International guitar competition at the Liszt Academy
The inaugural Budapest International Guitar Competition is being organized between 4-8 November 2014. More than 30 young guitarists from 20 countries will demonstrate their skills and talents before an international jury and a Budapest audience.
The large number of applicants to the 1st Budapest International Guitar Competition exceeded the expectations of the organizers. Liszt Prize laureate József Eötvös, principal organizer of the contest and professor at the Liszt Academy, said that competitors from 20 countries – including eight Hungarians – responded to the invitation. Entries have been received from Brazil, South Korea, Japan and Costa Rica, although the majority of the 36 competitors are from countries in Europe. Guitarists will be battling for valuable prizes: the winner collects €5000 in prize money, a Sakurai Concert J. concert instrument, an invitation to perform at 12 international concerts and the chance to enter (at no charge) the Alessandria competition. The silver medallist will be €2000 better off at the end of the competition, and third place is worth €1000. Deciding on the winner will be the task of a 12-person jury made up of international artists, professors and teachers. The fate of the finalists depends not only on Hungarian critics but jury members from Germany, Canada, Poland, Greece, Italy, Ukraine and Slovakia.
The list of applicants, the composition of the jury and the already intense interest in the event indicate that the Hungarian school of guitar playing has come of age even in global terms over the past two decades. It is sufficient to mention the continuation of the Esztergom International Guitar Festival, and the Balatonfüred International Guitar Festival launched in 2006, where audiences not only enjoy first class concerts but can listen to master classes and lectures as well. However, until now something was missing from this Hungarian music success story; a genuine, quality international competition attracting the most talented young artists here, and once again directing the attention of the international media towards the high standard of music in Hungary and our gifted young artists, said József Eötvös.
József Eötvös
The 5-day programme gets underway on 4 November with the opening ceremony, the draw for places, and a concert with József Eötvös and his former student, András Csáki, accompanied (also at the final and gala concert) by Anima Musicae Chamber Orchestra; the qualifying rounds are on the 5 and 6, and the semi-final on the 7. The competition concludes on 8 November with the final and gala concert. Admission to competition programmes held in room X of the Liszt Academy (5-7 November) is free of charge. Tickets for the opening, final and gala concert can be purchased at the Liszt Academy box office, and by following the links above.
For more details of the competition please go to budapestguitar.com.