Philharmonie Luxembourg, together with the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg and Schéiss cultural centre, has announced the 4th edition of the Luxembourg Guitar Festival, set to take place from Saturday 10 to Monday 19 May 2025.
The programme, curated by artistic directors Hany Heshmat and Josip Dragnić, will include a range of performances and events involving both established international artists and local participants.
A central event in the programme is the concert by the Brazilian Duo Assad, scheduled for Saturday 17 May at the Philharmonie Luxembourg. The brothers, Odair and Sergio Assad, have been performing together for 60 years, contributing to the repertoire for two guitars and influencing the genre's development, according to the organisers.
The LGF programme also includes two competitions that have become regular features.
The 4th edition of the International Classical Guitar Competition is open to higher education students or young professionals born in 1993 or later. The organisers received 32 applications from around the world. Organised in three public rounds, the first was streamed online at the beginning of April. An international jury selected nine candidates to advance to the semi-final round on Friday 16 May at the Luxembourg City Conservatory, with four finalists to be chosen for the final round on Sunday 18 May at the Philharmonie.
The competition is described as one of the "most highly endowed", with prizes worth over €8,000 sponsored by the City of Luxembourg, the Ministry of Culture, the Conservatory, as well as the Luxembourg Guitar Festival.
The 4th edition of the National Youth Competition, aimed at young guitarists from Luxembourg born in 2004 or later, will take place at the Schéiss cultural centre in Luxembourg-Belair on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 May 2025.
Other events of the 4th edition of the Luxembourg Guitar Festival include a lecture and workshop on lutherie, a guitar exhibition, a public rehearsal of a guitar orchestra, masterclasses and a continuing training session for music teachers.
According to the organisers, as the auditorium of the Luxembourg City Conservatory – the festival’s main partner and usual venue – is currently undergoing renovation, this year's edition will be spread over a longer period and across three different venues. While the highlights – the headliner Duo Assad and the finals of the International Competition – are set to take place at the chamber music hall of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, the Schéiss cultural centre will host the National Youth Competition and the Conservatory will accommodate the remaining events.
Entry is free (no reservation required) for all events, except for the Duo Assad concert on Saturday 17 May 2025 at the Philharmonie.
