Guitar Festival and Competition

Competition Guidelines:

• Competitors will be evaluated on technique, musicianship, and overall presentation. Judges’ comments will not be made available until after the final round of the competition. Competitors are encouraged to inquire for comments directly from the judges only after the competition has ended. 
• Choice of music is entirely at the discretion of the competitor. A competitor may perform the same or different music from round to round without penalty. 
• It is expected that each competitor's program fits within the time allowed for each round. Timing begins when the performer walks onto stage and continues between pieces. If a competitor exceeds the given time allotted, that competitor will be asked to stop but at no penalty to their evaluation.  
• All judge's decisions are final. 
• In order to receive prize money, competition winners need to attend an onboarding meeting held on Sunday before the finals. Failure to complete onboarding and registration by the end of November of the competition year will result in prize forfeit. 
• By participating in the live rounds of the competition, all performers agree to terms allowing the University of Louisville to use audio and video recording of their performances for archival and promotional purposes.
• Competitors may register for any division in which they remain eligible. In other words, multiple division registration is allowed for youth in both categories I and II and for collegiate competitors in both the collegiate and open categories. 

Open Division Competition

• The Open Division Competition is open to classical guitarists of all ages. 
• Three rounds of free-choice repertoire, which may be repeated in all rounds.
• All rounds will be played live, in person at the University of Louisville.
• Order of competitors will be randomized for the first round. For the semi-final and final round, competitors will draw numbers for playing order. 
• Program time limits: 
• Preliminary Round – 7 minutes
• Semi-final Round – 10 minutes 
• Final Round – 15 minutes

Prizes:  

• 1st place - $1,000 + S9 Saers Guitar ($1,300 value) + possibility of paid returning engagement at next year’s festival
• 2nd place - $500
• 3rd place - $300
• *All prize winners will also receive diplomas, generous gift bags from different sponsors and credit vouchers by Strings by Mail. 
• Following the preliminary round, up to 12 players will be selected to participate in the semi-final round. 
• Following the semifinal round, 3 players will be selected to participate in the final round. Under special circumstances, the judging panel may select more finalists, but only 3 prizes will be awarded. 
• All competition rounds will be held at the University of Louisville School of Music. See the Guitar Festival schedule for date, time, and location. 

Collegiate Division Competition

• The Collegiate Competition is open to classical guitarists who are currently completing an undergraduate degree as of the first day of the competition.  
• Three performers will be selected to participate in the final round.
• Free-choice program for all rounds
• Program Time Limits: 
• Preliminary Round – 7 minutes 
• Final Round – 10 minutes

Prizes:  

• 1st place - $500 
• 2nd place - $250
• 3rd place - $150
• *All prize winners will also receive diplomas, generous gift bags from different sponsors and credit vouchers by Strings by Mail.

Youth Division Competition - Category II: 15-18 years old

• The Youth Division Category II is open to guitarists between the ages of 15 and 18 as of the first day of the competition. 
• Students under the age of 15 can participate in this category under special circumstances. Please reach out to festival director if interested. 
• Three performers will be selected to participate in the final round.
• Participants in any Youth Competition Category must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and might be asked to present proof of age at registration.
• Free-choice program for all rounds.
• Program Time Limits: 
• Preliminary Round – 5 minutes
• Final Round – 7 minutes

Prizes:

• 1st place - $150 + S9 Saers Guitar ($1,300 value) + free registration and featured performance in next year’s festival
• 2nd place - $100
• 3rd place - $50
• *All prize winners will also receive diplomas, generous gift bags from different sponsors and credit vouchers by Strings by Mail.

Youth Division Audition - Category I: under 15 years old

• The Youth Division Audition - Category I is open to guitarists under the age of 15 as of the first day of the festival.  
• This division is a recreational audition (not a competition). Every performer will be given comments from the judges. 
• Three performers will be selected to play in the winner’s concert on Sunday.
• Participants in the Youth Division Audition Category I must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and might be asked to present proof of age at registration.
• Participants selected for the winner’s concert must play the same selections chosen during the preliminary hearing. 

Program Time Limits: 

• Audition – 5 minutes
• Winner’s Concert – 5 minutes

Results:

• 3 players will be selected to play in the winner’s concert on Sunday. At the judges’ discretion, one or more players might be selected to be featured performers in next year’s festival with paid registration. They will also receive diplomas, generous gift bags from different sponsors and credit vouchers by Strings by Mail.

Friday, October 9^th – UofL Guitar Day for Kentucky High Schools:

9:00 – 9:30 am: Students arrival / Check-in – School of Music lobby

9:30 – 10:15 am: Guitar Ensemble Coaching #1

10:15 – 11:00 am: Guitar Ensemble Coaching #2

11:00 – 11:30 am: KASGO Audition Workshop #1

11:30 – 12:00 pm: KASGO Audition Workshop #2

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:15 – 1:45 pm: Guitar Ensemble Rehearsals

2:00 – 3:30 pm: Showcase concert in Comstock Concert Hall

3:30 – 4:00 pm: Break

4:00 – 5:00 pm: Technique and riff workshop for beginner guitarists in room 267 (Choir Room)

5:00 – 6:00 pm: Masterclass with Carlos Bedoya in room 267    

6:00 – 7:15: pm: Dinner

7:30 – 9:00 pm: Recital - 2025 GFA winner Virgile Barthe in Comstock Concert Hall

                           Opened by Madison Central HS Guitar Ensemble, Directed by Kevin Case 

Saturday, October 10^th:

8:45 – After: General Registration / Check-in – School of Music lobby

9:00 – 1:00 pm: Open Division Preliminary Round in Bird Recital Hall (closed to public)

9:30 – 1:00 pm: Youth and Collegiate Preliminary round in Comstock Concert Hall 

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 pm: Technique Workshop with Virgile Barthe in room 267 (Choir Room)

1:30 – 3:30 pm: Masterclasses (check teachers and rooms in registration desk)

3:30 – 4:20 pm: Brazilian Music Lecture with Daniel Duarte in room 267 (Choir Room)

4:30 – 6:00 pm: Recital with Natan Zlodre and W.E. Duo in Comstock Concert Hall

6:00 – 7:30 pm: Dinner

7:30 – 9:00 pm: Recital with NJGO and Hao Yang in Comstock Concert Hall

Sunday, October 11^th: 

9:00 – 12:00 pm: Open Division Semifinal Round in Comstock Concert Hall

10:00 – 10:45 am: Technique Workshop with Carlos Bedoya in room 267 (Choir Room)

11:00 – 12:00 pm: Lecture with Jayson Martinez in room 267 (Choir Room)

12:00 – 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 – 3:00 pm: Masterclasses (check teachers and rooms in registration desk)

3:15 – 5:45 pm: Winner’s showcase and competition finals in Comstock Concert Hall

5:45 – 7:00 pm: Dinner

7:00 – 8:15 pm: Concert with Chimera Quartet and Jiu Jiu Wu

8:30 – 9:00 pm: Award ceremony in Comstock Concert Hall

9:00 pm: End

This schedule is subject to change.

Competition Winners

University of Louisville Guitar Competition Winners

2025

Open Division:
1st Prize: Jiu Jiu Wu 
2nd Prize: Suvan Agarwal
3rd Prize: Gabriel Balogh 
4th Prize: David Manzanares 

Collegiate: 
1st Prize: Ruqi Jiang 
2nd Prize: Dan Holban 
3rd Prize: Cesar Herrera 
4th Prize: Chaitan Grewal 

Youth II:
1st Prize: Ruqi Jiang 
2nd Prize: Jonah Rosenthal 

Youth I:
1st Prize: Catalina Wert 
2nd Prize: Alexandria Cutting 
3rd Prize: Eliana Zhang 

2024 

Youth Division I (under 15)

1. Jonah Rosenthal
2. Alexandria Cutting
3. Caleb Lyons

Youth Division II (15-18)

1. Benjamin Poczatek
2. Ryland DeStefano
3. Amanda Pazos-Guerra

Collegiate Division 

1. Matthew Kuplack
2. Benjamin Richardson
3. Dan Holban
4. Chaitan Grewal

Open Division

1. Sara d’Ippolito Reichert
2. Kyle Khembunjong
3. Audrey Oden
4. Mia Padilla

2023

Youth Division I (under 15) 

1. Alexandria Cutting
2. Lincoln Hall 

Youth Division II (15-18) 

1. Owen Wang
2. Amanda Pazos
3. Asher Wedin
4. Griffen Farnsley 

Collegiate Division 

1. Nik Divall
2. Owen Wang
3. Suvan Agarwal
4. William Tanner 

Open Division 

1. Gwenyth Aggeler
2. Alvaro Henrique
3. Nik Divall
4. Jeremy Waldrip 

2022 

Youth Division 

1. Leonardo Prado
2. Noah Rairick
3. Asher Wedin
4. Amanda Pazos 

Collegiate Division 

1. Parsa Sabet
2. Mia Padilla
3. Zhengji Li
4. Logan Wong

Open Division 

1. Leonela Alejandro
2. Parsa Sabet
3. Jeremy Waldrip
4. Chandler Dillingham 

2021

Youth Division

1. Nathaniel Zsedenyi
2. Noah Rairick
3. Blake Logsdon

Collegiate Division

1. Jack Osborne
2. Joe Tollefsen
3. Jake Giles
4. Matt Wherley

Open Division (postponed to 2022)

2020

Youth Division

1. Micha Rand
2. Kassandra Hughes
3. Paula Glaser
4. Landon Vandergriff

Collegiate Division

1. Gonzalo Peñalosa
2. Jorge Manuel Atanacio López
3. Jake Giles
4. Logan Florence
5. Maxwell Rothman

Open Division

1. Gonzalo Peñalosa
2. Chinnawat Themkumkwun
3. Jasmin Lacasse Roy
4. Alessandro Infante

2019 

Youth Division
1. Maxwell Rothman
2. Ian Tubbs
3. Kassandra Hughes

Collegiate Division
1. Leonela Alejandro
2. Jake Giles
3. Fangfang Liu

Open Division
1. Gonzolo Alonso 
2. Samuel Hines
3. Evan Taucher
4. YunZhe Lin

2018

Youth Division
1. Naia Andrews
2. Josefina Stone
3. Noah Rairick
4. Henry Davidson

Collegiate Division
1. Liam Hedrick
2. Brandon Walker
3. Jakob Giles
4. Andrew Ramsey

Solo Artist Division
1. Jesus Serrano Huitron
2. Samuel Hines
3. Christopher Mrofchak
4. Matthew Gillen

2017

Youth Division:
1. Gabriela Hertel
2. Michael Bremmer

Collegiate Division:
1. Jeremy Waldrip
2. Liam Hedrick
3. Jonno Garver
4. Jakob Giles

Solo Artist Division:
1. Andrew Wilder
2. Samuel Hines
3. Evan Taucher
4. Marco Villa

2016

Youth Division:
1. Liam Hedrick
2. Kieran Waigel
3. Benjamin Duncan

Solo Artist Division:
1. Ilie Dragos
2. Jesus Serrano
3. Nicholas Emilfork
4. Noe Garcia

2015

Youth Division:
1. Hannah Wade
2. Craig Salgh

Solo Artist Division:
1. Stephen Lochbaum
2. Austin Wahl
3. Naeim Rahmani
4. Eli Schille-Hudson

2014

Youth Division:
1. Jeremy Waldrip
2. Hannah Wade
3. Craig Salgh

Solo Artist Division:
1. Jeremy Collins
2. Stephen Lochbaum
3. Steven Cowan
4. Matthew Rohde

Honorable mention: Marco Villa

2012

Youth Division I (ages 14 and under):
1. Mallory Richards
2. Hannah Wade

Youth Division II (ages 15-18):
1. Joseph Douglas
2. Victoria Medley
3. Devin Brown

Solo Artist Division:
1. Joseph Palmer
2. Celil Refik Kaya
3. Jeremy Collins
4. Antoniy Kakamakov

2011

Youth Division:
1. Toby James
2. Audra Vigil
3. Joseph Douglas

Solo Artist Division:
1. Brendan Evans
2. Zhivkov Nikolov
3. Jeremy Collins
4. Gideon Whitehead

Honorable mention: John Marcel Williams

2010

Solo Artist Division:
1. You Wang
2. Brendan Evans
3. Gideon Whitehead
4. Maja Radovanliga

Learn more about visiting the UofL School of Music and directions to the Guitar Festival.

Check out our Belknap Campus map.

All official events are held at the University of Louisville School of Music, 105 W. Brandeis Avenue, Louisville, KY 40208

The School of Music is located on the north side of the University of Louisville Belknap Campus. Visitors should use the North Entrance at the intersection of Cardinal Boulevard and 1st street.
Directions to the School of Music: http://louisville.edu/music/about/tour-directions

Directions to the North Entrance Information Center: http://louisville.edu/admissions/visit/directions/directions-to-the-north-information-center

Area Map (School of Music and nearby Attractions, Banks, Hotels, Restaurants, and Shops)

The link below includes further information and maps locating the School of Music and nearby hotels, restaurants, and shops. Detailed map

Campus Maps

The links below include maps detailing locations for all buildings, dining, parking and other important sites on the University of Louisville Belknap Campus.

http://louisville.edu/admissions/visit/campus-map

https://louisville.university-tour.com/main-belknap-campus

Hotels and Housing

700 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209

• Recommended stay – Book through this link to get 37% off each night
• Link coming soon! 
• Breakfast buffet included
• 5 minutes away from campus

Courtyard by Marriot

819 Phillips Lane, Louisville, KY 40209

• Recommended stay
• 5 minutes away from campus

The Bellwether Hotel

1300 Bardstown Road, Louisville, KY 40204 

• In heart of Highlands neighborhood and walking distance to post-concert gatherings.

Quality Inn
311 East Gaulbert Avenue, Louisville, KY. (502) 638-6100 ‎ 

• Walking distance to the UofL School of Music
• Indoor pool

Days Inn
1620 Arthur Street, Louisville, KY(502) 636-3781 ‎

• Adjacent to the Quality Inn
• Also within walking distance to the UofL School of Music

More hotels near the UofL Belknap Campus

Louisville is a fantastic city to explore. This visitor guide will guide you in the direction of your choosing.

View UofL Guitar Festival Hotels, Restaurants and Shops in a larger map