Design featuring a yellow outline of a guitar integrated with an outline of the state of Arkansas. The text reads 'GUITAR WARS' in large blue font, with 'PLAY IT FORWARD' in smaller yellow font underneath.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2026

People on stage during an event with a large screen in the background displaying the Star Wars logo and the title 'Rise of the Riffs' Little Rock. There are musical instruments such as amplifiers, drums, and microphones set up on stage. A man is speaking at a podium with his arm extended, and three others are standing nearby. Audience members are seated, including a person in the front holding a cup and a water bottle.
Guitar Wars judging sheets with lanyards and a hat on a black table

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Sign up today! Registration deadline is Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5:00 PM. Free strings with registration!

Early registrants: Anyone registered by June 30 at 5:00 PM will receive a free
Guitar Wars t-shirt at the event.

REGISTER NOW
A man with a shaved head wearing a red and white striped shirt playing an electric guitar in a room with musical equipment and a wall decorated with a framed picture.

David Dunavant

Founder/CEO and Executive Director, Guitar Wars Inc.

David Dunavant is Arkansas’s highest-rated private guitar instructor and the founder of Guitar Wars Inc., the state’s only statewide amateur guitar competition and nonprofit for youth music education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) and a Master of Music in Jazz Guitar from Bowling Green State University. For 19 years, David has taught hundreds of students at four universities. He is known for expert instruction and mentorship.

He currently teaches private guitar lessons to adults and teens at Little Rock Music Academy. As the founder of Guitar Wars, David is dedicated to expanding music access for Arkansas youth through free instruments, music scholarships, and live performance opportunities.

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A person with short, curly brown hair and glasses smiling while holding a French horn in one hand and a red electric guitar in the other. They are wearing a black t-shirt with yellow and white designs. Behind them are various posters and artwork on the wall, including a black and white collage and a colorful portrait.

Ryleigh Abbott

Chief Operating Officer, Guitar Wars Inc.

Ryleigh is the COO of Guitar Wars, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a focus in Marketing from the University of UA Little Rock. She also studied abroad at one of Frances highest rated private business schools, KEDGE Business School where she pursued a Masters in Business. She also has musical abilities such as eight years of orchestra training with French Horn and is trained on many other instruments such as guitar and vocals.

As a member of Guitar Wars she oversees the daily aspects of the operation as well as assists David in running the yearly event at the Ron Robinson Theater. “Working for the Nonprofit is a dream come true, being able to give back to the community through music is an unexplainable joy. I am so grateful to be a part of the team!“

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OUR VOLUNTEERS

Grant Coordinator
Jacqueline Mckisick

Scholarship Coordinator
Colin Frisby

OUR BOARD MEMBERS

Robert S Moore Jr
Anne Marie Doramus
Brady Aldy
Mike Speraw

2025 SPONSORS

Black background with a logo and text for '501st Legion' featuring a silhouette of a female character and comic-like font.

501st Legion

Logo for Arkansas Rocks FM featuring a blue electric guitar and red and purple text.

Arkansas Rocks

Logo of the Central Arkansas Library System with colorful lines radiating from a black rectangle with the words CALS in white, and text reading 'Central Arkansas Library System' with 'Library' in orange.

Central Arkansas Library System

Logo with a pig on top of a barrel, with a banner reading 'Casks-N-Que' and text 'EST. '21'.

Casks-N-Que

Logo for David Duvant Guitar Lessons and Music Instruction on a light blue background.

David Dunavant

Logo for Little Rock Music Academy featuring musical notes and staff.

Little Rock Music Academy

Stringjoy

American Plumbing

Edward Jones

Meridiem Psychological Services, Inc.

Arkansas Community Foundation

Hillcrest Ukulele Society

Jones & Son

KASU

Commerce Title

LAMAR

D’Addario

Little Rock Convention & Visitors Bureau

MouseWatcher

Quattlebaum Music

Renown Music

CenterRock Advertising

Saied Music Company

Starling Music Studio

Steven Reynolds

Vino’s

The Works

Scholarships

The Guitar Wars Educational Foundation proudly awards 5 kids in the state of Arkansas each year a scholarship that is valued around $750. The scholarship includes 4 months worth of free guitar lessons and a new guitar that is worth around $200.

Learn more