Jake Ramirez, President of Guitar San Antonio

Meet Jake Ramirez: Mastermind Behind Guitar San Antonio's SummerFest 2024!

Photo (left to right): Last year’s Summerfest youth competition winners and esteemed judges: Leonardo Hernandez (2nd prize), Kanahi Yamashita (judge), Xavier Jara (judge), Terry Muska (judge), Tom Sprayberry (judge), Wyatt Green (1st prize), andJake Ramirez, President of Guitar San Antonio.

At the age of 15, Jake began playing guitar. His love of the instrument would lead him to pursue degrees in classical guitar performance from Texas State University (Bachelor's, 2009) and UTSA (Master's, 2013).

In October 2013, Jake and a collective of graduate students all immersed in classical guitar studies at UTSA, established Guitar San Antonio. This initiative aimed to enrich the community with top-tier guitar performances and educational initiatives.

Guitar San Antonio operates as a nonprofit organization, powered solely by volunteers. All proceeds are channeled into advancing guitar education, nurturing performing artists, and fostering individual students, primarily through their annual festival and competitions.

Launched in 2022, the SummerFest Guitar Festival and Competition has become a hallmark event. Spanning three days annually, it offers a platform for classical guitar students and musicians from diverse genres to engage in educational sessions and showcase their talents, including the popular Battle of the Bands contest.

Scheduled for July 1-3 at the University of the Incarnate Word, SummerFest Guitar Festival 2024 promises an exciting lineup. Highlights include classical guitar concerts, masterclasses, private lessons, a technique workshop, and a classical guitar competition featuring youth and adult categories, boasting over $2000 in cash prizes. Additionally, the Battle of the Bands competition, sponsored by HEB, will see participants from all genres vie for a $500 cash prize.