String Fling: Marywood music student takes love of guitar to new places
He attended a school trip to a guitar festival; he came back a champion.
Now, Marywood music student Kyle Jenkins, a student of Diogo Salmeron Carvalho, Ph.D., the assistant professor of music, will perform at the Rosetti Estate in Scranton in May.
Jenkins was one of a group of musicians shepherded by Carvalho to the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival, a prestigious national event for young guitarists, held March 28-30.
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Marywood University music student Kyle Jenkins stands with a guitar he won for the collegiate level grand prize in the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival, held in March in Buffalo, N.Y. (Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho / Submitted)
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Marywood University music student Kyle Jenkins stands with a guitar he won for the collegiate level grand prize in the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival, held in March in Buffalo, N.Y. His professor, Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho stands to his right, holding the certificate Jenkins was awarded along with the guitar. (Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho / Submitted)
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Marywood University's guitar ensemble poses together, including music student Kyle Jenkins, the recent winner of the the collegiate level grand prize after a performance in the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival, and the ensemble's professor, Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho. (Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho / Submitted)
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Marywood University music student Kyle Jenkins stands with a guitar he won for the collegiate level grand prize in the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival, held in March in Buffalo, N.Y. (Dr. Diogo Salmeron Carvalho / Submitted)
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'We were invited because I performed there at a conference,' Carvalho said. He told his hosts about the Marywood University guitar ensemble, and the group was invited to go to the University at Buffalo, New York to play in the festival.
There, Jenkins was inspired to enter a guitar contest that was taking place. His masterful performance of 'El Polifemo De Oro,' a classical piece for guitar written by British composer Reginald Smith Brindle, struck a chord with judges, who awarded Jenkins the collegiate-level Grand Prize, and presented him with a new Saers A50 model concert guitar, new sets of strings, new guitar equipment and a certificate.
Jenkins, of Scranton, confessed that his external musical performances have been limited so far outside of his studies, adding that he loves music and hopes to one day be a professional musician. He was elated by the win, calling it 'pretty unexpected, and pretty cool.'
'It's been an amazing week,' he said, explaining that every one of his close friends and family members have been very supportive when he recounts the experience of winning the contest. 'The people in my life have been really, really happy for me.'
To celebrate his achievement, Jenkins will perform in a special concert May 2 at 6 p.m. at the Rossetti Estate in Scranton, alongside Charles Truitt, D.M.A., a former music professor at Marywood whom Carvalho described as one of the area's 'most respected classical guitarists.'
But the free concert isn't just a celebratory event.
It marks the relaunch of the Guitar Society of Northeast Pennsylvania, described by Carvalho as 'an organization with a long legacy of promoting classical guitar in our region.' He is spearheading the initiative.
'Under my direction, the society is returning with a renewed mission to support artists, offer educational opportunities, and bring world-class performances to our community,' Carvalho said in a press release, adding that the concert will also serve as a fundraiser for future society events.
Truitt is a founding member of the former Guitar Society.
'Their performance represents both the heritage and the future of guitar artistry in Northeast Pennsylvania,' said Carvalho. He said the former Guitar Society of NEPA's attendance and activity had tapered off, but it is preparing for a rebirth, including a name change that drops the word 'Classical' from the name of the group to expand on styles of guitar Carvalho hopes to include.
'We want to have all manifestations of guitar, including jazz, including folk, including rock,' Carvalho said. 'We want to have a society that's open for guitarists in any form and any people interested in guitar, as well.'
He said the society will be inclusive of 'all levels of achievement, for all people interested in guitar.'
While Carvalho, Jenkins and Truitt have ties to Marywood, the group's endeavors are open to the public, whether they are students at Marywood University or not.
Jenkins, a self-proclaimed fan of metal, alongside his skilled classical training, is helping, with his teacher's direction, to develop the group.
'I am very proud of the Marywood Guitar Ensemble for their community outreach and for representing Marywood University at such a prestigious event,' said Lisa A. Lori, J.D., Marywood president. 'I am especially thrilled to congratulate our student, Kyle Jenkins, on winning the Grand Prize at the 2025 Buffalo International Guitar Festival. His achievement reflects the excellence and dedication of our music program and the strength of our creative community.'
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