The International Classical Guitar Competition is organized under the patronage of the Mayor of Kyustendil Municipality - Petar Paunov.
Art Director of the Competition is Ivan Andonov.
XXVI International Classical Guitar Competition - Kyustendil, which will be held from 6th to 8th April 2023 in the town of Kyustendil, Bulgaria.
Guitarists from all over the world who would like to take part in the Competition and have filled in and sent the application form until March 30th 2023 may participate as contestants in the following groups:
First group – up to four grade (up to 11 years old)
Second group – fifth - seventh grade (from 11 to 14 years of age)
Third group – eighth - twelfth grade (from 14 to the age of 18 years old)
Fourth group – over 18 years
Fifth group – „Free Stage of the Soloist”- without age restrictions
Sixth group – „Guitar +”- without age restrictions
Seventh group –„Chamber Music” - without age restrictions
Eighth group – „Guitar Ensembles and Orchestras”- without age restrictions
PRIZES:
The reward fund includes money bonuses, pieces of art and object prizes running up to the total amount of 6000 Bulgarian leva.
The following prizes will be awarded:
First group
1st prize - 100 BGN, 2nd prize - 90 BGN, 3rd prize - 80 BGN
Second group - targeted financial support /for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize/
Third group - one-year scholarship /for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize/
Fourth group
1st prize- 150 BGN, 2nd prize - 130 BGN, 3rd prize - 120 BGN
Fifth, Sixth and Seventh group
1st prize - 150 BGN, 2nd prize - 130 BGN , 3rd prize – 120 BGN
Eighth group
1st prize - 200 BGN, 2nd prize - 150 BGN, 3rd prize -120 BGN
Besides with the cash prizes in each group, subject awards and cash prizes are awarded provided by the sponsors of the competition.
Bulgarian individual performers from the second age group in classical guitar ranked first, second and third are entitled to apply for a one-time financial support for participation in a master class or course under the conditions and in accordance with the Ordinance for the protection of gifted children. Those ranked first, second and third in the third age group are entitled to apply for one-time financial support and scholarships under the conditions and in accordance with the Ordinance on the protection of gifted children. For this reason, only one first, one second and one third place will be awarded in these age groups, with no duplication of prizes.
The jury will award three special prizes in each group.
The competition will be awarded Special prize in Memory of Valentin Valchev.
The highest prize is the Competition “Grand-Prix” – cash prize, object awards and a painting by a famous painter from Kyustendil. It will be awarded to the guitarist who gives the best performance at the Competition.
The winners of the first prizes from the previous edition of the Competition in 2022 may not take part in the same group.