PM - 1PM Saturday 9 August

Masterclasses for secondary school students performing for Conservatorium guitar staff and postgraduates. 

Masterclass for Conservatorium Students with International Guest Artists: 2PM - 4PM Saturday 9 August

Conservatorium guitar students performing for international guest artists visiting courtesy of Altamira Guitars. An opportunity to hear young talented guitarists learning from some of the world’s best classical guitarists. 

100 Guitar Ensemble, 9 & 10 August 
A celebration of massed guitars, to the max! Performances by the Leading Edge Guitar Ensemble and the Guitar Festival 100 Guitar Ensemble. Music by Steve Reich and William Barton who has arranged a new work for 100 guitars for this concert. Rehearsals are on Saturday 10AM - 12PM and Sunday 2PM - 3PM ahead of the performance on Sunday 3PM - 4PM in Hanson Dyer Hall. All attendees are welcome to participate, register your interest via this ticketing page.

Workshops with Gerard Mapstone & Doug de Vries, 10 August
10AM - 11AM: Flamenco Guitar Workshop with Gerard Mapstone
11AM - 12PM: Brazilian Guitar Workshop with Doug de Vries
Two exciting workshops on with renowned teachers from the Conservatorium. PhD graduate Gerard Mapstone will provide an introduction to fundamentals of flamenco guitar playing while guitar guru Doug de Vries will bring to life the excitement and colour of Brazilian guitar.

Concerts and Performances 

As part of the festival, every evening we host a concert featuring a world class guitarist. Please note that some of these concerts are ticketed separately to Guitar Festival daily programming. Please book tickets via the links below.

Lunchtime Concert Stages 
Performances will be held in the Hanson Dyer Hall and Ground Floor Foyers during lunchtime, bring your lunch and enjoy! 

Guitar Festival 2025: Guitar Concerto
Friday, 8 August, 7:30PM - 9:30PM

Works for guitar and string orchestra by Peter Sculthorpe, Joaquin Rodrigo and a new concerto written by Melody Eotvos. Soloists: Gerard Mapstone, Natalie Poloni, Zixiao Wei and Ken Murray. 

Guitar Festival 2025: The Blues and the Abstract Truth
Saturday, 9 August, 3PM - 4PM 

Doug de Vries and James Sherlock in concert. A rare opportunity to hear these two guitar masters in duo. 

Guitar Festival 2025: Kanahi Yamashita
Saturday, 9 August, 7:30PM - 9.30PM

Guitar Festival 2025: 100 Guitar Ensemble 
Sunday 10 August, 3PM - 4PM

This showcase concert features the staff and students of the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Guitar Festival participants and guest artists. Performances by the Leading Edge Guitar Ensemble and the Guitar Festival 100 Guitar Ensemble. Music by Steve Reich and William Barton who has arranged a new work for 100 guitars for this concert. Not to be missed! 

Guitar Festival 2025: Gabriel Bianco
Sunday, 10 August, 7:30PM - 9:30PM

Keynote Presentations

Event information

Observer/Parent/Guardian Passes

Observer passes are available to those who wish to attend the day without participating in the rehearsals and concert performance.

Parent/Guardian passes are available for those who wish to attend the day alongside a participant aged 17 years and younger. Attendees aged 14 and under are required to have a parent/guardian or teacher attend with them.

ACCESSIBILITY

All venues at the Southbank campus are wheelchair accessible. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit:  https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.  

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

• Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.  

• In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.  

• Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.