Classical Guitar
Sidebar
The University of Louisville classical guitar studio typically has 12-15 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in BA, BME, BM, and MM degree programs. Guitarists may major in performance, composition, education, history, theory, music therapy, or minor in music.
University of Louisville guitar majors have done well in competitions during their studies in our program, winning top prizes in competitions at the Beethoven Club, the Eastern Music Festival, the University of Louisville Guitar Festival, and the University of Memphis Guitar Festival.
Alumni have done well with acceptance and awards to prestigious graduate schools or job placements in music. Our graduates have been awarded assistantships to masters and doctoral programs at schools such as Eastman; Florida State University; Peabody Conservatory; Shenandoah Conservatory; and University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Recent graduates hold teaching positions at Bellarmine University, Indiana University Southeast, Transylvania University, and the Youth Performing Arts School.
Student Enrichment
The following organizations offer opportunities for guitar students at the University of Louisville to expand their learning and connect with other guitarists on campus, in the Louisville community, and beyond.
The Guitar Foundation of America: Every three years, the University of Louisville is host to the GFA International Convention and Competition, which is North America's largest classical guitar event.
The University of Louisville Guitar Festival and Competition: Each year the UofL Guitar Studio hosts a festival of concerts, masterclasses, workshops, and a competition for guitarists of all ages.
The Louisville Guitar Society (LGS): Each year the LGS sponsors four concerts and masterclasses by the world's leading guitarists. Its community guitar orchestra and member meetings offer performance opportunities for UofL guitar students.
Academics
Audition requirements
Prepared repertory should include three contrasting major works from different stylistic periods that best represent the applicant's technical and artistic strengths.
The works listed below represent suggested repertoire for auditions to study classical guitar at the University of Louisville.
All applicants must present:
1. Major and minor scales
2. Giuliani 120 right-hand arpeggios
3. Knowledge of entire fingerboard exhibited in a sight-reading example
4. An etude by Aguado, Carcassi, Carulli, Coste, Giuliani, Sor, or Villa-Lobos
5. Three contrasting works
Suggested repertoire:
Fernando Sor: One study from Segovia's Selected 20 Studies
H. Villa-Lobos: One of the Five Preludes or 12 Etudes
J.S. Bach: Prelude from Cello Suite No. 1 (or work of similar difficulty by Bach)
Application materials may be submitted as early as August 1st. The deadline for academic scholarship consideration is December 15th.
Undergraduate Scholarships
All applicants that select a music degree on their application to the University and audition by March 1 are eligible for music scholarships. There is not a separate application for music scholarships. Music scholarships are only eligible for music majors.
Music scholarships are available to qualified students, but awards are competitive. All students that audition by March 1st are considered for scholarship.
The School of Music bases scholarship awards on several factors: musical talent, academic achievement, priorities in instrumentation, and financial need.
Music scholarships can be stacked with Academic scholarships.
Learn more about program details and class information.
Master of Music in Guitar Performance (M.M.)
All graduate applicants must submit a repertoire list at the audition. Graduate auditions consist of an interview and a 20-minute performance including at least three stylistically contrasting works. All works must be memorized.
All materials must be submitted by January 15th.
Graduate Awards
Graduate Teaching Assistantships and Service Awards are open for all areas of the graduate program and based on a competitive application process. Teaching assistantships may include full tuition remission, healthcare benefits, and up to a $12,000 stipend.
Teaching assistants in the guitar studio typically include teaching experience in class guitar, guitar ensemble, and applied lessons.
Service award recipients in the guitar studio are assigned duties as needed in areas of guitar festival administration and classroom assistance.
Learn more about program details and class information.
