WA Classical Guitar Ensemble Festival

The Western Australian Department of Education's Instrumental Music School Services (IMSS) presents the WA Classical Guitar Ensemble Festival, a performance and educational event for school guitar ensembles held at Carine Senior High School Performing Arts Centre on August 15-16, 2026. This festival brings together student guitar ensembles from across Western Australia for a celebration of classical guitar musicianship, ensemble skills, and collaborative music-making. The festival offers school guitar ensembles the opportunity to perform in a supportive, professional concert setting and receive feedback that supports their musical development. Ensembles can also nominate up to three members to perform solo pieces in a separate solo section running alongside the main festival, providing individual students with a valuable platform to showcase their skills. Applications open in late February 2026 and close in May, with a cap on entries emphasising the importance of early registration. The WA Department of Education's IMSS programme has a long tradition of supporting instrumental music education in Western Australian schools, and this festival is a highlight of the guitar education calendar. For guitar teachers and ensemble directors, the festival provides both a performance goal that motivates students throughout the year and a collegial environment for connecting with fellow music educators and hearing the work of guitar programmes from across the state.