Third Kathmandu International Classical Guitar Festival: Expanding the horizons of classical music in South Asia
Festival Aims:
To provide an opportunity for audiences to hear live classical guitar music of world standard, which would otherwise not be available in Nepal
To conduct Masterclasses for the benefit of Nepali youth and establish connections between aspiring Nepali musicians and inte
rnational artists
To provide these aspiring musicians an opportunity to learn about music education programs implemented globally, at a time when Nepal is beginning to develop opportunities for formal music education of world standard. The Classical Guitar Society of Nepal is pleased to announce the third Kathmandu International Classical Guitar Festival, which will take place from October 17-20, 2013. This year we will be hosting twelve international artists from the United States, Japan, Germany, Thailand, Liechtenstein and Nepal, including a luthier from Japan. This festival comes at an exciting and important time for the future of classical guitar both in Nepal and in South Asia as a whole, and for classical music in general in South Asian countries. Western classical music concerts are still relatively rare in this part of the world, yet there is a growing interest in this music, especially among the youth and the younger generation of music students. During the past decade Nepal has seen an explosion in interest in various genres of music previously unexplored here, including a profound interest in Jazz which has led to an increase in the availability of a more systematic approach to music education. This expansion of musical horizons is now paving the way for the acceptance of classical music both as a pursuit worthy of formal study and as an art form worthy of appreciating for its own beauty. The seeds have been planted for the emergence of a classical concert going culture and an increased standard of music education, and we are confident that this year’s Classical Guitar Festival will have reverberations that will propel Nepal and South Asia forward in this field.
