OCTOBER 2026
FRI
9
20:15
Gitaristenpodium Groningen - Filippos Manoloudis
Filippos Manoloudis (b. 2001, Kavala, Greece) has emerged as one of the leading young classical guitarists of his generation. Praised by Gendai Guitar Magazine for his “stunning technique and expressive power,” he is recognized for his artistic versatility and compelling interpretations across a wide range of styles and periods. In 2026, he was awarded First Prize at the Concerts in America International Concert Artist Competition, securing an 80-concert international tour across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia for the 2027 season.
DECEMBER 2026
FRI
4
20:15
Gitaristenpodium Groningen - Xuefei Yang
Xuefei Yang is acclaimed as one of the world’s finest classical guitarists. Hailed as a musical pioneer - her fascinating journey began after the Cultural Revolution, a period where Western musical instruments & music were banned. Xuefei was the first-ever guitarist in China to enter a music school, & became the first internationally recognised Chinese guitarist on the world stage. Her first public appearance was at the age of ten and received such acclaim that the Spanish Ambassador in China presented her with a concert guitar. Her debut in Madrid at the age of 14 was attended by the composer Joaquín Rodrigo and, when John Williams heard her play, he gave two of his own instruments to Beijing’s Central Conservatoire especially for her and other advanced students.
FEBRUARY 2027
THU
4
20:15
Gitaristenpodium Groningen - Julio Robles
Julio Robles - winner of the 2nd prize and audience prize of the Groningen Guitar Festival 2026 - is a rising star of the classical guitar. He has won more than 20 national and international prizes, including First Prize at the GFA International Youth Competition in 2018, First Prize at the Drôme de Guitare competition in southern France in 2023 – after which he became a Savarez artist, Second Prize at the Roland Dyens Competition in Montrouge, France in 2024, and both Second Prize and the Audience Prize at the Groningen Guitar Competition in 2026.
