Classical Guitar Studies

The University of South Carolina Classical Guitar Program has dedicated itself to attracting accomplished young guitar students from across the country, in addition to talented South Carolina residents, and providing them with superior training as performers and teachers. USC guitar students and recent graduates have distinguished themselves as recipients of major grants and awards, artists-in-residence for southern arts commissions, soloists with regional symphony orchestras, faculty members at U.S. universities, colleges, and conservatories, and as winners and finalists in major national and regional competitions: MTNA Collegiate Artist Auditions, Society of American Musicians Young Artist Competition, Augusta Symphony Paganini Competition, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

In addition to applied study, courses are offered in guitar literature, guitar pedagogy, fingerboard harmony, technique, performance, and ensemble. The guitar ensemble is unusually active and has become known throughout South Carolina through its concert and television appearances. The music library has substantial holdings of guitar and lute music which are augmented every year. Local interest in the classic guitar is high and assures additional performance and teaching opportunities for qualified advanced students. USC guitar students have also had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses for Sharon Isbin, Nikita Koshkin, Eliot Fisk, David Russell, William Kanengiser, Benjamin Verdery, Michael Lorimer and others. music library