The Brooklyn Classical Guitar Society


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The Brooklyn Classical Guitar Society (BKCGS) was founded in 2022 by Brooklyn-based classical guitarists Rodrigo Guzman, Matt Kaplan, Pierre Ferreyra-Mansilla, and Josh Paul.

At the time, Brooklyn had many classical guitarists but very few performance opportunities or organized community spaces devoted to the instrument. Each founder felt this gap firsthand—as performers, teachers, students, and listeners—and began imagining a way to bring players and audiences together.

The idea took shape through friendships formed at concerts and open mics, including a chance meeting at a Groupmuse house concert and a grassroots open mic launched at a Brooklyn martial arts school. When these efforts converged, BKCGS was born—becoming the first active classical guitar society in Brooklyn since 1978.

BKCGS began with a free, monthly open mic in November 2022, which has run continuously ever since. These events welcome guitarists of all ages and levels from across NYC and beyond, offering a supportive space to perform, connect, and build community.

The Society presented its first full concert in May 2023 and has since featured dozens of artists from around the world, hosted an annual Members’ Concert, and launched LuthierCon, a unique daylong gathering celebrating classical guitar makers and players.

In October 2024, BKCGS became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Today, it continues to grow as a volunteer-run organization dedicated to fostering classical guitar culture, performance opportunities, and community in Brooklyn.

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