SFCM produces some of the top guitarists in the world, including winners of the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition and Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition.
Faculty include Meng Su, first-prize winner of the Parkening International Guitar Competition, and internationally recognized composer Sérgio Assad, who teaches online classes throughout the year and leads a two-week residency each semester with a focus on performance, composition, and arranging for guitar.
The historic John L. Harris Guitar Collection at SFCM features 40 instruments made by the great classical and flamenco guitar makers of the 19th and 20th centuries, which are made available to students for recording and performing projects.
Guitar students are offered a wide range of performance opportunities within the Conservatory in weekly ensemble classes, cross-departmental projects, department recitals, and master classes, as well as gigs around the Bay Area.
The San Francisco Conservatory Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of David Tanenbaum, has an extensive history of world premieres and commissions and has twice won the Guitar Foundation of America Ensemble Showcase Competition.
