ECU Guitar Festival to return this month with familiar guest artists

ECU Guitar Festival to return this month with familiar guest artists

GREENVILLE, N.C. (10/15/2026) - The ECU Guitar Festival returns this fall, after a two-year hiatus, with three days of classical and jazz concerts, masterclasses and competition.

Tickets are on sale now for two evening concerts featuring three guest artists. All will take place in Fletcher Recital Hall at A.J. Fletcher Music Center. Tickets are $22 for the public and $12 for students (including fees). See both ticketed concerts with a weekend pass for $33 for the public and $17 for students.

• Friday, Oct. 23, 7:30 p.m. - Opening concert, featuring classical guitarist Elliot Frank
• Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. - Classical guitarist Adam Kossler opens this concert, followed by jazz guitarist Steve Herberman at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy a free closing performance featuring the student participants in this year's festival starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, in Fletcher Music Center Room C107.

In addition to the concerts - which are open to the public - the festival welcomes high school, college, graduate, amateur and professional guitarists to register for various levels of participation:

• Student participant - $150 - Includes all master classes, featured evening concerts, student performances, educational sessions and other festival activities
• Competition add-on - $75 - Available to eligible registered participants
• Community auditor registration - $100 - Attend master classes, featured concerts, student performances and educational sessions. This does not include the competition.

The sponsor for this year's festival is Arendell Parrott Academy.

Individuals wishing to request event accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact ECU's ADA coordinator at least 48 hours before an event at 252-737-1018 or [email protected].

Elliot Frank was the founder of ECU's guitar program and the ECU Summer Guitar Festival. He retired in 2024 after 36 years with ECU but maintains an active concert schedule. Frank is a national and international prizewinner and a frequent guest performer and teacher at guitar festivals, as a concerto soloist and on concert series throughout the Americas and Europe.

Classical guitarist Adam Kossler is a top prizewinner in national and international guitar competitions, and he has been a featured artist with various concert series. An ECU alumnus, he directs the Appalachian State University guitar program in Boone.

Jazz guitarist Steve Herberman has performed nationally and internationally and with numerous renowned musicians. He is featured in the book, "The Great Jazz Guitarists" by Scott Yanow. Herberman taught at Towson University for 14 years. He is a faculty member for JazzWire and Jazz Band Masterclass and teaches in an independent studio.

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East Carolina University News Services
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Greenville, NC 27858
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Phone: 252-328-6481
www.ecu.edu/news