South Texas Guitar Festival at DMC

November 20 & 21, 2026

The South Texas Guitar Festival is a national competition and is open to guitar ensembles of middle school, high school, college level and independent studios to bring music educators together to celebrate the guitar as an ensemble and chamber instrument.

This year’s competition will be adjudicated by Texas Guitar Quartet members Dr. Isaac Bustos & Dr. Alejandro Montiel of the University of Texas at San Antonio and Dr. Joseph Palmer of the Austin Classical Guitar Society; and Solero Flamenco’s Jeremy Garcia of the University of Houston. Other judges may be brought in as well and will be announced.

Schedule of Events

Friday, November 20th

4:30 p.m. - Masterclass with Jeremy Garcia

7:30 p.m. - Opening concert by the Texas Guitar Quartet

Saturday, November 21st

8:00 a.m. - Competition Check-In

9:00 a.m. - Competition Start

2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - Masterclasses with individual members of the Texas Guitar Quartet

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. - Closing concert by Jeremy Garcia, flamenco and classical guitarist and Awards Ceremony

**Schedule subject to change based on final number of entries.

Competition Rules

• Flat Fee of $40 per student per competing ensemble (duo, trio, quartet, large ensemble of 5 or more) is due at registration.
• Masterclasses with our distinguished guest artists are available for $50 per 30 minute slot.
• Competition check-in will open on Saturday, November 21st at 8:00 a.m. and will remain available throughout the morning until 12 noon. Late arrivals are acceptable as long as participants arrive with sufficient time before their assigned warm-up and performance times (TBA). Performances are scheduled to begin at approximately 9:00 a.m.
• There are no required pieces for the competition in any division; however, programs are expected to feature contrasting works to showcase ensemble cohesion, tone quality, balance, style, blend, interpretation, dynamics, musicality, and overall presentation.
• Rehearsal and Warm-Up time slots and locations will be available to all competitors
• Middle School: participants must prepare a program lasting 5 to 8 minutes. Any adjustments to chair configuration, if needed, must be included within the allotted time.
• High School: participants must prepare a program lasting 6 to 9 minutes. Any adjustments to chair configuration, if needed, must be included within the allotted time.
• College: participants must prepare a program lasting 9 to 12 minutes. Any adjustments to chair configuration, if needed, must be included within the allotted time.
• All performances will be timed, with timing commencing at the first note of the first piece. Programs exceeding the allotted time limit will be stopped. While exceeding the designated time limits will not result in penalties, participants are strongly encouraged to adhere to the specified durations.
• If the director performs alongside the students, ten points will be deducted. There is no penalty for directors who conduct their students.
• Only classical guitars are permitted. Instruments with higher or lower ranges, such as the vihuela or the acoustic bass (contrabass), may also be used provided they are strung with nylon strings. Electric or steel-stringed instruments are not allowed. While the use of other instruments (e.g., percussion) will not result in point deductions, the use of only nylon-stringed instruments is strongly encouraged.
• Groups must not include students from mixed secondary school classification. If a director registers a middle school group, all participants must be middle school students; similarly, all members of a high school group must be high school students. No exceptions will be allowed.
• Judging will be done on a point system with a minimum of 2-3 judges
• Prizes for the 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place finishers will be in the form of artistic plaques that can be hung with pride in your schools
• All Competition rounds are open to the public, free of charge.
• All competitors and directors get free admission to concerts and auditing the masterclasses

Registration Deadline: November 10, 2026

• Early registration is strongly encouraged and greatly appreciated.