2025 Guitar Foundation of America

Join us for the 2025 Guitar Foundation of America International Convention and Competition. Hosted by Dr. Stephen Mattingly at the University of Louisville, June 16-21

Guitar Convention 2025

This June the University of Louisville once again welcomes one of the world’s largest classical guitar events as it hosts the Guitar Foundation of America Convention and Competitions. Since joining the faculty in 2008, Professor of Guitar Dr. Stephen Mattingly brings the GFA to campus for the third time, elevating Louisville alongside favored host sites Los Angeles and Miami as the only cities to hold this favored distinction in the organization’s 51-year legacy.

Concert artists, competitors, and participants from five continents will focus the international guitar community’s attention on the School of Music and its world-renowned guitar program. Each year the GFA holds this celebrated public event for audiences of guitar enthusiasts, professionals, educators, luthiers, vendors, and composers. Over 700 convention participants enjoy daily performances, workshops, masterclasses, lectures, competitions, a vast vendor exhibition, and more.

Immersed within the bustling convention activities are nine concerts, a youth program for guitarists ages 11-18, the Coffee and Chords club for adult learners, and three competitions where concert artists of tomorrow vie for nearly $50,000 in prizes. The GFA International Concert Artist Competition and its Rose Augustine Prize is recognized as the world’s premiere guitar competitions, establishing a standard similar to the Van Cliburn competition for the piano.

Concert tickets and event registration are open to everyone from professional players to casual listeners, who will embrace the artistic endeavors of this beloved instrument. More information is available.