Guitar in the Big Bend will bring internationally recognized classical guitarist Dr. Bokyung Byun to the region for its 2026 festival, featuring free public concerts and educational events in Marfa and Alpine.
The festival includes two evening concerts, both starting at 6 p.m. A performance is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 6, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Marfa, followed by a second concert on Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine. Both concerts are free and open to the public.
In addition to the concert series, Byun will lead a masterclass for Sul Ross State University students at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Fine Arts Building at Sul Ross State University. The masterclass is also free and open to the public.
A Wood Ring Guitars Showcase featuring Aaron Ringo of Wood Ring Guitars is set for 3 p.m. Saturday at the museum. Ringo will discuss his guitar-building process and present his instruments. The showcase is free and open to the public.
Byun, a recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, has earned major honors in the classical guitar world, including winning the 2021 Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, becoming the first female winner of that event.
Born in Seoul, Byun began playing guitar at age six and performed her first solo recital at 11. After concert touring in Asia, she moved to the United States and entered The Juilliard School at age 16. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Juilliard and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California.
Byun currently serves on the guitar faculty at the University of North Texas, is an Augustine Strings artist, and performs on a Dieter Mueller guitar.
More information is available at guitarinthebigbend.com.
