Shenandoah Guitar Festival
June 12–14, 2026
Registration Fee: $150
Application Deadline: Friday, May 22, 2026
About
The Shenandoah Guitar Festival (SGF) is a gathering of students, enthusiasts and professionals in a celebration of the art of the guitar on the main campus of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia.
The festival is open to students, amateurs, fans and professionals of any age and experience level. Anyone who is interested in and passionate about the guitar is welcome to join us!
All masterclasses and workshops are open to the public, free of charge. Individual tickets to the evening concerts are also available for sale to those not registered as full participants in the festival.
Event Highlights
Full participants in the festival will have the opportunity to perform in the Festival Guitar Orchestra led by Candice Mowbray, participate in special workshops and (by audition) play in masterclasses for SGF artist-faculty. Registration as a festival participant also includes admission to all festival concerts and events.
Registration as a festival participant also includes admission to all festival concerts and events.
Festival Director
Colin Davin
Director of Guitar Studio
Associate Professor of Guitar
Shenandoah Conservatory
colin.davin@su.edu
Guest Artists
Jason Vieaux
Guest Artist
Grammy Award winner Jason Vieaux, “among the elite of today’s classical guitarists” (Gramophone), is described by NPR as “perhaps the most precise and soulful classical guitarist of his generation.” In appearances from New York’s Lincoln Center to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw and the Seoul Arts Center, Vieaux has cemented his reputation as an artist of brilliance and uncompromised mastery.
Patterson/Sutton Duo
Guest Artists
Praised by BBC Music Magazine for their “beguiling” sound and by The Strad for their “wit and imagination,” the Patterson/Sutton Duo—cellist Dr. Kimberly Patterson and guitarist Dr. Patrick Sutton—has captivated audiences across the United States and internationally. As Juilliard Global Visiting Artists, they maintain an ongoing relationship with The Juilliard School, combining performance with a commitment to global music education.
Ziggy and Miles
Guest Artists
“Australian guitarist brothers making history” (The Age), Ziggy and Miles are two of their home country’s finest young musicians forging an international career. Their performances are known for their “deeply considered musicianship, immaculate care and superlative technique” (5MBS). Winners of the 2023 YCA (Young Concert Artists) Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, the brothers have become the first guitar duo and second guitarists to receive this prestigious award in the organization’s 65-year history.
Leonela Alejandro
Guest Artist
Winner of the Rose Augustine Grand Prize in the 2024 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition, Leonela Alejandro is a classical guitarist from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. She has garnered attention as a soloist, captivating audiences with her powerful and energetic performance style. Alejandro has been invited to perform in numerous venues in the United States and Europe.
Candice Mowbray
Guitar Orchestra Director
Renowned for her beautiful tone and elegant playing, guitarist Candice Mowbray captivates audiences with her expressive artistry. From the lively acrobatics of Ida Presti’s Danse rythmique to the poignant depths of Fernando Sor’s Fantaisie élégiaque, her performances are a thoughtful journey through modern and classic works. As a dynamic soloist, ensemble musician and guest lecturer, Mowbray has graced the stages of prestigious festivals and concert series.
Schedule of Events
Friday, June 12, 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Check-in & Welcome Breakfast | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
| 10 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. | Ensemble Rehearsal | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
| 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Masterclass (Jason Vieaux) | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Lunch (on your own) | |
| 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Concert (Colin Davin & Friends) | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
| 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Workshop (Leonela Alejandro) | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. | Dinner (on your own) | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Concert (Patterson/Sutton Duo) | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
Saturday, June 13, 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Ensemble Individual Practice with Coaching | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 10 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. | Ensemble Rehearsal | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. | Masterclass (Patterson/Sutton Duo) | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Lunch & Luthier Exhibition | Armstrong Hall Lobby |
| 2:30 p.m. | Concert (Ziggy and Miles + Leonela Alejandro) | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
| 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. | Luthier Demonstration | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
| 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Dinner (on your own) | |
| 7:30 p.m. | Concert (Jason Vieaux) | Goodson Chapel – Recital Hall |
Sunday, June 14, 2026
| Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Ensemble Individual Practice with Coaching | Armstrong Concert Hall |
| 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Masterclass (Colin Davin) | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Workshop (Ziggy & Miles) | Armstrong Hall, Room 39 |
| 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. | Lunch (on your own) | |
| 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. | Ensemble Dress Rehearsal | Armstrong Concert Hall |
| 2:30 p.m. | Student Showcase Concert | Armstrong Concert Hall |
Schedule is subject to change.
Lodging Information
Shenandoah University (SU) is located near several area hotels that frequently welcome visitors from around the world for events on SU’s main campus.
Travel to Shenandoah University
Shenandoah University (SU) is located in historic Winchester, Virginia. Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD) is the nearest major airport offering commercial flights to our area, and is about a one hour drive from campus.
Contact Us
Questions? Email Director of the Guitar Studio and Associate Professor of Guitar Colin Davin at colin.davin@su.edu for more information.