WGF is very proud to announce that this year’s WGF recital series is promoted in association with our friends from Southampton Classical Guitar Society. SCGS are also generously donating a WGF bursary and membership of SCGS for this year to a worthy recipient ….. THANK YOU SCGS!

SCGS is one of the UK’s most active and indeed, thriving societies devoted to the classical guitar, with an enviable programme of fortnightly meetings, ensemble-extra and a fabulous recital series of their own featuring some of the finest homegrown and international performers. We are hugely grateful for their support of WGF and looking forward to working closely with them on our events.

SCGS members will be able to take advantage of this partnership with discounted ticket prices for all our WGF concerts.The WGF concert series will take place at Milner Hall in Winchester. Our very special guest artists are Laura Young (Canada): winner of the Andres Segovia Competition and a dazzling guitarist combining “…explosive virtuosity with profound lyricism” [Gitarre und Laute], and Mark Ashford is a former BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year and international prize-winner, who is “a truly remarkable guitarist” [Classical Guitar Magazine]. Don’t miss out on these stunning concerts in one of the finest natural acoustics in the South. The WGF recital series is often sold out in advance and seating is strictly limited, so please book early to reserve your place.

Our other exciting news is that SCGS have created a special SCGS Bursary to assist a local guitarist of any age who would like to attend this year’s WGF, but who needs financial support to enable them to do so. The society are also very generously donating membership of SCGS for this year, so that the recipient can take full advantage of all the marvellous events going on at SCGS and also benefit from discounted tickets for their own concert season. SCGS are firmly committed to supporting fellow guitarists wherever possible and we have no doubt that this award of £100 will make all the difference to a worthy student. Applicants must live within a 30 mile radius of Chandlers Ford but full details regarding eligiblity and an application form can be requested by contacting the Festival Office.

Places on our 3 day festival are filling up quickly, so don’t miss out and book online NOW to reserve your place.

Internationally acclaimed guitarists Laura Young (Canada) and Mark Ashford (UK) will be this year’s very special guest artists at WGF. You can catch them in concert at Milner Hall on Friday and 23 and Saturday 24 July as part of the WGF recital series, and they will also be giving masterclasses for the WGF students during the festival weekend.

Laura is a well known performer, internationally recognised for her powerfully vivid and charismatic performances. Born in Canada, she has made her home in Barcelona and currently teaches at the Escuela Superior de Musica en Catalunya.

Acclaimed for his ‘inspirational interpretations’ Mark is an international prize-winning guitarist and a former BBC Radio 2 Young Musician of the Year. In addition to his solo and concerto performances, Mark is also a member of the VIDA Guitar Quartet and Head of Guitar at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

The intimate setting of Milner Hall provides some of the finest acoustics for the classical guitar, but it does have limited seating and most concerts are a sell-out so please book early to avoid disapointment.

Friday 23 July 8pm – Mark Ashford
Saturday 24 July 8pm – Laura Young

To reserve tickets please call 01962 860192 or email request form below.