International Guitar Festival

Kareem McCullough

A California native, Kareem McCullough began studying guitar at the age of 15 within the Loudoun County Public Schools system, a powerhouse in classroom guitar. He quickly fell in love with the instrument and at Radford University earned a B.M. in music education under Dr. Robert Trent. In 2012, Kareem went to Marshall University, pursuing his M.A. under the direction of Julio Alves. From 2013-2016, Kareem taught at the University of Rio Grande and briefly for Cabell County Public Schools before accepting a position at Loudoun County High School, where he directed the guitar and orchestra departments from 2016-2021. Kareem currently operates The McCullough School of Guitar, his own private studio based in the northern Virginia area.

Kareem has studied with renowned guitarists like Roland Dyens, Pepe Romero, Jorge Caballero, and Marcin Dylla, and earned praise as a soloist, chamber musician and conductor nationally and internationally. He performed and toured with the inaugural US Guitar Orchestra, led by Bill Kanengiser, and serves as ensemble director for the Romero Guitar Institute. Kareem was the guest composer for the 2020 Marlow Guitar International Youth Guitar Competition. This inspired further composition and in 2021 he released his debut album titled, “Under Quarantine,” an intricate display of original music reflecting his profound and personal journey throughout the pandemic. Under Quarantine is available now on all music streaming services. His follow up album, “After the Dust Settles,” was released in March 2024 and is also available all streaming platforms.

Massimo Delle Cese

Regularly concert touring Italy and abroad, Massimo has appeared in international guitar festivals all over the world, and is a former member of the St.Cecilia Guitar Trio, with whom he recorded two CDs. His solo recordings have received great acclaim from audiences, critics and international guitar magazine reviewers. His recording of the Italian guitarist/composer Mario Gangi's 22 Studies has been a great success, as has his latest album, “Tributes Y Homenajes: from Bach to Tommy Emmanuel,” just released on major music digital stores, published by News for Guitar recording label.

Massimo is both a professional concert artist and a dedicated educator, being chair professor at "Santa Cecilia" Conservatory/Academy of Music in Rome and giving a permanent master-class course at AVOS Project Academy. He’s also given master classes in several international guitar festivals, conservatories and universities all over the world. He is art director of the ARC Rome Guitar Festival, the Conservatorio Santa Cecilia “GuitFest” in Rome, and the News for Guitar Summer Camp. Massimo performs exclusively on Savarez Cantiga Premium Strings and guitars made for him by Leonardo De Gregorio.

Octávio Deluchi

Praised as one of the greatest talents of the Brazilian guitar today (O Tempo), and as one of the most active and brilliant soloists from his generation (Acervo Digital do Violão Brasileiro) by the specialized press, Octávio Deluchi had his solo debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 24 and has more than 15 awards in national and international competitions. As a performer, he has been featured in important venues and series, such as Dizzy's Club at Lincoln Center, Composer's Now, Americas Society, Odeon Guitar Series, Musik Expedition International Music Festival, and BNDES, to name a few. Octávio has collaborated with a wide variety of artists, between performances, events, premieres, and commissions, such as Sergio Assad, João Luiz, Vicente Paschoal, Emmanuele Baldini, Tania Leon, Rosana Diniz, Gabriele Leite, Eduardo Guterres, Guido Campos, and more. His commercial releases showcase his aptitudes across a wide-ranging repertoire from 19th-century to South American repertoire and collaborations with young composers.

With different artistic endeavors beyond the guitar performance, Deluchi is the director of SERTÃO, a project active in Brazil and the United States that promotes events with creative workers to think new possibilities in art and culture. Octávio directs Mostra de Violão da Lira Ceciliana, and coordinates BCGC -Brazilian Classical Guitar Community, and Projeto Jacarandá. An Augustine Strings and Crossrock Cases artist, he is a guest soloist and resident professor at Festival de Música de Prados, one of the most traditional music festivals in Brazil.

Martha Masters

Martha Masters first achieved international recognition in 2000 when she won first prize in the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition. That same year she also won the Andres Segovia International Competition in Linares, Spain, and was named a finalist in the Alexandre Tansman International Competition of Musical Personalities in Lodz, Poland. Since then, Ms. Masters has been active as a solo recitalist, chamber musician and concerto soloist around the world. Recent seasons included appearances at festivals and on concert series through the United States, Europe, Russia, China and Australia.  

Masters received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied with Manuel Barrueco, and completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California as a student of Scott Tennant. Ms. Masters is on faculty at Arizona State University and is President of the Guitar Foundation of America. She has released seven recordings (Naxos, GSP and independent releases), and has published three books with Mel Bay Publications and Alfred Music. For more information, visit www.marthamasters.com.

To see the performers and schedule of past International Guitar Festivals, click below.