The Classical Guitar Program
Pablo Cohen, assistant professor of guitar

The classical guitar program at Ithaca is one of the oldest in the country. For the past 30 years the program has combined excellence in academics with a wealth of performance opportunities for solo, ensemble, and orchestral repertoire.

The program includes the study of traditional classical guitar literature with special attention to performance practices of the baroque and pre-classical periods. Research into new streams of repertoire is emphasized by finding and performing original repertoire and by mastering transcription techniques. In addition, our guitar library holds one of the most comprehensive classical guitar collections available today.

Guitar students at Ithaca College also benefit from concerts, workshops, and master classes given by international artists, most notably during our annual Winter Guitar Festival.

Students in this program are committed to achieving excellence in interpretive skills and meeting the highest technical standards. Every student receives personalized attention and individual progress is discussed, measured, and evaluated regularly. Serious and dedicated students take part in regular visits to other colleges and universities, and to the NYSSMA conference as part of the Ithaca College Guitar Ensemble. Recently two of these students distinguished themselves by receiving coveted prizes in state and national competitions.

The guitar program at Ithaca has been an attractive choice for many well-prepared students for many years. A large number of our alumni have gone on to pursue their master's and doctoral degrees; many are active as performers and as teachers in schools, and at colleges and universities all across the country. In New York State, for example, Ithaca College alumni are at Skidmore College, Nazareth College, Colgate University, Schenectady Community College, Onondeaga Community College, and others.

Every winter master-classes, lectures, concerts, and a guitar exposition take place at the Winter Guitar Festival in the wonderful lake-view landscape of the Ithaca College campus.