Though its main activities were held in Gomel, the festival itself started in Minsk. Here a big concert with the participation of the best musicians from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Spain and other countries took place. True guitar virtuosos performed at the festival. For example, Dmitry Illarionov, from Moscow has been taking first prizes in all the prestigious international contests. And the Spanish guitarist Oscar Gusman is considered to be one of the best flamenco players in the world. The guitar players from Minsk were also at their best — Alexander Terekhov, Sergei Antishin, three times prize winner at the international contests Yulia Lonskaya and the young band “165” of Dmitry Levitin, Alexander Sereda and Kirill Ilyin.As a rule, not only guitar maestros but also young guitarists play at the first concert in Minsk. This year, just like a year ago, the youngest participant of the festival was the 10-year old musician from Minsk, Yulia Zhilko. The music of different genres and styles was performed at the festival — classical music, jazz, etc. — but one thing remained the same — the mastery of playing.
— “Guitar Renaissance” is one of the most prominent events in the musical life”, said chairman of the Guitar Players’ Club of Belarus, Oleg Kolenkov. “And the fact that its concerts are always full house is the testimony of the audience’s unflagging interest to this ancient but never ageing instrument.
The festival concerts were held not only in Minsk and Gomel, but in many others towns of Belarus. Thus, Oscar Gusman played in Brest and the Ukrainian musician Vladimir Dotsenko gave a concert in Pinsk. And the residents of Zhlobin had a chance to listen to the virtuoso Dmitry Illarionov at his concert.
