By Gabriel Solis
This Thursday, Oct. 30, the Grand Rapids Community College community is invited to experience Guitar Night, the International Guitar Series’ Fall 2025 concert, featuring a guitar giveaway with a Halloween twist.
The performance will take place at the Keller Recital Hall in the Smith Music Center at 7:30 p.m. A Halloween costume contest will accompany the music, and one particularly scary participant will be selected to receive a free Cordoba classical guitar.
Guitar Night is an annual concert that features both student performers and accomplished guitarists from throughout West Michigan.
“Our students get an opportunity to perform with more professional musicians,” says Jonathan Marshall, GRCC’s Director of Guitar Studies and Interim Associate Dean of Liberal Arts.
Marshall has been running the International Guitar Series for the past eight years. He emphasizes that there is something for everyone to enjoy at these shows.
“A lot of it is classical guitar, but they don’t just play classical music,” he said. “They’ll play music influenced by jazz, Latin music, music from, like, Argentina, tango inspired music…there’s a lot of variety.”
In the post-pandemic era, Guitar Night attendance is not what it once was. Marshall has worked hard to find ways to get people through the door.
“I made concerts free for all of our students, (and) I’ve tried to incorporate more performers, rather than just one solo artist. I’d like to think that the more people that are involved in an event, the more people will show up.” Plus, as Marshall adds, “Who doesn’t want a free guitar?”
The evening will feature performances from guitarists Brian Morris, David Martin, Folias Duo, and Marshall himself, as well as two student ensembles. More information can be found here, as well as on GRCC’s Facebook page and on posters, flyers, and television screens around the downtown campus. For non-students, tickets can be purchased here.
