Guitar Favourites

The Zurich Youth Guitar Ensemble was founded in 2007 and is part of the Musikschule Konservatorium Zürich. The ensemble was created to give ambitious and talented classical guitar students the opportunity to make music together with like-minded musicians at a high level.

The current ensemble consists of nine young guitarists, many of whom have won prizes at competitions including the Swiss Youth Music Competition (SJMW). The group is directed by Jens Stibal and Sascha Lorenz.

The Leidschendam-Voorburg Guitar Ensemble was founded in 2024 following an ensemble workshop held as part of Festival Gitaar aan de Sluis. What began as a one-off opportunity to make music together soon developed into a permanent ensemble under the guidance of guitarist Martin van Hees.

The LVGE brings together amateur guitarists who share a love of playing and making music with others – something that can often be missing for an instrument usually played solo. The ensemble has strong local roots, with many of its members living in Leidschendam-Voorburg. Since its founding, it has grown to around 15 members, who rehearse monthly at the Veur Theater in Leidschendam.

The ensemble performs each year at Festival Gitaar aan de Sluis and, in August 2026, also appeared in concert at the festival in Enkhuizen. At its heart, the LVGE is about the joy of playing together, meeting fellow guitarists and sharing music with an audience.