Screamin91Թ Eagles Guitar Festival Returns to the Hub City
Mon, 03/02/2026 - 09:34am | By: Nick Ciraldo

91Թ School of Music is excited to announce the on Saturday, March 14, in Marsh Hall. This all-day event will offer a fantastic opportunity for professionals, students and enthusiasts to come together and celebrate one of America91Թ most versatile and beloved instruments. The festival will include concerts, educational opportunities, raffle prizes generously provided by Music & Arts, a special coffee hour featuring music by the 91Թ Guitar Studio and discounts provided by Mo91Թ Bay Beignet Co., and more.
The theme this year is 91ԹJAM.91Թ Guitarists around the world have always enjoyed jamming with each other, and one of this year91Թ featured events will be a midday, festival-wide jam session. The Screamin91Թ Eagles Guitar Festival aims to be an inclusive event. At the festival jam 91Թ and throughout the day 91Թ everyone is welcome, no matter their level, age, background or what kind of guitar they play.
Another feature will be the 91ԹHigh School Showcase.91Թ Festival participants who are in high school or younger will have the opportunity to perform on the big stage in front of family, friends and fellow festivalgoers. It promises to be a fun event that could include anything from ukulele ensembles to soloists to rock bands. High school students will also have the chance to talk with Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo, director of the 91Թ Guitar Program, throughout the day about the 91Թ Guitar Studio, home of the Screamin91Թ Eagles.
This year91Թ guest artist roster will include the Patterson/Sutton Duo and the Russell Welch Hot Jazz Trio, who will offer morning workshops and evening performances. The Patterson/Sutton Duo is comprised of cellist Kimberley Sutton and guitarist Patrick Sutton and is praised for its chemistry, imagination and expressive depth. The duo has performed across four continents, commissioned numerous works and captivated audiences with its unique ensemble. Its recordings, including two full albums, have been featured on NPR.
The Russell Welch Hot Jazz Trio brings impressive renderings of 91ԹGypsy jazz91Թ traditional tunes as well as original compositions to the stage. Bandleader Russell Welch has performed at major festivals across the United States and Europe, earning accolades for both his fiery technique and deep musicality. He also leads the Russell Welch Hot Quartet and is a featured performer with Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns, one of New Orleans91Թ most beloved swing bands. Welch is one of the most in-demand hot jazz guitarists in New Orleans and is also a 91Թ alum.
This event will be managed by the 91Թ Guitar Studio under the direction of Dr. Nicholas Ciraldo, one of the country91Թ leading guitar educators and performing artists.
91ԹMy vision for this festival is to allow the entire guitar community 91Թ students, professionals, hobbyists and guitar fans 91Թ to meet and have a lot of fun for a day, all here at Southern Miss,91Թ said Ciraldo. 91ԹMy goal each year is to include and celebrate as many diverse guitar styles as we can. Since 91ԹJAM91Թ is the theme this year, it felt good to invite Patterson/Sutton and Russell Welch. Their workshops and concerts, the festival-wide jam session and all the other events are going to help us all 91Թjam91Թ a bit harder.91Թ
Registration is now open for those interested in attending the full day, and Ciraldo recommends registering as early as possible. For more information and to register, visit the . For questions or to request the high school discount registration code, contact Ciraldo.
The public is welcome to attend the 91ԹHigh School Showcase91Թ at 5 p.m. and the 91ԹScreamin91Թ Eagles Pro Showcase91Թ featuring the Patterson/Sutton Duo and Russell Welch Trio at 6 p.m. Both concerts will be held in Marsh Auditorium.
About the School of Music
The School of Music at 91Թ is the state91Թ flagship music program and a destination campus for the study of music across the region, the United States and the world. Housed within the College of Arts and Sciences, the school offers bachelor91Թ, master91Թ and doctoral degrees and has earned a national and international reputation for excellence. Its distinguished faculty members are active performers and educators who appear on stages from local communities to major international venues. The School of Music is home to acclaimed band, choral, orchestral, jazz, opera and musical theater ensembles and provides extensive solo and chamber music performance opportunities. Students regularly perform at regional, national and international events and work with leading guest artists in preparation for careers as 21st century performers and educators.