Classical Guitar

Warm tones. Timeless elegance. Captivating technique.

Refine your artistry and perfect your performance with this classic, captivating and expressive instrument.

Under the direction of guitarist Gregory Guay, the College of Charleston program offers you a rich and rewarding musical journey in developing your technique and style.

Quickly distinguishing itself as a Southeastern center for classical guitar excellent, the College of Charleston program has produced top classical guitar competition winners and academic grant and award recipients while attracting top performers and scholars to campus.

  • International Host: The College of Charleston has twice served as host to the Guitar Foundation of America Convention and International Competition. 

  • Award Winners: College of Charleston students have won major international, national and regional competitions including the Guitar Foundation of America International Guitar Competition, MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition (two national 1st prize winners), Schadt Strings Competition (1st prize), “Hubert Kappel” International Competition in Germany, Appalachian Guitar-Fest Competition, St. Joseph International Guitar Competition, Texas guitar Competition and the National Guitar Workshop Competition. 

  • Academic Honors: College of Charleston students have earned academic grants and awards and have continued their education with institutions such as Yale University, Peabody Conservatory, San Francisco Conservatory, Wisconsin Conservatory and Carnegie Mellon. 

  • Virtuoso Performances: College of Charleston students and alumni perform locally, nationally and internationally including soloing with the Buffalo Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and Sodre Montivideo Radio Symphony.

Center Stage: Opportunities, Courses & Inspiration

From campus to career, explore the opportunities, courses and achievements possible through Classical Guitar.
  • Student Opportunities

    • Artistic Mastery. Academic Excellence. Inspiring Location: Enhance your skills inReceive conservatory level training within a liberal arts setting. Rigorous study in technique, interpretation and performance in one of the most beautiful cities in America.
    • Performance Opportunities: Perform in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival and many other performance opportunities.
    • Faculty mentors: Opportunities to work and collaborate with a stellar faculty, all of who are actively performing, publishing and recording internationally.
    • Concerts & Networking: Take advantage of the colleges numerous concert series such as Magnetic South, International Piano Series, Charleston Music Fest, CofC Ensembles and 2nd Monday Series.
    • Epicenter of arts and culture: The City of Charleston hosts many festivals through out the year including the internationally acclaimed Spoleto Festival. The Charleston Symphony regularly invites world-class artists as soloists.
    • Flexibility and Diversity: We accept double majors and support your eagerness to expand your experiences and opportunities.

    Classical Guitar in the Catalog
  • Courses Offered

    Course opportunities in Classical Guitar include:

    • Applied Classical Guitar
    • Repertory Class
    • Ensemble
    • Performance
    Classical Guitar in the Catalog
  • College of Charleston Alumni Performances

    Watch, listen, and gain inspiration from these virtuoso performances by College of Charleston Classical Guitar Alumni.

    • Marco Sartor, '03
      Top prize winner in numerous international competitions including the Schadt String Competition, Texas Guitar Competition and Festival ('06), and the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition.
    • Fernando Troche, '12
      A Piccolo Spoleto alum, Troche was the top prize winner at the Southern Guitar Competition and the St. Joseph International Guitar Competition. 
    • Joe Galambos, '97
      Recognized for his technical ability and beautiful lyricism Joe’s repertoire spans Spanish, Classical and Progressive to Rock and Blues.
    • Ulyama Machneva (Artist Certificate in Performance)
      Won highest honors in numerous national and international competitions including: The Young Virtuoso (Kyiv, Ukraine), The International Guitar Competition (Krynica, Poland), The XIV International “Millennium” Guitar Competition (Esztergom, Hungary) and the Rosario Guitar Festival and Competition (Columbia, SC).
    • Ignacio Barcia (Artist Certificate in Performance)
      A Piccolo Spoleto alum, Barcia has as performed in Europe, the United States, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. He co-founded the Milwaukee Guitar duo with Edel Muñoz.