Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition 2024
Rules for Competition
*ALL ROUNDS ARE VIRTUAL
*ALL DIVISIONS ARE ONE ROUND ONLY
*ALL COMPETITORS MUST REGISTER BY MAY 1, 2024
*COMPETITORS ATTENDING FESTIVAL and STAYING AT UH DORMS, MUST REGISTER no later than APRIL 22, 2024
[NOTE: must be at least 13 years old to stay in a dorm]
*ALL VIDEOS DUE no later than JUNE 2, 2024 BY MIDNIGHT CENTRAL TIME
There are 5 levels of competition:
•Artist Division
•College Divisions I & II
•High School Division
•Middle School Division
Consider competing this year!
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL DIVISIONS
•REGISTER by May 1, 2024 for the Competition. Click Here to register.
•REGISTER by May 1, 2024 for the Competition and Festival. Click Here to register.
•REGISTER by April 22, 2024 for Competition, Festival, and Housing at University of Houston dorm (age 13+). Click Here to register.
•PAY FEES for each Division by May 1, 2024. (April 22, 2024 if staying at University of Houston Housing!)
•VIDEOS due June 2, 2024 by Midnight, Central Time.
IMPORTANT: Videos arriving June 2nd WITHOUT prior registration by May 1st will not be judged.
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. 30% tax withheld on any winnings.
Fee Adjustments: If competing and attending the Festival, competition fees are waived or adjusted. See details in your division below.
Scholarships: Availability is dependent upon donations received and applies only to the Festival portion of a fee. Competition fees are not included in scholarships. If applying for financial assistance for the Festival portion of total fees, inquire @ HCGFestC@gmail.com
•Record a live, unedited, performance video, without added effects, in a single take/non-stop, with only one camera angle. The video needs to show your full body.
•Videos should start with competitor saying their name and that this video is for the 2024 Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition.
For repertoire guidelines, see individual divisions below.
UPLOAD THE VIDEO TO YOUTUBE WITH THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATIONS
•In the description of the video, write:
1) Your name.
2) The date of your recording.
3) The pieces that you will perform.
4) Write that it is for the 2024 Houston Classical Guitar Competition.
•Set the privacy setting of the video to Unlisted:
It must be Unlisted or Public and not Private.
Click here to see instructions on YouTube.
•Competitors from China may upload to Bilibili instead of YouTube.
•Test the YouTube link to make sure it works before sending.
•Submit link via email to hcgfestc@gmail.com.
•Results will be announced during the week of the Festival, June 10-15, 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.
We’ve missed you!
Perhaps next year’s competition can be live, but we’ve made it easy and affordable for all competitors to participate NOW!
•Low-cost dorm housing for age 13+, only a 20 minute-drive at University of Houston.
•Competition fee waived if registered for festival with private lessons.
•Competition fee waived if registered for festival without private lessons.
•Scholarship money – amounts dependent on donations received.
•Open-mic night with a FREE lasagna dinner from the fabulous Davanti restaurant.
•Free chicken tender lunch from the storied Avalon Diner as vendors showcase a few guitars.
•Composition workshop participants play the etudes they wrote during Festival week.
•Some “interesting” nightlife curated by an anonymous social director.
Ben Verdery, our headliner and iconic professor at Yale University, will teach the Festival Orchestra his critically acclaimed composition, Scenes from Ellis Island. He will conduct you in playing this work at the closing concert. His sense of humor is legendary! Working with him will be an experience you won’t soon forget. Ben will also give private lessons, a master class and a workshop – he’s with us all week. Check out the offerings of Philip Hii and the String Time Duo and our core faculty: Jay Kacherski (Artistic Director) Jeremy García (Assoc. Artistic Director), Eddie Healy and Andrea Cannon. Click to see the FESTIVAL SCHEDULE.
You don’t want to miss this, so get a cheap airfare and start packing your bags – NOW!!!
ARTIST DIVISION
Fee: $100
This is our highest-level competition for solo guitarists as they develop their careers.
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF COMPETITION
•If you wish to compete in the Artist Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival with private lessons, the Competition Fee of $100 is waived. TOTAL is $450.
•If you wish to compete in the Artist Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival without private lessons, the Competition Fee of $100 is waived. TOTAL is $300.
•Housing is available in dorms at The University of Houston. Must be at least Age 18 and register for festival and competition by March 15, 2024. See the HOUSING page.
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 eligible to compete and defend their title!
•Artist Division competitors may not compete in additional categories.
Repertoire:
•No required works, free choice program.
•Guitarists can compete with their own compositions.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in contrasting styles.
•Video: 30 minutes max. Videos will not be judged past the 30-minute time. Videos can be less than 30 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: $1,700
•Option 1 – Receive $1,700 cash prize.
•Option 2 – Receive $500 cash prize and a return engagement for $1,200.
2nd Place: $800
3rd Place: $500
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. tax of 30% withheld on any winnings.
COLLEGE DIVISIONS I & II
•A competition opportunity for all college students of any playing level.
•Scholarships might be available for those needing some financial assistance to both compete and attend the Festival. Availability is dependent on donations received.
•Housing is available in dorms at the University of Houston. See Housing page. Must be at least Age 18 and register for festival and competition by March 15, 2024.
REGISTER and Pay Fee by May 1st if Competition Only.
REGISTER and Pay Fee by May 1st if Competition and adding Festival.
REGISTER and Pay Fee by March 15th if adding Festival and staying in The University of Houston dorm (Age 18+). See the HOUSING page.
NOTE: Any video submitted without prior registration and payment will not be judged.
COLLEGE DIVISION I:
Fee: $50
This division is for the most advanced college level students no matter what year they are enrolled, including community college students.
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF COMPETITION
•If you wish to compete in the College Division I level and attend the Full In-Person Festival with private lessons, the Competition Fee of $50 is waived. TOTAL is $450.
•If you wish to compete in the College Division I level and attend the Full In-Person Festival without private lessons, the Competition Fee of $50 is waived. TOTAL is $300.
Who can compete:
•There is no age limit.
•Previous First Place winners of the Houston Classical Guitar Competition ARE eligible to compete and defend their title!
•College Division I competitors may not compete in any other divisions.
Repertoire:
•No required works, free choice program.
•Guitarists can compete with their own compositions.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in contrasting styles.
•Video: 20 minutes max. Videos will not be judged past the 20-minute time. Videos can be less than 20 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: $750
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. tax of 30% withheld on any winnings.
COLLEGE DIVISION II:
Fee: $40
This division is for intermediate college level students no matter what year they are enrolled, including community college students.
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF COMPETITION
•If you wish to compete in the College Division II level and attend the Full In-Person Festival with private lessons, the Competition Fee of $40 is waived. TOTAL is $450.
•If you wish to compete in the College Division II level and attend the Full In-Person Festival without private lessons, the Competition Fee of $40 is waive. TOTAL is $300.
Who can compete:
•There is no age limit.
•Previous First Place winners of the Houston Classical Guitar Competition ARE eligible to compete and defend their title!
•College Division II competitors may not compete in any other divisions.
Repertoire:
•No required works, free choice program.
•Guitarists can compete with their own compositions.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in contrasting styles.
•Video: 15 minutes max. Videos will not be judged past the 15-minute time. Videos can be less than 15 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $100
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. tax of 30% withheld on any winnings.
HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION
Fee: $35
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF COMPETITION
•If you wish to compete in the High School Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival with private lessons, the Competition Fee of $35 is waived. TOTAL is $450.
•If you wish to compete in the High School Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival without private lessons, the Competition Fee of $35 is waived. TOTAL is $300.
•Housing is available in dorms at University of Houston if you are at least Age 18. See Housing page. Register for festival and competition by March 15, 2024.
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in High School (or the home-school equivalent).
•Students who have recently graduated in the Spring of 2024.
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•No required works.
•At least 2 pieces in contrasting styles.
•Please dress appropriately for this competition as you would for any performance.
•Please follow the General Guideline Instructions above.
•Video: 10 minutes max. You will not be judged on performance over 10 minutes. You may play under 10 minutes.
•Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $150
3rd Place: $100
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. tax of 30% withheld on any winnings.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION
Fee: $25
THERE IS ONLY ONE ROUND OF COMPETITION
•If you wish to compete in the Middle School Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival with private lessons, the Competition Fee of $25 is waived. TOTAL is $450.
•If you wish to compete in the Middle School Division and attend the Full In-Person Festival without private lessons, the Competition Fee of $25 is waived. TOTAL is $300.
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in Middle School (or home school equivalent).
•Recent graduates from Spring 2024 that are about to enter high school.
•If you wish to attend the Full Festival with Lessons, the competition fee is waived!
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•No required works.
•Please follow the General Guidelines for all videos above.
•Video: 7 minutes max. You will not be judged on material you play over 7 minutes. You may also play less than 7 minutes.
Time starts after the first note.
Prizes:
1st Place: Certificate & Full Tuition for 2025 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
2nd Place: Certificate & 75% of Tuition for 2025 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
3rd Place: Certificate & 50% of Tuition for 2025 Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
NOTE: International competitors are subject to a U.S. tax of 30% withheld on any winnings.