32nd International Guitar Festival 2025 | A Review by Evangelos Assimakopoulos

I am pleased to report that this year's Festival in Patras was a success in every way, as the 32nd International Guitar Festival once again had an impressive participation of students (107 in total) and friends of the instrument who attended the four-day events.
In the welcoming halls of the 'Philharmoniki Foundation Conservatory of Patras', the students took part in the Master classes, attended the lectures, lessons and concerts, while on the last day there was a large number of them participating in the competitions.



Masterclass Liza Zoe & Evangelos Assimakopoulos
 

In the beautiful concert hall of the Conservatory – a true jewel of the city of Patras – the events were opened on the first day by two excellent young artists who had won the first two prizes last year: the Polish Oktavia Bujnowicz and our own Vasilis Poulios impressed with their impeccable technique, mature interpretation and meticulous sound, elements that predetermine an international career. This observation was also supported by the demanding audience of Patras, who responded enthusiastically to both recitals of the talented guitarists.
 

Recital Oktavia Bujnowicz
 

Recital Vassilis Poulios
 

The second day of the events opened with a speech by me, which had as its theme the life of the French Ida Presti. It was a lecture that I had dedicated to the memory of the top guitarist who was also our teacher, since last year's Festival marked the centenary of her birth (1924). Those who attended the lecture heard details about the turbulent life of a guitar phenomenon, an inimitable guitarist who left an indelible mark on her in her short life.

Recital Ioanna Kazoglou

The two recitals by Greek guitarists that followed drew intense applause from the audience that had flooded the hall.
Ioanna Kazoglou, with her fiery temperament and her stormy playing on a demanding program, justified the predictions of those who had believed in her and in her international career, which has already begun. Ioanna is certainly one of the leading guitarists of her generation and her future is bright.
Orestis Kalambalikis, whose program was exclusively composed of his own arrangements of the music by Manos Hadjidakis, offered the audience an enjoyable recital. Making the best use of the expressive capabilities of the guitar, he thrilled the audience with his clever discoveries, the variety of timbres and the apt inventions, so that ultimately the music of the brilliant composer, thanks to Orestis Kalambalikis, can rightfully take a place in the repertoire of the instrument's philology.
 

Recital Orestis Kalambalikis
 

The third day of the events began with a lecture by Orestis in which the gifted composer-guitarist mainly referred to the motivations, research and stimuli that led him to create his arrangements, arrangements which have already been recorded and released in publications and on CD. Orestis Kalambalikis, an excellent connoisseur and owner of the instrument, with his compositional skills, is certainly a unique guitarist today who has much to offer in the future.
On the evening of the same day, the audience had the opportunity to listen to two foreign guitarists, holders of the famous international GFA award. The Croatian Lovro Peretić and the Russian Vladimir Gorbach, who were invited to the Festival to give recitals, teach Master classes and participate in the competition jury, confirmed the reputation that surrounds them. The technique, sound and expressive ability of the young Lovro Peretić, who comfortably performed the interpretations of the demanding works he presented, impressed everyone, as well as the mature, elegant and virtuosic playing of Bladimir Gorbach, whom the audience of the Patras festival welcomed again with enthusiasm, just like in 2017. They are two guitarists who will definitely visit our country again.

Recital Lovro Peretic 
 

Masterclass Vladimir Gorbach 
 

The fourth and last day of the Festival belongs entirely to the competitions. This year, a total of 49 students competed for all three categories. The competition was particularly high in the second Category, while for the third Category (no age limit) the committee considered that the level was not high enough and did not award the First Prize.

Lisa and I would like to warmly thank Greek-American guitar maker Nikolas Ioannou from New York, for his valuable contribution: a guitar of his own making as a prize for the winner of the third Category, as well as the Music House ‘Panasmusic’ for its contribution to the remaining awards and prizes of the competition in all Categories.
A big 'thank you' also to the management of the 'Philharmoniki Foundation Conservatory of Patras', in whose concert hall various events have been held over the years.

Since 1992, the year these events began as a Seminar and later evolved into an International Festival, our goal has always been to inform, train and educate the hundreds of students who continue to flock from every corner of the country.
Nowadays, the Patras International Guitar Festival is the largest and longest-running guitar institution that is held without interruption every year in the same city.
Always maintaining a strict selection of guests during the four-day event, our Festival is usually accompanied by distinguished personalities of Art and Science, personalities who hold concerts, lectures, recitals, Master classes and teachings that contribute greatly to the prestige of the institution.

Looking forward with optimism to the 33rd International Guitar Festival, Lisa and I once again give our established appointment in Patras in April 2026.

Evangelos Assimakopoulos

(April 2025)

IGFPatras.com

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