Study Guitar at Oklahoma City University
At OCU, guitar students do more than practice and perform. Through the program's partnership with the Leyenda Foundation, they help run real projects from their first year: recordings, concerts, festivals, and research.
What students do here
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Compete and perform. OCU guitarists have won top prizes at the Eastman Concerto, GFA, and Haire competitions.
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Work on Leyenda's artist-first projects: producing recordings, curating concerts, and managing festivals.
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Learn grant writing, arts leadership, and career development alongside performance.
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Collaborate with dancers, composers, orchestras, and jazz ensembles.
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Take part in international programs through OCU and Leyenda's partners in Europe.
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Study with visiting artists, including Los Romeros (Pepe, Celin, Celino, and Lito Romero), jazz guitarists Mark Whitfield and Chip Henderson, fingerstyle guitarist John Knowles, and music management with Susie Lamborghini.
Where students go
Graduates of the studio now teach guitar at the University of Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, have continued to prestigious universities, and perform professionally in classical, early music, and popular music.
The studio is led by Matthew Denman, Associate Professor of Guitar, founder of the Celedonio Romero Guitar Institute with Pepe Romero, and recipient of the GFA/Augustine Award for Excellence in Guitar Education.
Scholarships
OCU offers academic, talent-based, need-based, and endowed scholarships. Your audition application also serves as your scholarship application.
Scholarships & Assistance at OCU
How the Audition Works
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Apply through Acceptd. Your application connects you with the guitar faculty and puts you in consideration for both admission and scholarships.
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Prepare your repertoire. 15 minutes of music, with at least two contrasting works. Classical, acoustic, or electric guitar are all welcome. Original compositions or related plucked instruments are optional.
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Choose a format. In person on campus, live virtual through Acceptd, or pre-recorded and submitted on Acceptd.
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Results and scholarships. Admission decisions and scholarship offers are sent by email on a rolling basis.
Why audition early
Auditions completed by March 7 receive priority scholarship review. Because awards are made on a rolling basis, earlier auditions usually get the strongest offers.