Houston Classical Guitar Festival & Competition 2021
Rules for Competition
V I R T U A L for 2021
June 17-June 19, 2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ALL DIVISIONS of the competitions and ALL ROUNDS will be VIRTUAL.
Competitors have been most impressed with the performance space at St. Philip Presbyterian Church. The acoustics in this 5-story space are enhanced by hard surfaces that are perfect for classical guitar. Many of Houston’s most prestigious music ensembles perform here in the “Music at St. Philip” program.
There are 5 divisions:
•Artist Division
•Small Ensemble Division
•Early College Division (Includes 2-Year college students and Fresh/Soph of 4-year colleges)
•High School Division
•Middle School Division
Consider competing this year
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL 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.
•Upload the video to YouTube with the following specifications:
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
•In the description of the video, write:
Your name and/or your ensemble name
The date of your recording
The pieces that you will perform
State that it is for the 2021 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.
•Test the YouTube link to make sure it works before sending
•The deadline for video submissions for ALL divisions is May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight Central Time.
•See below for more information about each division of the competitions
•Results will be announced 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.
Artist Division
This is our highest-level competition for solo guitarists as they develop their careers.
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Fee: $40
Who can compete:
•There is no age limit.
•Competitors cannot be under management.
•No GFA First-Place prize winners, please.
•Artist Division competitors may compete additionally only in the Small Ensemble Division.
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 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
•Videos should contain 2 or more works in contrasting styles.
•Video: 12 minutes max. Videos will not be judged past the 12 min time.
Videos can be less than 12 minutes.
•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 May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight Central time.
•Submit via email to hcgfestc@gmail.com.
Final Round:
•8 Performers will be chosen to submit a brand new video no more than 20 mins in length.
•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 Houston Classical Guitar Festival, and then tell us the full set of pieces that you will be playing.
•Must perform 2 or more works in a contrasting styles & include a work by a composer not represented in the previous round.
•All finalists will be notified in a timely manner and given details regarding the deadline for submissions of the final round videos.
•The final round videos will be livestreamed on YouTube on Friday, June 18th at 7:00PM Central Time.
•Winners will be announced following the concert on Saturday, June 19th at 7:00PM Central
Prizes:
1st Place: $1,000 & a return engagement (virtual concert) at HCGF 2022 festival
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
4th Place: $100
Small Ensemble Division
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Fee: $35 per person
Who Can Compete:
•Open to all ensembles that contain classical guitar.
(Duos, trios, quartets, & any configuration, including voice, with a max of 8 people)
•There is no age limit.
•No competitors under management.
•There is only 1 round of competition.
One Round Only/Final Round:
YouTube submission (or Bilibili if in China) of an unedited video with only one camera angle
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Videos should contain 2 or more works in a contrasting style.
Length: 15-20 minutes max.
Time starts after the first note.
The video must be an unedited video in a single take with only one camera angle.
In the video, someone must:
Introduce the ensemble and its members
Say that this is for the Houston Classical Guitar Festival
Tell us the full set of pieces that you will be playing.
All videos must be submitted by May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight Central time.
Submit via email to HCFFestC@gmail.com.
The final round videos will be livestreamed on Thursday, June 17th at 7:00PM Central
Prizes:
1st Place: $1,000
2nd Place: $500
3rd Place: $250
Early College Division (2-Year College Students & Fresh/Soph of 4-Year Colleges)
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Fee: $50
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in a 2-year College guitar program.
•Students who are freshmen or sophomores in any undergraduate program.
•Students who have recently graduated in the Spring of 2021.
•Students may not compete in both the Artist Division & the 2-Year College Division.
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 May 31, 2021 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 saying your name and that this video is for the Houston Classical Guitar Festival.
•12 minutes max of playing time from your first note. Videos can be less than 12 mins.
•All videos must be submitted by May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight.
•Submit via email to HCFFestC@gmail.com.
Prizes:
1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
High School Division
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Fee: $30 (must enroll in 3-day festival)
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in High School (or the homeschooling equivalent).
•Students who have recently graduated in the Spring of 2021.
•ALL High School Division competitors must enroll in the full 3-day festival June 17-19, 2021
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•No required works.
•At least 2 pieces in contrasting styles.
One Round Only/Final Round:
•YouTube submission of an unedited video.
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
•10 minutes max. Videos can be less than 10 mins.
•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 May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight Central time.
•Submit via email to HCFFestC@gmail.com.
Prizes:
1st Place: $300 & FREE tuition full festival 2022
2nd Place: $150 & 75% off tuition full festival 2022
3rd Place: $75 & 50% off tuition full festival 2022
Middle School Division
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Fee: $25 (must enroll in 3-day festival)
Who can compete:
•Students currently enrolled in Middle School (or home school equivalent).
•Recent graduates from Spring 2021 who are about to enter high school.
•ALL Middle School Division competitors must enroll in the full 3-day festival June 17-19, 2021.
Repertoire:
•Program: free choice.
•No required works
One Round Only:
YouTube submission of an unedited video with only one camera angle
Videos due May 31, 2021 by midnight Central time.
Videos should contain 2 or more works in a contrasting style.
7 minutes max. Videos can be less than 7 mins.
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 May 31st (Memorial Day) by midnight Central time.
Submit via email to HCFFestC@gmail.com.
Prizes:
1st Place: $100 & Free Tuition Full Festival 2022
2nd Place: $75 & 75% off Tuition Full Festival 2022
3rd Place: $50 & 50% off Tuition Full Festival 2022