Adelaide Int'l Guitar Festival Accepting Apps for Classical Guitar Competition

The 2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival will run over four days from 9 – 12 August presenting some of the best guitarists from around Australia and the world.

After its tremendous success in 2010 the International Classical Guitar Competition returns and is open for applications from 2 January, 2012. Emerging players compete for a share of total prizes to the value of $31,000, making it one of the most prestigious guitar competitions in the world.

The competition provides a unique opportunity for emerging artists to gain exposure and experience on an international stage whilst being adjudicated by a panel of established players and teachers from around Australia as well as a number of high profile International Artists who will be performing at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival in 2012.

The competition is open to competitors of all ages with three qualifying rounds, including the audition, semi final and final round. The overall winners will be recognised at an award presentation in the Dunstan Playhouse on the final day of the Festival.

Artistic Director for the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and world renowned guitarist, Slava Grigoryan, says, "I was blown away by the standard of competitors involved in the 2010 guitar competition and it was a well deserved win by Jin-Hee Kim. We had guitarists fly in from around the world and look forward to encouraging more guitarists out there to apply for what is a fantastic prize".

The International Classical Guitar Competition prize is supported by the Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation, consistent with the Foundation's mission to enrich the lives of generations to come.

As part of the first prize, one lucky guitarist will also receive a Jim Redgate guitar. Local luthier Jim Redgate has been building world class classical guitars for more than 20 years in Adelaide. Jim's concert level guitars have a beautiful rich tonal character and each instrument has its own unique personality, with players like Odair Assad, Ana Vidovic and Slava & Leonard Grigoryan being some of the elite musicians who choose to play Redgate instruments. Redgate guitars are available exclusively through Classic Guitars International in the US and have been their best selling guitar for over a decade.

Adelaide International Guitar Festival, presented and produced by Adelaide Festival Centre, provides a truly unique festival experience, combining the very best of classical and fine art guitar festivals with a broad range of genres. In 2012 Slava Grigoryan will gather a unique and high calibre range of world class artists and will present a broad spectrum of genres, including: Classical, Brazilian, Flamenco, Jazz, Blues, Roots, Contemporary Fusion and Songwriting.

Some highlights have already been announced for the 2012 Festival and details appear in the Adelaide Festival Centre's 2012 season brochure. Artists performing over the four days include talented virtuoso Ana Vidovic, New York's charismatic Punch Brothers appearing in Australia for the first time and Spirit Of Flamenco featuring American maestro Jason McGuire, el Rubio, together with Emmy award-winning choreographer and dancer Yaelisa who will be bringing luminaries from their San Francisco-based company Caminos Flamencos to Australia for the first time. As a special event, two-time Grammy nominee Tommy Emmanuel will be performing in the Festival Theatre on 5 August, with special guest Frank Vignola. The full 2012 program will be launched on April 18.

Applications for the Classical Guitar Competition open from 2 January 2012 and close 29 February 2012. Further information regarding eligibility, repertoire and application forms is available to download from the Festival website, www.adelaideguitarfestival.com.au.