The Brooklyn Classical Guitar Society


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The Brooklyn Classical Guitar Society was founded in 2022 by Rodrigo Guzman, Matt Kaplan, Pierre Ferreyra-Mansilla, and Josh Paul. That summer, the four Brooklyn-based guitarists recognized a clear need for more performance opportunities and a stronger classical guitar community in the borough, where few events existed despite a large population of players, students, and enthusiasts.

Rodrigo, a tech entrepreneur and guitarist, saw this need among his peers. Matt, newly returned to Brooklyn, shared this vision with his longtime friend Pierre, who had also been thinking about ways to energize the local scene. After meeting Rodrigo at a Groupmuse concert, the three gathered to discuss creating a new organization—and the BKCGS was born.

At the same time, Josh, an amateur guitarist, had begun hosting an open mic at his martial arts school to fill the same community gap. Rodrigo attended one of these events, and Josh soon joined the BKCGS, completing the founding team and helping establish Brooklyn’s first active classical guitar society since 1978.

Initially formed as an LLC with fiscal sponsorship from the Groupmuse Foundation, the BKCGS launched its free monthly open mic in November 2022. The event has continued uninterrupted, welcoming guitarists of all ages and levels from across the region. In October 2024, the organization became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; Matt, Pierre, and Josh now serve as president, secretary, and treasurer, with Rodrigo supporting from the West Coast.

The first BKCGS concert took place in May 2023, and since then the Society has presented dozens of artists from around the world. In 2024, it launched LuthierCon, a unique daylong gathering of classical guitar makers and players. Today, the BKCGS also hosts an annual Members’ Concert, social events, and ongoing programs that support and grow Brooklyn’s classical guitar community.

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Past events