Troy holds 12th annual guitar festival

Music filled HAL and Smith Halls last Friday during Troy’s annual guitar festival, the only one of its kind in Alabama. While it’s an art that often goes unrecognized throughout the state and the university, classical guitar had its chance to shine at the annual guitar festival.

The festival serves as a day of appreciation for education about guitars and guitar music. 

The festival began in the morning last Friday with a series of concerts in HAL Hall, featuring performers like Dr. Susana Frade Machado and Cesar Herrera.  

“I think it’s so rare anywhere to get the chance to see a classical guitar concert, let alone four in a day,” said Kirk Redman, a classical guitar teacher at Baldwin Arts and Academics Magnet Middle School. 

Guitars were on display for the annual guitar festival held in HAL and Smith Hall last Friday. (Caroline Marshall photo)

After getting the chance to see masters of guitar perform intricate and detailed phrases, students were able to follow them into Smith Hall to get personal guitar lessons. 

Adam Kossler, a professor of guitar at Appalachian State University, was one of the guest artists visiting Troy for the day-long event. He agreed with Redman’s stance on how special the guitar festival is. 

“This is very unique – it doesn’t happen everywhere, and this is a really great thing these kids get to participate in,” Kossler said. 

As one of the guest artists, Kossler had the opportunity to give students some lessons during his masterclass. For him, the masterclasses aren’t just about learning – they’re also about affirming what the students have already learned.  

“I like to think of this as an opportunity to let them know all of the things they’re doing well and to point out all of the great work their teacher has done,” Kossler said. 

Paul Sessoms, a doctoral student from Florida State University, traveled to Troy exclusively for the festival. He had the chance to sit down with Kossler, who he said was able to give him some valuable insight to help him in the competitions that would later close out the festival.  

“He had some great feedback,” Sessoms said. “I have some things to do, I’m going to go write them down right now so I don’t forget. 

“I have to focus on relaxing and phrasing number one instead of speed and virtuosity, because that tends to build a rush-y and stressed mentality.” 

Regardless of how much time they were able to spend with the masters, each student was able to return home with a little more guitar knowledge and experience to boot.