Education. Community. Performance | Carmel Guitar Society
Annual Classical Guitar Retreat
Since 1961, Carmel Guitar Society (CGS) has worked to foster classical guitar community on California's central coast for the purpose of enjoyment, education, and local contribution to the cultural arts landscape. Beginning in 2023, the nonprofit organization worked to expand initiatives and in 2025 successfully hosted its first classical guitar retreat. Returning in 2026, the Monterey Bay guitar retreat event hosted more participants and a larger resort space than the previous year. More than 45 participants have now enjoyed world-renowned artists, guitar playing, advancement in practice, connecting with others and the sheer beauty of Asilomar Resort while attending concerts, relaxing, and studying their instument at this event. Planned again for 2027 at Asilomar in Pacific Grove, the Carmel Guitar Society classical guitar retreatis suitable for all levels of guitar playing. Evening concerts performed by visiting and presenting artists are open to the public. Tickets are available for purchase in advance. WATCH FOR A 'SAVE THE DATE 2027', COMING FALL OF 2026!
Mission | Guitar Retreat
Annual Classical Guitar Retreats are part of the larger focus to build community around classical guitar on the Monterey Bay. Guitarists can learn from peers, accomplished artists, and special presenters while contributing to the local arts community. Education and performance are the focus in all of our initiatives and while this event is for those who play guitar, public concert events make enjoyment of the instrument available to all during this special four-day event in Pacific Grove, California. Donations to Carmel Guitar Society make programming that features world-renowned artists at this annual event possible.
Vision | Guitar Retreat
As part of our organization's goal to create reliable programming that the Monterey Bay community looks forward to year after year and events that contribute to the local cultural arts landscape, an annual retreat event is a sign of successfully fulfilling our mission. Carmel Guitar Society sees all community members as vital to classical guitar appreciation and is working on rich programming that all can recognize and partake in. The Classical Guitar retreat fosters appreciation for the instrument while making way for new community members to enjoy several events over a four-day period annually. Become a subscriber and get the retreat and subsequent concert event announcements first!
Classical Guitar Enjoyment
Hao Yang and Kenny Hill premier 'The Looking Glass', an original Kenny Hill composition dedicated to Hao Yang. Filmed by 2026 Carmel Guitar Society Retreat Sponsor Dimitrios Douros of DN Works, this performance took place at Asilomar Resort on night two of the four-day event that featured two full-length concerts open to the public. Carmel Guitar Society Volunteer Board of Directors invites any classical guitar and music lover to become a guitar society member and enjoy many more experiences such as this. Thank you again to 2026 sponsors DN Works & Hill Guitar Company for helping to make the 2026 classical guitar retreat possible.