Music program hosts 2024 Northwest Guitar Festival in April

Yakima Valley College’s music program will host the 2024 Northwest Guitar Festival Friday, April 5 – Sunday, April 7 on the Yakima Campus in Kendall Hall. The Northwest Guitar Festival, created in 1991, was established to provide an opportunity for students and aspiring professionals in the Northwest region to gather for three days of concerts, workshops and a competition. 

This year’s event includes public workshops and performances by acclaimed musicians Mario Diaz, Cameron O’Connor, Mischa Yolleck, Caulkins Duo and Alexander Dunn. Guitarists from all over the Northwest will also participate in the adult and youth competitions.

John Paul Shields, YVC guitar instructor and this year’s director, emphasizes that having the college host this year’s event enables students to witness and learn from professional musicians, gaining valuable insights and experiences that would otherwise be out of reach.

“Hosting the Northwest Guitar Festival is a wonderful opportunity for YVC and Yakima,” said Shields. “It gives our students and the community at large a chance to see great concerts and participate in workshops given by some of the best classical guitarists the Northwest has to offer.”

Festival Schedule

Friday, April 5, 2024

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Registration
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

9:30 -9:45 a.m. Competition Check-in and Orientation
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Adult Semi Finals Competition
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

2 – 3:30 p.m. Cameron O’Connor Workshop
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Black Box Theater, Room 127

3:30 – 5 p.m. Alexander Dunn Workshop
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Room 120

7:30 – 9 p.m. Mario Diaz Concert
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

Saturday, April 6, 2024

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Registration
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Competition Check-in
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

10  – 11 a.m. Youth Guitar Competition
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Caulkins Workshop
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Black Box Theater, Room 127

2 – 3:30 p.m.: Cameron O’Connor Concert
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

3:30 – 5 p.m. Mario Diaz Workshop
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Room 120

7:30 – 9 p.m. Alexander Dunn Concert
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

Sunday, April 7, 2024

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. Registration
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Competition Check-in
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Adult Competition Finals
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

2 – 3:30 p.m. Misha Yolleck Concert; Competition Results Announced
Kendall Hall, Building #12, Auditorium

About the musicians

Guitarist and vocalist Mario Diaz has played across the U.S. and South America. He has collaborated with Antonio Rey, Dave Eggar, Martin Zarzar, the Portland Opera, Third Angle New Music, 45th Parallel, Fear No Music, Pink Martini and the Von Trapp’s, among others. Diaz teaches at Portland State University, Willamette University and Reed College.

Cameron OʼConnor performs solo, chamber and contemporary music and has been acclaimed as “accomplished and soulful” by Portland Magazine. Highlights include performing with Michael Tilson Thomas and the New World Symphony, for Chinese composer/conductor Tan Dun and recording for the 2015 film “Don Quixote”. O’Connor teaches at Oregon State University.

Seattle-based guitarist Mischa Yolleck won the 2022 Northwest Guitar Festival competition and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in concert, including as an invited guest to the 2019 International Guitar Festival of the Dominican Republic, and in benefit concerts for the Essex County Summer Player Orchestra, West Seattle Food Bank and at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Plainfield, N.J. 

The Caulkins Duo, comprised of Tamara and Neil Caulkins of Ellensburg, have been active players in the local, regional and international music community. In addition to commissioning new works, they have revived forgotten classical music with informed playing. In their workshop, Neil will present his most recent article in Soundboard on extemporary cadenza playing in classical music.

Alexander Dunn, protégé of classical guitarist Pepe Romero and frequent performer with Los Romeros, has played internationally as a soloist and chamber musician. He heads the guitar programs at the University of Victoria and the University of California, Irvine.

The first Northwest Guitar Festival took place at the University of Idaho and subsequent festivals have occurred throughout the region in such cities as Boise, Seattle, Spokane, Bellingham, Bozeman, as well as western Canada. The festival strives to maintain a strong regional character by featuring guitarists from the region and by restricting its competition to those living and studying in the region.

All festival activities are free and open to the public with donations accepted and benefitting YVC’s music program. Seating is limited, with entrance to events first-come, first-served. For questions about the festival, please contact Instructor John Paul Shields at johnpaulshields@yvcc.edu .

Press Release Contacts:
Dustin Wunderlich / 509.574.6870 / dwunderlich@yvcc.edu
Stefanie Menard / 509.574.4646 / smenard@yvcc.edu