Radford University
International Guitar Festival
Welcome to the 25th International Guitar Festival at Radford University
April 10 and 11, 2026
The 25th International Guitar Festival at Radford University is a two-day celebration of guitar music with performances and masterclasses with world renowned performers from around the world and the US. All events are free, there is no registration, there is abundant free parking, and it is open to the public. All events take place in the Davis Performance Hall in the Covington Center on the campus of Radford University. Anyone can attend both concerts and masterclasses. Pre-selected student performers perform for the master teacher in a public setting allow the audience to have a peek into the workshop of student and teacher.
The roster of 2026 performers this festival include: Hao Yang (China), James Piorkowski (US), Duo Chinoiserie (Bin Hu and Jing Xia, China), Christopher Wilkie (US) and the Community Guitar Orchestra. For more information about our guests, please see below.
The International Guitar Festival is sponsored by the Club Programing Committee, The Society of Composers, Southwestern Virginia Classical Guitar Society, McGlothlin Center for Global Education and Engagement (MCGEE) (Ismael Bettencourt), and the Radford University Department of Music. All events listed below are FREE and open to the PUBLIC.
Event Schedule
Friday, April 10
4 - 6 p.m. Hao Yang, guitar class
6 p.m. Break
7 p.m. James Piorkowski concert
8 p.m. Christopher Wilkie concert
Saturday, April 11
10 - 11 a.m. James Piorkowski, “Composing for Guitar" workshop
11:30 a.m. Community Guitar Orchestra
Noon - 1:30 p.m. Break
2 p.m. Duo Chinoiserie discuss the Chinese guzheng and guitar
3 - 4 p.m. Christopher Wilkie, guitar class
4 p.m. Break
7 p.m. Hao Yang concert
8 p.m. Duo Chinoiserie concert
Guest Artists
The Duo Chinoiserie is Bin Hu (left) and Jing Xai (right).
Duo Chinoiserie
Founded in 2016, Duo Chinoiserie unites guzheng virtuoso Jing Xia and classical guitarist Bin Hu in a captivating dialogue between East and West. Praised for their refined artistry and seamless cross-cultural blend, the duo has drawn acclaim from audiences and critics alike, with Grammy-winning guitarist David Russell hailing their work as “a moving and impressive combination.” They have appeared with distinguished presenters including the Omni Foundation, Arizona Arts Live, Austin Classical Guitar, and the Cleveland Classical Guitar Society. Highlights include their debut at Carnegie Hall and the release of their acclaimed Navona Records album, Chinoiserie: Building New Musical Bridges.
For additional information, visit the Duo Chinoiserie webpage. For samples of their music, visit their Navona Records page.
James Piorkowski
James Piorkowski
James Piorkowski is a celebrated performer, composer, and teacher whose guitar recitals have been heard across Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States. A prolific composer for guitar in solo and chamber settings published by leading houses including Mel Bay and Sergio Assad/Editions Henry Lemoine, his works and recordings—such as Sentient Music, Freedom Flight, and In the Shadow of Winter’s Moon—highlight his distinctive voice. Piorkowski served for over four decades as head of the guitar program at the State University of New York at Fredonia School of Music, and for eighteen years was a member of the acclaimed Buffalo Guitar Quartet, hailed as “one of the world’s premiere classical guitar ensembles.”
For more information on James Piorkowski, visit his official webpage. This website also features samples of his recorded work.
Hao Yang
Hao Yang
Hailed as a “technical wizard,” Hao Yang is one of today’s most dynamic young guitarists. She is the winner of the 2024 Koblenz International Guitar Competition, second prize laureate of the 2024 GFA International Concert Artist Competition, and a recipient of the Clifton Foundation Emerging Artists Award. Hao has appeared as soloist with the Chursächsische Philharmonie and performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall and the National Centre for the Performing Arts. A passionate chamber musician, she recently made her Carnegie Hall debut premiering Paul Lansky’s Talking Guitars with JIJI. Hao currently studies at the Yale School of Music.
For more information, visit Hao Yang's official website. The site also includes videos of her performances.
Chris Wilke
Chris Wilke
Dr. Christopher Wilke is a versatile performer and scholar who bridges modern and historical traditions on guitar and lute. He serves as Director of Guitar and Lute Studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he also leads the CCM Guitar Workshop. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Wilke has released recordings on Centaur Records and published original works with Les Productions d’Oz. His performances span major festivals and concert series across the United States and Europe, including appearances at the Boston Early Music Festival and the European Lute Festival. A former president of the Lute Society of America, he is widely respected as both artist and educator.
For more information, visit Chris Wilke's University of Cincinnati profile page. You can also visit his YouTube page for samples of his work.