THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY College of Music presents
2025 Florida State University Guitar Festival
Kyle Khembunjong,
Guitar
Sunday November 9, 2025
4:00 p.m. | Dohnányi Recital Hall
To Ensure An Enjoyable Concert Experience For All…
Please refrain from talking, entering, or exiting during performances. Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls. Recording or broadcasting of the concert by any means, including the use of digital cameras, cell phones, or other devices is expressly forbidden. Please deactivate all portable electronic devices including watches, cell phones, pagers, hand-held gaming devices or other electronic equipment that may distract the audience or performers.
Recording Notice: This performance may be recorded. Please note that members of the audience may at times be included in this process. By attending this performance you consent to have your image or likeness appear in any live or recorded video or other transmission or reproduction made in conjunction to the performance.
Florida State University provides accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please notify the College of Music at (850) 644-3424 at least five working days prior to a musical event to request accommodation for disability or alternative program format.
Fantaisie sur deux Motifs de “La Norma” de Bellini, Op. 16 (1845)
24 Caprichos de Goya, Op. 195
Napoleon Coste (1803–1883)
Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco
XX. Obsequio a el Maestro (Gift to the Teacher) (1961) (1895–1968)
Deux Arabesques, L. 66 (1888 – 1891)
Claude Debussy
I. Andantino con moto (1862–1918)
arr. René Izquierdo & Kyle Khembunjong
Introduction and Fantasy on When You Wish Upon A Star
Leigh Harline/Ned Washington (Hommage á Keith Jarrett) (1907–1969)/(1901–1976) arr. Kyle Khembunjong
Sun Wukong’s Toccata (2016)
Sergio Assad
I. The Mountain of Flowers and Fruits (b. 1952)
II. The Phoenix Feather Cap
III. The Cloud Walking Boots
IV. The Golden Banded Staff
V. Journey to the West
VI. Pigsy and Sandy
VII. Buddhahood
Day and Age (2015)
Kyle Khembunjong, guitar
2024 Florida Guitar Festival First-prize Winner
Julian Lage (b. 1987)
arr. Kyle Khembunjong
Kyle Khembunjong is a nationally recognized, award-winning guitarist from Las Vegas, NV. He has been featured as a soloist in prestigious festivals and competitions across North America, earning accolades from top organizations in the classical guitar world.
Since making his solo debut at age 15, Kyle has garnered over 30 top prizes in various international competitions, such as First Prize at the 2025 UT Dallas International Guitar Competition, First Prize in the Schubert Club Bruce P. Carlson Guitar Division, Second Prize at the 2025 Indiana International Guitar Competition, Second Prize at the 2025 Queens University of Charlotte Guitar Competition, First Prize at the 2024 Florida State University Open Division Guitar Competition, First Prize at the 2024 Domaine Forget Academy Guitar Competition, and Second Prize at the 2024 University of Louisville Open Division Guitar Competition, to name a few. In 2025, Kyle was acknowledged as a top 12 semifinalist in the Guitar Foundation of America International Concert Artist Competition and the Dutch Guitar Foundation Competition in Groningen, Netherlands. Kyle has also recently presented solo concerts in renowned recital halls such as the Conservatorio Superior de Música ‘Óscar Esplá’ de Alicante, Spain, and at the Domaine Forget de Charlevoix in Saint-Irénée, Québec.
At an early age, Kyle began his advanced guitar studies under the guidance of world-renowned Colombian guitarist Ricardo Cobo at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Alongside his pre-college studies of the guitar, Kyle graduated high school with an Associate of Arts degree from the College of Southern Nevada High School Dual-Enrollment program. Kyle then completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Guitar Performance and a Music Technology Minor Certificate from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as a recipient of the UNLV College of Fine Arts Music Scholarship. Kyle received his Master’s of Music in Classical Guitar Performance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with Cuban guitar virtuoso René Izquierdo.
Kyle plays on Knobloch Strings. Kyle also performs in a voice and guitar duo with his partner Isabel Amor Ferguson (Soprano), as well as in a contemporary fusion band Khembo Collective (guitar, sax, bass, percussion).
UPCOMING GUITAR FESTIVAL EVENTS
Sunday, November 9
6:30pm – Competition Awards Ceremony, DRH