Baltimore School of Music Guitar Masterclass with Penelope Shvarts

Join us for a special classical guitar masterclass at Baltimore School of Music featuring award-winning guitarist Penelope Shvarts. This inspiring event will take place on Saturday, May 30 from 1:00–2:00 PM in our Francis Scott Key Room at Baltimore School of Music.

This masterclass is designed for our current guitar students and will offer a unique opportunity to perform and learn in a supportive, collaborative setting. Performing students will be selected and recommended by their teacher, and the event is free to all currently enrolled Baltimore School of Music students to attend as audience members.

About the Artist

Penelope Shvarts is a versatile young guitarist who has studied both classical and flamenco guitar since the age of five. She has trained with renowned teachers including Gohar Vardanyan, Elysa and Jason Hochman, and Grisha and Dmitry Goryachev, and has participated in masterclasses with many of today’s leading artists such as Sharon Isbin, Eliot Fisk, Jason Vieaux, Ana Vidovic, and Meng Su.

Penelope is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in classical guitar performance at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, where she studies under Maestro Manuel Barrueco. She is an accomplished competitor, earning First Prize at the UF Guitar Festival and Competition Open Division, First Prize at the Southern Guitar Festival Professional Division, and the Youth Prize at the Tino Andersen International Guitar Festival.

Beyond performance, Penelope is deeply committed to music education and community engagement. She has worked with organizations such as Notelove and Midori & Friends to promote access to free music education and currently serves as an Event Intern and Student Advisory Committee member for the Baltimore Classical Guitar Society. She was recently awarded the Peabody Archives Recital Research Grant for her work researching and promoting music by non-male composers for the classical guitar, helping to broaden and diversify the standard repertoire.

Event Details
Date: Saturday, May 30
Time: 3:00–4:00 PM
Location: Baltimore School of Music – Francis Scott Key Room
Admission: Free for all current Baltimore School of Music students
Performers: Selected by teacher recommendation

We are excited to offer this opportunity for our students to perform, learn, and be inspired by a rising artist in the classical guitar world.