Association of Classical Guitarists of South-East Europe – SEGEX by ASEG: Twenty-five Years of Regional Cooperation
The Association of Classical Guitarists of South-East Europe (ASEG) was founded in December 2001 in Belgrade, on the initiative of Prof. Boško Radojković, director of the Guitar Art Festival. The founding congress, which brought together representatives of guitar communities from several countries in the region, laid the foundations of an organisation whose initial concept was based on the principle of official national delegations. In the following years, ASEG convened congresses in Ankara (2003), Plovdiv (2004), Kastoria (2005), Ljubljana (2006), Belgrade (2011), Poreč (2012), Žalec (2018), Belgrade (2024), and Plovdiv (2025) – a total of ten congresses held in seven countries. The upcoming XI Congress, taking place from 17th to 20th September in Herceg Novi, will present the largest gathering of delegates so far, in a new congress format called SEGEX by ASEG.
ASEG operates as a voluntary, private, and non-governmental association dedicated to achieving its goals in the field of nurturing and promoting the classical guitar. The founder, rights holder, and director of the association is Prof. Boško Radojković, while the role of president is held by Costas Cotsiolis. The territory of the organisation's activity covers South-East Europe, namely Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, North Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey, with the association's headquarters located in Belgrade. The organising and programme committee consists of the director and president of the association, along with one representative from each member country.
ASEG acts as a regional umbrella organisation dedicated to the development of classical guitar and the connection of musicians, educators, festivals, and educational institutions in South-East Europe. Today, it brings together representatives of eleven countries and represents the most important regional network in this field. During twenty-five years of activity, following the growth in the number of guitar festivals in the region, ASEG has outgrown the initial model of an alliance of national delegations and developed into a platform for the exchange of programmes, knowledge, experience, and examples of good practice, aiming to improve cooperation and the international promotion of classical guitar.
SEGEX by ASEG
From this development emerged SEGEX by ASEG (Southeast European Guitar Expo), the new organisational and programme framework of the Association of Classical Guitarists of South-East Europe. The platform brings together festivals, educational institutions, guitar orchestras, artists, and organisations from eleven member countries with the aim of systematically connecting and developing the guitar sector at a regional level.
SEGEX functions as a unique regional platform that unites events, projects, and news from all eleven member countries, enabling a continuous exchange of knowledge, experience, and professional contacts between artists, educators, organisers, and institutions. In this way, ASEG continues to develop its original mission and confirms its role as the central organisation for cooperation and development of classical guitar in South-East Europe.
Cooperation Programme for the Period 2026–2027
The cooperation programme for the period 2026–2027 is based on four key areas:
1. Guitar Orchestras
Connecting existing guitar orchestras and developing new models of cooperation among them, alongside professional development for teachers and conductors through mentorships with renowned international artists. The long-term goal is to establish a regional festival dedicated exclusively to guitar orchestras.
2. Festivals
Exchange of experiences among organisers, coordination of concert programmes and guitar competitions, as well as aligning event calendars for more efficient production and creating opportunities for artists to perform at a higher number of festivals and competitions across the region.
3. Education
Development of joint educational projects intended for pupils, students, and teachers at all levels of guitar education, through the exchange of knowledge, teaching practices, and professional development programmes.
4. Promotion
Strengthening the visibility and sustainability of the guitar sector through coordinated media activities, cooperation with tourism organisations, development of partnerships with business entities, and establishing long-term funding models for cultural projects.
XI Congress – Herceg Novi, September 2026
At the upcoming XI Congress of SEGEX by ASEG in Herceg Novi, which will gather representatives of the guitar scene from eleven countries, representatives of city administrations and tourism organisations from the delegates' home cities will also participate for the first time. With this expansion of the circle of participants, the congress takes on a new dimension, in which classical guitar and cultural events are viewed not only as a matter of artistic profession, but also as an important segment of cultural policy, international cooperation, local development, and cultural tourism.
