Red Wing Campus Hosts Annual Guitar Show 

Red Wing, MN (May 6, 2026) – As spring semester 2026 draws to a close, Minnesota State College Southeast’s Red Wing campus will host its annual guitar show, placing students’ newly crafted instruments in the hands of professional musicians.

The annual Guitar Show, May 14, will feature the debut of musical instruments, hand-made by the college’s first- and second-year guitar students.

This year’s show will feature classical and electric guitars, mandolins, arch-top guitars, and steel string acoustic guitars of various sizes, played in concert by award-winning professional musicians Mike Cramer, Phil Heywood and Chris Silver.

"This is an exciting day." said Guitar Program Instructor Tim Reede "Handmade instruments have outstanding sound quality, and in the hands of these talented musicians, it is a treat. You can feel the pride that the students have for their accomplishments over the last nine months. I am very proud of them too."

The show runs from 1 to 5 p.m. in room 314 on the Red Wing campus (308 Pioneer Rd., Red Wing, MN), and is open to the public, free of charge.

About the Performers 

Mike Cramer

Guitarist Mike Cramer is a music major from the University of Northern Iowa. His award-winning flatpicking technique earned him championship titles in the Minnesota State Fair Flatpicking Competition and Wisconsin's Upper-Midwest Flatpicking Contest. A fluid and powerful guitarist, Mike is as comfortable playing jazz standards as he is playing Bill Monroe's bluegrass instrumentals. He plays guitar in The Barley Jacks.

Phil Heywood

Fingerstyle guitarist Phil Heywood has been based in Minneapolis-St. Paul since the mid-1980s, performing locally and regionally while also establishing himself in the greater guitar and acoustic music world. In 1986 he won the National Fingerpicking Championship and followed up in 1987 by winning the American Fingerstyle Guitar Festival Competition. He plays with a bluesy swing and tone, lyricism, and groove.

Chris Silver

As roots music renaissance performer and multi-instrumentalist, Chris Silver has made a name for himself as a songwriter and is known throughout the U.S. for his virtuosity on guitar, mandolin, and fiddle.  His music is soulful and innovative and takes the listener to a musical space where Americana roots music is fused with jazz, blues, folk and country with the sensibility of a contemporary singer/songwriter. He performs frequently as a solo artist and with his band, The Chris Silver Band. 

More about the Guitar Repair and Building program

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