Ivrea International Guitar Festival & Competition

A festival dedicated to classical guitar in the heart of the Canavese

The Ivrea International Guitar Festival & Competition is a musical event entirely dedicated to the classical guitar, held in Ivrea, a town in the Canavese area of the Province of Turin, in Piedmont. Promoted by the Associazione Il Timbro under the artistic direction of Marco Musso, Davide Giovanni Tomasi, and Adriano Del Sal, the festival brings together evening concerts, an international competition, and a luthier exhibition over a few days, transforming Ivrea into a true capital of the guitar.

Evening concerts

The heart of the festival lies in the evening concerts hosted in the evocative Church of Santa Croce, in the historic center of Ivrea, starting at 8:30 PM. The stage features internationally renowned performers ranging from the Baroque to the contemporary repertoire, offering the public programs carefully curated around the great masters of guitar literature, from Johann Sebastian Bach to Mauro Giuliani, and from Fernando Sor to Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco.

The international competition

Alongside the concert program, the Ivrea International Guitar Competition is open to guitarists from all over Europe and the world. Divided into several categories, including the Concertist section and the Young Talents section, it features preliminary and final rounds judged by a jury composed of professors from prestigious European musical institutions. Winners receive prizes and scholarships, as well as the opportunity to perform in concert for the festival audience.

The luthier exhibition

An entire day is dedicated to the luthier exhibition, a precious opportunity to admire the work of renowned master luthiers up close and discover the secrets of instrument making. The exhibition is hosted in the spaces of the Seminario Maggiore in Ivrea and completes a journey that combines listening, education, and excellent craftsmanship.

Ivrea, a city of music and culture

Known worldwide for its Historic Carnival and the Battle of the Oranges, and recognized by UNESCO as an Industrial City of the 20th Century, Ivrea reaffirms its cultural vocation with this festival. The choice of the Church of Santa Croce and other historic city buildings as event venues inextricably links great music to the municipality's architectural heritage, offering visitors an experience that goes beyond mere musical listening.