Classical Guitar Competition:
Rules and Regulations

Click here to download Competition Application.

N.B. All Competitors MUST BE PRESENT AT THE DRAWING FOR COMPETITION ORDER WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE THURSDAY, MAY 17 AT 10:00 AM. Be sure to book your travel arrangements accordingly. Any competitor not present at the drawing will be disqualified and will forfeit their entry fee.

All competitors must be registered for the festival in the Performer category.
2007 Prize List is here.

AGE LIMIT: None.

REQUIRED PIECES: None. Competitors, however, MUST play the same program for all rounds of the competition. Pieces to be performed should last between 15-20 minutes total and must represent 2 or more historical periods based on the birth date of the composer. Historical periods will be determined as follows: Early/Renaissance: up to 1600. Baroque: 1600-1750. Classic: 1750-1825. Romantic: 1825-1910 (including Spanish National School, i.e. Tarrega, Granados, etc.). Contemporary/Avant Guarde: 1910-present.

ROUNDS:  All rounds will feature the same five judges and will be closed except for the final round which will be open to the public.

JUDGING:  Judging will be based on a 10 point system for: 1) technique, 2) historical performance practice, 3) interpretation, 4) programming and 5) stage presence.
A sample of the Jury Sheet may be viewed by clicking here: VIEW PDF OF JURY SHEET.

FINAL ROUND:  The final three competitors will perform in an open public concert Sunday, 3:00 p.m. to be followed by the award ceremony. Judges for this final round will be all judges. In addition we have a strong belief that most competitions are too specific to “guitar circles.” For that reason, the audience members (over 18 years of age) at the final round will each have a ballot and their cumulative votes will count as one additional vote to be tallied with those of the judges. This unusual approach provides a more realistic situation that takes into account the tastes of the general public - a concept that is extremely rare in competition playing, yet highly realistic when performers begin to work with management, concert presenters, the public, etc.

PRIZES
1) All prizes will be awarded immediately following the final round of the competition except for the invitation to perform in the 2008 festival (for a $1,000 fee). This prize is contingent upon the production of the festival in 2008. In the event that the festival is not produced in 2008 this prize fee will not be awarded.
2) Various other prizes must be claimed directly from the endorsing firms and it is the sole responsibility of the prize winner to claim those prizes.
3) First Prize winners under management must clear acceptance of the concert awards with their management or agent.
4) In the event of non-production of the 1st Prize concerts in Boston and Houston, for whatever reason, neither those proposed concert presenters, nor the St. Joseph International Guitar Festival will be liable. It is the sole responsibility of the winner to make arrangements with prize concert producers to arrange those concerts.
5) The prize for digital recording studio time at Ransomed Studios, Kansas City, US must be used within one year of the award ceremony and scheduling of the studio time is contingent upon the studio schedule. Details must be arranged between the prize winner and Studio Director, Thomas Ransom (913) 268-4564.
6) The prize winners are solely responsible for claiming all prizes. Any prize/s not claimed within one year of the date of award ceremony will be forfeited.
2007 Prize List is here.