Guitar Ensemble Invitational

Saturday, March 29th, 2025

Youth Performing Arts School
1517 S 2nd St.
Louisville, KY 40208

Open to solo players & guitar ensembles of all sizes!

This event focuses on bringing guitarists together and learning about the art of collaboration. As such, we offer workshops on a wide variety of topics, ensemble clinics from guest clinicians, and the opportunity to collaborate with guitarists from around the state in an En Masse Guitar Orchestra.

All workshops will be free and open to public! Feel free to come participate, no registration required.

Donations to help fund this event and future LGS events are always appreciated

30-Minute workshops will be held from 10:00-11:30am on a variety of topics such as technique and music history.

10:00am - Declaring Finger Independence and Fulfilling Your Need for Speed

Presented by: Dr. Stephen Mattingly

Finger independence is an important part of any string player’s technique. This technique workshop will explain how finger independence and speed impacts one’s musicianship & technique.

10:30am - Scales: An Atypical Perspective

Presented by: Tim Blunk

You hate practicing scales, but have you ever considered that they hate you, too? ... for misunderstanding them.

Scales are often framed as technical obstacle courses which promise improved musicianship. This workshop re-contextualizes scale learning to bring the player towards a greater musical understanding.

11:00am - Mando-Lousiville

Presented by; Michael Schroeder

A relative of the guitar, the Mandolin has been a part of Louisville culture for a long time. This lecture workshop will explore the history of the Mandolin and Mandolin Orchestras and their influence in Louisville over the last century. Check out a few Mandolins, some dating back to the 1800's!

Every registered ensemble will receive a 30 minute coaching with one of our clinicians on the piece they will be performing in the concert.

Clinicians

Kareem McCullough - 2025 Guest Artist

A California native, Kareem McCullough has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Rio Grande, taught in Cabell County Public Schools, directed the guitar and orchestra departments at Loudoun County High School, and has made a presence on stage as a soloist, chamber musician, and conductor. He has performed and toured with the inaugural US Guitar Orchestra, led by Bill Kanengiser, and also served as the ensemble director for the Romero Guitar Institute, in which he conducted the famous quartet and guitar orchestra in many performances. In 2021 he released his debut album titled, “Under Quarantine”, which reflects his profound and personal journey throughout the 2020 pandemic. Kareem holds a B.M. in music education from Radford University, and a M.A. from Marshall University, where he was granted a teaching assistantship under the direction of Julio Alves.

Ascher Taylor-Schroeder

Ascher Taylor-Schroeder is a passionate and highly active performer and music educator based in Louisville, KY. He currently serves as the Guitar Department Director and the Youth Performing Arts School, conductor and music director of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra, President of the Louisville Guitar Society and is a founding member of the Chimera Quartet. Ascher holds a Bachelors of Music Education from Murray State University and a Masters of Music, with an emphasis in string pedagogy from the University of Louisville.

Kayla Hibbs

Kayla Hibbs is a classical guitarist from Louisville, Kentucky. She has performed internationally with the United States Guitar Orchestra (USGO) on their initial tour of various venues in France in 2019 and again toured with them in Spain in 2022. She's also performed across the United States in New York City's Carnegie Hall, Mt. Zion, Utah, Bloomington, Indiana, Louisville, Kentucky and in Greensboro and Highlands North Carolina. Kayla is dedicated to sharing her passion for music through directing the Louisville Guitar Orchestra and offering individual instruction

REGISTRATION OPTIONS:

Full Day Registration - $25 per person

Includes:

Lunch
Participation in the En Masse Orchestra rehearsal and performance
For Ensembles:
- A 30 minute Ensemble Coaching with a featured guest artist
- 7 Minutes of Playing Time in the Concert

En Masse Orchestra Only Registration - $15 per person

Includes:

Participation in the En Masse Orchestra rehearsal and concert performance

HOW TO REGISTER:

Ensemble/Group Registration:

To register an ensemble please download and fill out the Google Sheets Form linked below and email it to info@louisvilleguitarsociety.org

Please use "Guitar Ensemble Invitational Registration" as the subject of your email.

Group/Ensemble Registration Form

Please mail payments made by check or purchase order to the address below.

Louisville Guitar Society

Attn: Joseph Piellucci

619 Merwin Ave.

Louisville, KY 40217

REGISTRATION CLOSES: March 21st, 2025

Solo Player Registration:

Please click the link below and fill out the form through Ludus to register for the En Masse Orchestra as a solo player.

*Full Day Registration does not include an ensemble coaching or solo performance time for solo players, but does include lunch. Solo players are welcome to watch other groups' encemble coachings.

Solo Player Form

The En Masse Orchestra comprises of the Louisville Guitar Orchestra, the featured guest ensemble, and all registered participants. This ensemble will rehearse the day of the invitational and perform the featured work during the concert at the end of the day.

To promote the collaboration between not only guitarists, but other plucked string players as well, this year's guest ensemble is none other than the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra!

The 2025 Guitar Ensemble Invitational En Masse Orchestra piece is a new arrangement of John Goodin's Louisville Suite.

This work, originally written for the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra, has been arranged for a combined Guitar and Mandolin Orchestra specifically for this event by composer Alan Hirsh.

The En Masse Orchestra will be conducted by Ascher Taylor-Schroeder, conductor of the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra.

Recordings of each movement: Up River Road, Cave Hill, Locust Grove

Participation in the En Masse Orchestra is included in every group registration, but is also open to solo players! If you play an instrument listed, you are invited to join us for this special collaboration.

Parts Available:

Guitar (Parts 1-4)
Mandolin (Parts 1-2)
Mandola
Mandocello
Acoustic Bass

Music will be sent out to each player upon completion of registration.

This concert is a showcase of the power of collaboration. It will feature the Louisville Guitar Orchestra, each registered guitar ensemble, and the En Masse Orchestra with special guest artists the Louisville Mandolin Orchestra.

Concert Starts: 7:30pm

Box Office Opens: 7:00pm

YPAS Polly St. Clair Recital Hall

1517 S. 2nd Street, Louisville, KY 40208

General Admission - $15

LGS Members/Students/Seniors (55+): $10

Tickets are available online or at the door.

Purchase Tickets Here

The invitational is broken up into two main sessions. The morning session highlights education through workshops and clinics, while the evening session focuses on rehearsals and performance.

Schedule Breakdown:
Subject to Change

Morning Session:
9:30: Registration Check-In Opens
10:00-12:00: Ensemble Coachings & Workshops
12:00-1:00: Lunch (Provided) & Meet and Greet

Evening Session:
1:00-2:00: Individual Ensemble Rehearsals
2:00-4:00: En Masse Rehearsal
4:00-5:30: Dinner Break (Dinner not provided)
5:30-7:00: Dress Rehearsal/Sound Check
7:00: Box Office Opens
7:30: Concert

Lunch:
A Pizza lunch is provided for Full Day Registrants.
Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten-Free options will be available. Please designate any food allergies or dietary restrictions on the registration form.

Click here to view the full schedule

Questions?

Please reach out to with any questions related to the Guitar Ensemble Invitational.

Email: info@louisvilleguitarsociety.org

Phone (Text & Call): 502-509-3115

Saturday, March 29th, 2025

Youth Performing Arts School 1517 S 2nd St. Louisville, KY 40208

Youth Performing Arts School
1517 S 2nd St.
Louisville, KY 40208