Friends Launch Guitar Festival That's Now in Year 23

A phone call in 2003 launched what would become one of Mexico's most heartwarming music festivals. San Francisco musicians Phil Milner and Jenny Kerr said yes to playing at a scrappy new guitar festival in Zihuatanejo, and that decision helped spark something beautiful.

The first Zihuatanejo International Guitar Festival featured just 15 musicians playing in bars over four days. Twenty-three years later, it's become an eight-day celebration with 12 venues, 17 shows, and guitarists from around the globe.

This year's festival runs March 7 through 14, featuring 24 musicians from Cuba, Argentina, Canada, Italy, the United States and Mexico. They'll play everything from flamenco to gypsy jazz to classical, proving that guitar music speaks every language.

Director Heidi Nygård credits the festival's success to its grassroots spirit. "It began with a small group of friends who loved music and wanted to bring something more to the community," she said.

The festival runs entirely on volunteers. Over 100 people donate their time during festival week, earning a badge, a T-shirt, and the chance to hang out with world-class musicians.

What makes this festival different is its relaxed vibe. Musicians only play two 60-minute sets, then join opening and closing concerts. The rest of the time? They're on vacation, staying together in one hotel rented entirely by the organization.

"The guitars come out by the pool," said Milner, who's now the festival's emcee. Musicians from different countries and genres become friends, collaborate during shows, and create magic together.

Singer and guitarist Jossy Gallegos from nearby Petatlán says audiences feel the difference. "They really listen. It's a warm feeling. It's what any musician would want."

The festival generates tourism that benefits local businesses, but its proudest achievement is reaching schoolchildren. ZIGF partners with P.R.I.S.M.A., a Mexican nonprofit that promotes arts education in vulnerable communities where music classes don't exist.

Festival musicians visit schools for intimate concerts that teach kids about music, instruments, and the joy of creating art. For many students, it's their first exposure to live classical or international guitar music.

The Ripple Effect

The festival's impact extends far beyond the eight days in March. Local businesses thrive from the tourism boost, bringing economic opportunity to the community. Musicians form friendships that lead to collaborations and tours around the world, spreading the festival's collaborative spirit globally.

Most importantly, thousands of schoolchildren discover music through the educational concerts. Some pick up guitars for the first time, inspired by what they've heard.

Ticket sales, donations, sponsorships and merchandise cover all costs for this nonprofit festival. Every dollar goes toward keeping the music flowing and reaching more kids.

Twenty-three years after that first phone call, the little festival that could keeps growing, one guitar string at a time.