Melbourne International Guitar Festival Returns Next Month

The Melbourne International Guitar Festival returns to Melba Hall, the University of Melbourne in September with an exciting international program, the third created by the directors and founders of the festival, Michael MacManus and Evan Hopkins.

"Since our first festival in 2015, the MIGF has grown to see its concert artists, competition entrants and festival guests hailing from all corners of the globe," says Michel MacManus. "The festival this year will be host to some of the world's finest classical and flamenco guitarists from Italy, Spain and Australia."

The headline act for this year's festival is Lorenzo Micheli, a winner of the GFA International Concert Artist Competition, the world's most prestigious classical guitar competition. Micheli has a prolific recording career with more than 20 highly acclaimed CDs. He has performed across the world, including over 600 concerts throughout Europe and in over 200 US and Canadian cities. He has performed in such prestigious venues as New York's Carnegie Hall, South Korea's Sejong Hall and Vienna's Konzerthaus.

Gerard Mapstone and Richard Tedesco are two of Australia's finest flamenco guitarists and will thrill Melbourne audiences in the festival's opening concert. Full of excitement and passion, their music is influenced by classical Indian music, jazz and contemporary music. They have performed with an incredible array of musicians including the flamenco guitarist Tomatito, Cyndi Lauper, James Morrison and Dalé Caña Flamenco Company.

Andrew Blanch is a previous winner of the Melbourne International Guitar Festival and Competition (2016) and will be familiar to many for his incredible musicianship and technique. He has also won prizes in many national and international music competitions. His debut CD Spanish Guitar Music has received rave reviews, heralding his place as one of Australia's foremost classical guitarists of the next generation.

The Melbourne Guitar Quartet will be joining the MIGF again as featured concert artists. Their concerts have been widely acclaimed, recently winning the Melbourne Recital Centre's Contemporary Masters award for the second year in a row. They are a regular touring artist for the MRC and their most recent CD In Colour has reaffirmed their position as one of Australia's most impressive chamber ensembles.

Each year the MIGF hosts a competition open to all ages and abilities. With Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Concert Artist categories available, the competition sees guitarists from all over Australia and the world visiting Melbourne to perform on stage. Large cash prizes are available in each category and artists will compete for a $10,000 first prize for the Concert Artist competition, which includes an 8 concert Australian tour.

There will be a number of presentations taking place across the weekend as well as masterclasses by Lorenzo Micheli, Ken Murray (Head of Guitar, University of Melbourne) and Andrew Blanch. Bryce Leader will also be giving a presentation on his sight-reading for beginners book: Copy, Play and Learn.

There will be a large number of stalls by notable guitar luthiers, dealers and local music stores across the weekend. There will be stalls by Yamaha Music, Hans Music, GuitarsOnline.com.au, Rick Falkiner's Guitar Centre, Thomas Lloyd Guitars, Hannabach Strings, Shane Briggs, Andrew Dorian, Cary Pedicini, Brend Bunte, Allan Bull, Sean Langelier, Stephen Bulmer and Bryce Leader.

Venue: Melba Hall, University of Melbourne

For tickets and to find out more about the MIGF, head to www.melbourneguitarfoundation.com.

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