2024 Youth Competition

The Youth competition is open guitarists turning 18 on or after July 1st, 2024 and residing in Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, or Washington. Eligibility on these criteria is subject to the discretion of the organizing board. Previous 1st prize-winners are not eligible.

All competition repertoire is free choice but must be performed on an unamplified classical guitar.

Preliminary Round:

Youth competitors or their parents must submit the following to the festival director by email (johnpaulshields@yvcc.edu) no later than Friday, March 8, 2024 to be considered for entry into the competition:
1) A link to a video of any two pieces in contrasting styles not to exceed 10 minutes total. Recording must be made within the last calendar year, unedited, and clearly display the applicant from head to toe throughout.

2) A proposed final round program no more than fifteen minutes in length.

3) Contact information: Parent name, phone number, physical address and email address; along with the competitor’s name.

Semi-Finals:

Semi-finalists will be notified of their advancement no later than March 18, 2024. Semi-finalists will perform a program not to exceed 10 minutes before a live audience and jury at Yakima Valley College, Kendall Hall Auditorium, Yakima, Washington.

Finals:

Four finalists will be chosen to perform maximum fifteen-minute programs before the public and panel.

Additional rules:

Competition participants may submit application materials for the online preliminary round free of charge. Competitors advancing to the semifinals must declare they are attending no later than March 21, 2024. (See Contact page for more details.) Parents/guardians accompanying a youth participant are guaranteed one spot per player as a viewer (though in workshops, not as a participant).

Competitors may repeat repertoire between rounds without penalty. Time constraints will be observed strictly from the end of the repertoire announcement. Any competitor still playing at the ten-minute mark in the semifinal round or the fifteen-minute mark in the final round will be interrupted without penalty.

All decisions made by the competition jury are final and not subject to appeal.

Prizes may be vacated at the judges’ discretion.

1st Prize – $300 USD

2nd Prize – $200 USD

3rd Prize – $100 USD