AIGF Now Accepting Applications for International Classical Guitar Competition

The 2014 Adelaide International Guitar Festival will run over four days from 17 - 20 July presenting some of the best guitarists from around Australia and the world.

After its outstanding success in 2012 the International Classical Guitar Competition returns and is open for applications from the end of September, 2013. Emerging players compete for a share of total prizes to the value of $32,000, making it one of the most prestigious guitar competitions in the world. The competition winner will also be invited to perform in the 2016 Adelaide International Guitar Festival.

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 2014.

The competition is open to competitors aged 32 or younger with three qualifying rounds, including the audition round, semi-final and final round. Revered Australian composer Richard Charlton has written a new piece especially for the audition round of the competition. The semi-final round will be held on July 16 and the competition final will be held in the Dunstan Playhouse on July 19 during the festival, followed by an award presentation.

In 2012 Adelaide expat Andrey Lebedev took out the coveted first prize and has been invited to perform in the festival in 2014. Andrey was recently awarded a scholarship to London's Royal Academy of Music and commences his studies next month in London.

Artistic Director for the Adelaide International Guitar Festival and world renowned guitarist, Slava Grigoryan, says,"Each year I'm so impressed with the standard of talented musicians this competition attracts from around the world and I am very proud that this competition is gaining international recognition. It not only gives guitarists an amazing outlet to showcase their talent in front of an audience, it also rewards the winner with a significant prize package propelling them further into the world of performing professionally".

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 have attracted attention from all over the world, with players like Odair Assad, Ana Vidovic and Slava and Leonard Grigoryan being some of the elite musicians who choose to play Redgate instruments.

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 wide range of genres. In 2014 Slava Grigoryan will gather a unique and high calibre range of world class artists and will present a broad spectrum of genres, including: jazz, bluegrass, slide, tango, classical and rock.

Applications for the Classical Guitar Competition open from the end of September 2013 and close 6 December 2013. Semi-finalists will be notified by the end of January. Application forms and further information regarding eligibility and repertoire are available to download from the Festival website. www.adelaideguitarfestival.com.au

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