Southern Guitar Festival and Competition

04/01/2026

02/05/2026

🎸 Exciting News for Guitar Teachers and Music Educators! 🎸

Dear guitar students and colleagues, I have received many messages from you asking when you could register for the upcoming online seminar — so here it is, ready to roll!

Join me for “Build a Profitable Music Studio Without Compromising Your Teaching Standards — Even While Teaching Part-Time,” a practical and strategy-focused seminar designed to help music teachers create a thriving, financially successful studio from home.

In this seminar, you will learn how to:

✅ Increase your income to $50,000 or more by teaching from home
✅ Teach more effectively using effective methods and materials
✅ Choose books and resources (apps) that support strong student progress
✅ Create a supportive community among your students and their parents

With over 30 years of teaching experience in public and private schools as well as universities, I look forward to sharing the strategies that have helped my students succeed and my studio grow.

📌 Spots are limited — early registration is encouraged!
👉 Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScaWHfgve8DuVRl5s2dwIp7n3LsEQiojAilJkOXR4s3q0HWGg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=106137877523508978778

Feel free to share this opportunity with your friends and colleagues. I can’t wait to see you there and help you build the music studio you’ve always envisioned!

01/31/2026

Dear colleagues—guitar teachers everywhere,

After more than 35 years of teaching, and observing many outstanding guitar, piano, and violin teachers, I’ve developed a highly effective and practical approach to teaching beginners. Along the way, I also learned how to build a financially successful music studio that consistently generates at least $50,000 per year with only part-time teaching.

I’d love to share these methods and insights with you in an upcoming online seminar.

Please comment below if you’re interested in registering.
Marina Alexandra

10/05/2025

Received this email today. Might be a great opportunity for some:
“We are casting solo guitarists to perform greek/italian music in an elevated outdoor mediterranean restaurant on board a luxury cruise ship. Ideally, on a nylon string guitar - with or without vocals.

October 20 - April 12
$3500/month USD (no agency fee)
Shared Cabin

To apply, please complete our casting form and send a copy of your CV and songlist to [email protected]”

07/30/2025

Question to guitar teachers in the US who are actively teaching: Do you use any apps or software to help you keep track of billing or communication with the parents, or do you still do things the old-fashioned way?

05/14/2025

Dear friends and supporters,

We want to share with you that the Southern Guitar Festival and Competition will not be taking place this year.

Due to a nationwide decline in interest in competitions, we’ve decided to take a step back and reflect on how we can better serve our community. Our goal remains the same: to inspire young guitarists and bring people together through phenomenal concerts and enriching educational opportunities.

We’re exploring new ways to build a more meaningful and inclusive platform for music lovers and aspiring artists alike. Thank you for your continued support — we look forward to the next chapter, together.

Warmly,
The Southern Guitar Festival Team

03/27/2025

This kind of feedback makes us going:

“We are always thankful for educators and organizers like you who think of everyone and who have such a vision of building something great. I will follow your festival on social media and look forward to seeing what you are doing in the future. Thank you again.

Sincerely,
Caitlin Houlihan-Kawamoto”

10/17/2024

For the first time in the history of our festival, the first prize winner of the high school division chose to donate all her prize money to our festival.
This is so inspiring and touching!
Thank you Maryann Embree-Stone for raising such an incredible human being!
We are speechless!

10/16/2024

String Time Duo in Atlanta this Sunday!

10/16/2024

What our competitors say about our festival:

“I had a fantastic time at the Southern Guitar Festival this year! From the very beginning, I felt everything was well taken care of, and Marina made me feel very comfortable. As an international competitor, I deeply appreciated that I was being connected with a host family, which provided a warmer and overall better ‘human’ experience (now I have friends in Charlotte!). Beyond the competition, I felt the festival had very friendly atmosphere, and would therefore recommend it to anyone.”-Marc from Canada.

09/30/2024

Congratulations to our Winners!

Division I
1st Penelope Shvarts
2nd Millet Padron Fernandez
3rd Marc-Etienne Leclerc

Division II
1st Mia Stone
2nd Annie Teague
3rd Andreas Hofer

Division III
1st Nicolas Barbero
2nd Daham Kim
3rd Simon Joos

Unveiled
Division I Sal Contrino
Division II Darin Goodman
Division III Simon Joos

Romantic Guitar Prize
Millet Padron Fernandez