The Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival
The Annual Texas Guitar Competition and Festival
Each year renowned classical guitarists, music educators, and contestants gather to perform at the Bass school’s Texas Guitar Competition and Festival. Hosted by the Guitar Studies program, the three-day showcase features outstanding classical guitar students and internationally recognized artists.
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The sponsored festival includes concerts, masterclasses, events, and a competition for youth and adults granting cash prizes to the winners. All activities are free and open to the public.
View the schedule of events for full information.
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Past Event Spotlights
February 1, 2025: José Bowen Sextet
José Bowen Sextet
Hear some of the finest jazz musicians in DFW playing a variety of jazz classics and new music by José Bowen.
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José Antonio Bowen has played in 46 states and 17 countries, sharing the stage with legends like Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Bobby McFerrin, Dave Brubeck, and Liberace.
Alto Sax: Chris Milyo
Trumpet: Peter Clagett
Trombone: Greg Waits
Bass: Derrick Horne
Drums: Stockton Helbing
Piano: José Antonio Bowen
Check Comet Calendar for the latest updates and event details.
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Venue
Jonsson Performance Hall
Home to selected performance and ensemble classes, this 196-seat hall on the second floor inside the Erik Jonsson Academic Center features a concert ensemble stage for recitals, public performances and more.
Accessibility
UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact AHTevents@utdallas.edu at least 10 business days prior to the event.
If you have any additional questions, please email ADAcoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at Accessability@utdallas.edu.
Parking
Free parking for this event is available in PS3 Parking Garage in Orange and Gold spaces.
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February 22, 2025: Emmet Cohen Trio
Emmet Cohen Trio
Multifaceted American jazz pianist and composer Emmet Cohen is one of his generation’s pivotal figures.
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The internationally acclaimed jazz artist Emmet Cohen leads the Emmet Cohen Trio and headlines regularly at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Village Vanguard, and Birdland in New York. His artistry has taken him to over 30 countries. His “Live From Emmet’s Place,” a live-streamed “Harlem rent party,” unites a worldwide audience via tens of millions of internet views.
Check Comet Calendar for the latest updates and event details.
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Venue
ATC Lecture Hall
The ATC Lecture Hall on the first floor of the Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology building features 1,200 seats, a cinema quality 4K laser projector, a 48-foot projection screen, and a professional performance PA system capable of 7.1 immersive audio. This specialty space has the largest seating capacity on campus and hosts special guests, performances, talks and University gatherings.
Accessibility
UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact AHTevents@utdallas.edu at least 10 business days prior to the event.
If you have any additional questions, please email ADAcoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at Accessability@utdallas.edu.
Parking
Free parking for this event is available in PS1 Parking Garage in Orange and Gold spaces.
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February 26, 2025: Mariela Shaker on Never Giving Up
My Bow Bends for Peace: A Story of Bravery, Hope, and Courage – Mariela Shaker on Never Giving Up
Mariela Shaker, a distinguished speaker and accomplished violinist, shares a compelling narrative of resilience, hope, and the universal language of music, transforming silence into language and action.
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Mariela will tell a powerful story of courage and determination in the face of adversity, reflecting on the challenges of fleeing a war zone and rebuilding her life in a new country. Her story stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit and its capacity for triumph.
Through the lens of her music, Mariela explores the transformative power of the arts in fostering understanding and bridging cultural divides. She emphasizes the importance of preserving cultural identity while advocating for the arts’ role in building empathy and compassion between people and nations.
As part of her talk, Mariela will perform a classical music concert accompanied by her husband, Syrian-British concert pianist Riyad Nicolas, a multi-award winner. The program will feature a varied repertoire, including the Armenian piece Krunk, the Middle Eastern composition Sea Waves by Maias Al Yamani, the theme from Schindler’s List by John Williams, and Preludio and Allegro by Kreisler, among other selections from the classical violin repertoire.
Check Comet Calendar for the latest updates and event details.
More Events
Venue
Jonsson Performance Hall
Home to selected performance and ensemble classes, this 196-seat hall on the second floor inside the Erik Jonsson Academic Center features a concert ensemble stage for recitals, public performances and more.
Accessibility
UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact AHTevents@utdallas.edu at least 10 business days prior to the event.
If you have any additional questions, please email ADAcoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at Accessability@utdallas.edu.
Parking
Free parking for this event is available in PS3 Parking Garage in Orange and Gold spaces.
Get Connected
February 20 – March 1, 2025: Theatre – Greetings from Karen Springs
Theatre: Greetings From Karen Springs
A new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s modern classic, An Enemy of the People.
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About
In 2025, with the U.S. having decided its next president and the future of democracy, citizens are facing big issues like economic growth, climate action, public health, and personal freedoms. Now, imagine all this intensity staged in a Texas suburb called Karen Springs, where a contemporary twist on Henrik Ibsen’s 19th century classic An Enemy of the People brings these debates to life. This gripping adaptation explores a local environmental crisis through a mix of personalities—a doctor, a teacher, a mayor, reporters, business owners, and everyday residents—all tangled in questions of truth, justice, friendship, and loyalty. As tensions rise and secrets unravel, the cast confronts the real question: “Who is the true enemy of the people?” This is your chance to see today’s moral and cultural divides played out on stage, with drama that’s as intense and relevant as ever.
Written and directed by Dr. Maiza Hixson (She/Her/Hers), Visiting Assistant Professor, UT Dallas
Check Comet Calendar for the latest updates and event details.
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Venue
University Theatre
University Theatre is a 275-seat, raked auditorium with a 40-foot-by-40-foot stage. It has flexible walls to accommodate conventional-style theatrical performances as well as spatial arrangements for experimentation and performance of nontraditional pieces. University Theatre is located just outside of the Erik Jonsson Academic Center (JO).
Accessibility
UTD strives to create inclusive and accessible events in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If you require an accommodation to fully participate in this event, please contact AHTevents@utdallas.edu at least 10 business days prior to the event.
If you have any additional questions, please email ADAcoordinator@utdallas.edu and the AccessAbility Resource Center at Accessability@utdallas.edu.
Parking
Free parking for this event is available in PS3 Parking Garage in Orange and Gold spaces.