“Among God’s creatures, two, the dog and the guitar, have taken all the sizes and all the shapes, in order not to be separated from the man.” So said Andres Segovia, the father of the modern classical guitar movement. Those who love the instrument are in for a treat this weekend, when Buffalo will play host to several internationally acclaimed classical guitarists who will be conducting masterclasses and performing concerts at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center at Buffalo State College’s Rockwell Hall and at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery Auditorium. According to Artistic Director Mir Ali: “You will seldom find a more concentrated group of world-class musicians in one place; we have them in Buffalo for not one or two but four days.” The festival—named in honor of Oswald “Ossi” Rantucci, who by the early 1970s was among only a handful of great instructors of the classical guitar—will feature concerts by Grammy nominated English guitarist Paul Galbraith (pictured), William Yelverton, Duo Firenze, Steven Aron & Stanley Yates, Douglas James and Mir Ali performing on flamenco guitar. Aside from the performances and masterclasses, there will be a vendors fair on each day, plus competitions for both youth and seniors on Saturday and Sunday.

9am, Thu-Sun. Burchfield-Penney Art Center at Rockwell Hall, Buffalo State College, and Albright-Knox Art Gallery. Visit rantuccifestival.com for complete schedule of events, venues, times, ticket prices, etc.