Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition 2022
Rules for Competition
V I R T U A L for Artist and College Divisions
I N-P E R S O N for High School and Middle School Divisions
May 30, 2022 – Artist First Round Videos Due
TBA – Artist Final Round Videos Due
June 6, 2022 – College Divisions I & II Videos Due
Friday, June 17, 2022 – High School & Middle School Divisions Compete In-Person
June 18, 2022 – Announce Winners of All Divisions
There are 5 levels of competition:
•Artist Division
•College Division I (For advanced players in 2-Year OR 4-year colleges)
•College Division II (For intermediate players in 2-year OR 4-year colleges)
•High School Division
•Middle School Division
Non-Competition Opportunity: Musicale Participation – for those seeking feedback without competing. (See below)
Consider competing this year
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ARTIST & COLLEGE DIVISIONS
•Go to www.hcgfest.org to register for the competition and festival.
•Record a live, unedited performance video in a single take/non-stop with only one single camera angle.
For repertoire guidelines, see individual divisions below.
NOTE: High School and Middle School are In Person only.
•Upload the video to YouTube with the following specifications:
Videos due by Midnight Central Time:
May 30, 2022 for Artist division) OR
June 6, 2022 College Division I & College Division II
•In the description of the video, write:
Your name.
The date of your recording.
The pieces that you will perform.
State that it is for the 2022 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
•Set the privacy setting of the video to Unlisted.
It must be Unlisted and not Private.
See instructions on YouTube
•Competitors from China may upload to Bilibili instead of YouTube.
•Submit via email to hcgfestc@gmail.com.
CAREFUL to get the email correct!!
•Test the YouTube link to make sure it works before sending.
•The deadline for video submissions:
•Artist Division is Monday, May 30, 2022 (Memorial Day) by midnight Central Time.
•College Divisions I & II is Monday, June 6, 2022 by midnight Central Time.
•Middle School and High School Divisions are In Person, June 17, 2022 1:30 pm-5:30 pm
•Results will be announced in person following the concert on June 18, 2022. (approximately 9:00 pm Central Time and via Facebook and Email).
•NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. 30% tax on their winnings. It will be withheld from any winnings.
•See below for more information about each Division of the Competition.
Artist Division
This is our highest-level competition for solo guitarists as they develop their careers.
There are two rounds.
First Round Videos due May 30, 2022 by Midnight Central Time.
Fee: $100
•This $100 fee is waived if competitor attends the Festival WITH private lessons. (TOTAL: $450)
•The $100 fee is NOT waived if competitor attends the Festival WITHOUT private lessons. Festival $300 add $100 to the Festival Fee (TOTAL: $400)
Who can compete:
•There is no age limit.
•Competitors cannot be under management.
•First-Place GFA winners are not eligible.
•Previous First Place winners of the Houston Classical Guitar Competition are not eligible.
•Artist Division competitors may not additionally compete in other categories.
Repertoire:
•No required works.
All rounds are free choice.
•Guitarists can compete with their own compositions.
•Must play at least 1 work by a different composer in the final round.
•Pieces can be repeated in the final round.
First Round:
•YouTube submission (or Bilibili if in China) only.
Videos due May 30, 2022 by Midnight Central time.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in contrasting styles.
•12 max minutes playing time from the first note. Videos can be less than 12 minutes. There is no penalty if videos go over time. Judging will stop at 12 minutes.
•Videos should start with competitor saying their name and that this video is for Round 1 of the 2022 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
•Time starts after the first note.
•The video must be an unedited video in a single take with only one camera angle.
•All videos must be submitted by Monday, May 30, 2022 (Memorial Day) by Midnight Central Time.
•Submit via email to hcgfestc@gmail.com.
Final Round:
All finalists will be notified in a timely manner and given details regarding the deadline for submissions of the final round videos.
•8 Performers will be chosen to submit a brand new video no more than 20 minutes in length.
•Must perform 2 or more works in a contrasting styles & include a work by a composer not represented in the previous round.
•20 minutes max of playing time from your first note. Videos can be less than 20 minutes. There is no penalty if videos go over time, judges will stop after 20 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
•The video must be an unedited video in a single take with only one camera angle.
•Finalists must say their name, say that this is for the Final Round of the 2022 Houston Classical Guitar Festival, and then tell us the full set of pieces that they will be playing.
•The final-round videos will be live-streamed on YouTube during the Festival –TBA.
•Winners will be announced following the concert on Saturday, June 18th at approximately 9:00PM Central
Prizes:
1st Place: $1,500
2nd Place: $1,000
3rd Place: $500
•NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. 30% tax on their winnings. It will be withheld from any winnings.
College Division I and College Division II
Videos due June 6, 2022 by midnight Central time.
One Round Only.
Division I Fee: $60
Division II Fee $50
•If you wish to attend the Full Festival with Lessons, the competition fee is waived! (TOTAL: $450)
•If you wish to attend the Full Festival WITHOUT Private Lessons, ADD either $60(Division I) or $50 (Division II) (TOTAL $350 or $360)
Who can compete:
•College Division I – Advanced players regardless of age in 2-Year OR 4-year colleges.
•College Division II – Intermediate players regardless of age in 2-year OR 4-year colleges.
•Students who have recently graduated in spring of 2022.
•Students may not compete in both the Artist Division & the College Divisions.
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•No required works.
•Must perform 2 or more works in a contrasting style.
One Round Only/Final Round:
•YouTube submission of an unedited video with only one camera angle.
Videos due Monday, June 6, 2022 by Midnight - Central Time.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in a contrasting style.
•The video must be an unedited video in a single take with only one camera angle.
•Videos should start with competitor saying their name and that this video is for the 2022 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
•12 minutes max of playing time from your first note. Videos can be less than 12 minutes. There is no penalty if videos go over time, judges will stop after 12 minutes.
•Submit via email to HCFFestC@gmail.com.
College Division I Prizes:
1st Place: $750
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
College Division II Prizes:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100
•NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. 30% tax on their winnings. It will be withheld from any winnings.
•Winners will be announced following the concert on Saturday, June 18th (approximately 9:00 PM Central Time).
High School Division
This competition is in-person at the Festival on Friday, June 17th from 1:30-5:30 pm.
•Competition fee is $35.
•This fee is waived if student is attending the Festival WITH private lessons. (TOTAL $450)
•This fee is NOT waived if attending the Festival WITHOUT private lessons. $300 Add $35 (TOTAL $335)
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in High School (or home-school equivalent).
•Students who have recently graduated in spring of 2022.
•ALL High School Division competitors must enroll in the full 6-day Festival June 13-18, 2022.
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•At least two pieces in contrasting styles.
•No required works.
•At least 2 pieces in contrasting styles.
One Round Only/Final Round:
•Please dress appropriately for this competition as you would for any performance.
•Please introduce yourself before you begin.
•10 minutes max of playing time from your first note. Videos can be less than 10 minutes. There is no penalty if videos go over time, judges will stop after 10 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $150
3rd Place: $100
•Winners will be announced following the concert on Saturday, June 18, 2022 (approximately 9:00 pm Central Time, via Facebook and email).
Middle School Division
This Competition is in-person at the Festival on Friday, June 17th from 1:30-5:30 pm.
•Fee is $25
•This fee is waived if student is attending the Festival WITH private lessons. (TOTAL: $450).
•This fee is NOT waived if attending the Festival WITHOUT private lessons. $300 ADD $25 (TOTAL: $325)
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in Middle School (or home-school equivalent).
•Recent graduates in spring 2022 who are about to enter high school.
•ALL Middle School Division competitors must enroll in the full 6-day festival June 13-18, 2022.
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•At least two pieces in contrasting styles.
•No required works.
One Round Only:
•Please dress appropriately for this competition as you would for any performance.
•Please introduce yourself before you begin.
•7 minutes max of playing time from your first note. Videos can be less than 7 minutes. There is no penalty if videos go over time, judges will stop after 7 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: Wave full Tuition for 2023 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
2nd Place: Wave 75% of Tuition for 2023 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
3rd Place: Wave 50% of Tuition for 2023 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
•Winners will be announced following the concert on Saturday, June 18, 2022 (approximately 9:00 pm Central Time, via Facebook and Email.)
Musicale Participation
Musicale – You may not wish to enter a competition, but would like some feedback on your skill level. If so, you may sign up to play in a “Musicale”.
•You will play anything you wish.
•You will play for one or more faculty and they will rate you much like UIL.
•They might say you are ready for a next level, or tell you where you need to improve.
•This is a non-competitive evaluation with the intention of giving positive feedback.
Who can participate:
Open to all in-person festival participants regardless of age or level of skill.
Fee: $25
•This fee is waived if student is attending the Festival WITH private lessons. (TOTAL: $450).
•This fee is not waived if attending the Festival WITHOUT private lessons. $300 ADD $25 (TOTAL: $325)
Date:
The Musicale evaluation will occur later in Festival week - date and time TBA.