Now in its tenth edition, in collaboration with the Rhode Island Guitar Guild, the University of Rhode Island Guitar and Mandolin Festival continues to demonstrate the truly universal nature of the guitar while uniting artists and audiences alike.

Festival Schedule:

Sunday, October 19, 2025

12:00–5:00 pm: DAY-LONG CONCERT

Featuring

Adam Levin, guitar
Duo Sonidos: Adam Levin, Guitar; William Knuth, Violin
Joe Bentley, Bass
Thatcher Harrison, Guitar
Peter Hand Trio: Guitars & Bass
Quentin October, Guitar

Location: General Stanton Inn

Monday, October 20, 2025

6:30–7:30 pm: REGISTRATION

7:30 pm: CONCERT

Up Close: Spotlight on the Festival’s Creative Visionaries:

Ekaterina Skliar, Dor Amran, Norberto Cruz,

Céili Connors, Victor Main, Jim Davidson, Raffi Donoian

Location: Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts

Tuesday, October 21, 2025

9:00am–1:00 pm: LESSONS (M)

Elite Mandolin Soloists

Location: URI Fine Arts Center, D Wing

1:00–2:00 pm: FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH (M)

Location: URI Music Annex

2:00–5:00 pm: REHEARSAL (M)

Elite Mandolin Soloists

Location: URI Music Annex

6:30–7:30 pm: REGISTRATION

7:30 pm: CONCERT

Francesco Russo, Mandolin Competition Winner

Kostis Zachariadis, M.E. Bruné Guitar Competition Winner

Enoc Leiton, Costa Rica National Guitar Competition Winner

Location: Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts

Wednesday, October 22, 2025

12:00–1:00 pm: LECTURE

From Crisis back to Stage

Jacob Reuven and Norberto Cruz

Location: URI Music Annex

3:00– 4:30 pm: LECTURE

Composition

Curtis Stewart

Location: URI Music Annex

4:45-6:00 PM: WORKSHOP - Mathias Duplessy

Location: URI Music Annex

6:30–7:30 pm: REGISTRATION

7:30 pm: CONCERT

Lone Star Strings: Texas Guitar Quartet &

Duo Mantar Premiere: Jacob Reuven, Mandolin; Adam Levin, Guitar

Location: Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts

Thursday, October 23, 2025

10:00 am–3:00 pm: REGISTRATION

Location: URI Music Annex Lobby

1:00–2:30 pm: TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP

Adam Cicchillitti

Location: URI Music Annex

5:00–7:00 pm: MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL

Location: URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

7:30 pm: CONCERT

Purbayan Chatterjee, Sitar 

Amit Kavthekar, Tabla

Mark Lettieri, Guitar

Mathias Duplessy & Friends:

Michal Shein, Cello & Amit Kavthekar

Location: URI, Edwards Hall

Friday, October 24, 2025

10:00 am–5:00 pm: REGISTRATION

Location: URI Music Annex Lobby

10:00 am–5:30 pm: LUTHIER EXPO

Invited Builders from across the country

Location: URI Music Annex

10:00–10:45 am: TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP

Steve Cowan, Guitar

Location: URI Music Annex

11:00 am–12:00 pm: LECTURE

Improving Chamber Music Skills

Steve Cowan/Adam Cicchillitti, Guitar duo

Location: URI Music Annex

12:00 pm–1:30 pm: FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH

Location: URI Music Annex

1:00 pm: LECTURE

Amanda Kaya, guitarist

Creating an Authentic Social Media Identity

Location: Convocation, URI Fine Arts Center

1:00–4:00pm: LESSONS

Individual Lessons with Festival Artists

Location: URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex

1:30- 2:30 pm: LUTHIER TALK

My own 3 way intersection: Guitar Making, Guitar Playing, Guitar Composing

Kenny Hill, Luthier

Location: URI, Music Annex

3:00–4:00 pm: LUTHIER TALK

How to Choose the Right Guitar

M. E. Brune, Luthier

Location: URI Music Annex

4:30–7:30 pm: MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL

Location: URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

8:00 pm: CONCERT

Mandolinists Catarina Lichtenberg & Mike Marshall

Cicchillitti-Cowan Guitar Duo

Location: URI, Edwards Hall

Saturday, October 25, 2025

9:30 am–1:00 pm: COMPETITION SEMIFINALS

Location: URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

9:00–10:00 am: TECHNIQUE WORKSHOP - Isaac Bustos

Location: URI Music Annex

10:00 am–5:00 pm : LUTHIER EXPO

Invited Builders from across the country

Location: URI Music Annex

10:30–11:30 am: LUTHIER TALK

What Matters for Getting the Sound
Garrett Lee, Luthier

Location: URI Music Annex

12:00–1:00 pm: FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH & LECTURE

Nicole O’Malley: Music Therapy

Location: URI Music Annex

12:00–2:00 pm: FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH

Location: URI Music Annex

1:30–4:00 pm: LESSONS

Individual lessons with Festival Artists

Location: URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex

1:30–4:00 pm: MASTERCLASS

Meng Su

Location: URI Edwards Hall

4:30 pm: CONCERT

Elite Mandolin Soloists

Location: St. Augustine’s Church

4:30–7:30 pm: MEGA GUITAR ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL

Location: URI Fine Arts Center Concert Hall

8:00 pm: CONCERT - Tommy Emmanuel

Location: URI Edwards Hall

October 26, 2025

9:00 am–1:00 pm: REGISTRATION

Location: URI Music Annex Lobby

9:00 am–5:00 pm: LUTHIER EXPO

Invited Builders from across the country

Location: URI Music Annex

9:30–10:30 am: TONEWOOD AMERICA PANEL DISCUSSION / Q&A With Luthiers Kenny Hill, Garrett Lee, Marshall Brune, and Toby Rzepka

Curated by Spencer Ladd

Moderated by Gef Fisher

Location: URI Music Annex

10:30 –11:30 am: GUITAR SHOWCASE

Guitars from the Expo played by featured young artists

Moderated by Gef Fisher

Location: URI Music Annex

10:00 am–12:30 pm: LESSONS

Individual lessons with Festival Artists

Location: URI Fine Arts Center, D wing and URI Music Annex

11:30 am–1:00 pm: FAMILY-STYLE LUNCH

Location: URI Music Annex

12:30–1:30 pm: COMPETITION FINALS

Location: URI, Fine Arts Center

5:30 pm: GALA FINALE CONCERT & COMPETITION PRIZE CEREMONY

Prelude: Mega Guitar Orchestra, Elite Mandolin Ensemble

Meng Su, Classical Guitar

Location: URI Edwards Hall

Fest Date: October 19 - 26, 2025

Locations:
URI Fine Arts Center, 105 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
University Club/Music Annex Building, 95 Upper College Rd., Kingston, RI
St. Augustine's Church, 15 Lower College Rd., Kingston, RI
URI, Edwards Hall, 64 Upper College Rd, Kingston, RI
Courthouse Center for the Performing Arts, 3481 Kingstown Rd., W. Kingston, RI
General Stanton Inn, 4115 Old Post Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813

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