Kennedy Guitar Studio

2025 Mid-West Guitar Symposium

March 28th & 29th, 2025

See event schedule for times and locations

​

The Mid-West Guitar Symposium is a two day event hosted by McPherson College and Kennedy Guitar Studio. It is held in McPherson, Kansas and features great learning opportunities for classical guitarists and guitar enthusiasts alike!

​

Our featured guitarist and maestro is Curtis Thompson!

         J. Curtis Thompson is a dynamic guitarist, educator, arranger, and recording artist whose versatile career spans classical, modern, musical theater, and popular music performances across the United States. He holds a Bachelor of Music from Idaho State University, where he studied with Bill O’Brien, and a Master of Music from Northern Arizona University under the guidance of Tom Sheeley. As a dedicated instructor, Curtis served as the guitar instructor at Idaho State University until 2022, where he played a key role in developing curriculum for guitarists in the Commercial Music program.

        A passionate performer, Curtis has taken the stage with prestigious ensembles, including the Idaho State Civic Symphony, where he performed Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No. 1 in 2021. Most recently, he arranged and performed works with the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony Orchestra, showcasing three guitar soloists alongside the ensemble. His recent chamber performances include Sonata for Saxophone and Guitar by Russ Peterson and Voz y Guitarra, a program highlighting Spanish and Latin American repertoire. Dedicated to community engagement, Curtis actively creates and participates in events that foster growth within the guitar world, such as the Concordia Guitar Day. In 2023, he released his debut album, Tonada, a collection of some of his favorite works by Ponce, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, and Lauro, capturing his deep appreciation for the richness of the guitar

​

In addition to his featured concert, Mr. Thompson will teach a Guitar Technique Class

and a Masterclass for solo guitarists.

If you are interested in performing for Mr. Thompson as a masterclass performer on March 29th, please email: kennedyguitarstudio@gmail.com to apply.

​

Please come and join us for a great weekend of guitar!

​