2026 Youth Competition

The Youth competition is to open guitarists under the age of 18 at the time of the festival 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 (sfarinto@uvic.ca) no later than SUNDAY, MARCH 1ST, 2026 to be considered for entry into the competition:

1) A link to a video of any two pieces in contrasting styles not to exceed ten 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 twelve minutes of music.

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 1st, 2026. Semi-finalists will perform a program not to exceed eight minutes before a live audience and jury at the festival between 10am-1pm on Saturday, March 21st at the Lutheran Church of the Cross. Finalists will be announced during the intermission of Robert Wang’s concert at 2pm that day.

 

Finals:

Three finalists will be chosen to perform their maximum twelve minute programs before before a live audience and jury at the festival at 2pm on Sunday, March 22nd. The finals will take place in the Phillip T. Young Recital Hall at the UVic School of Music.

 

Additional rules:

Competition participants may submit application materials for the online preliminary round free of charge. Competitors advancing to the semifinals must register in full for the festival no later than March 10th, 2026.

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 eight-minute mark in the semifinal round will be interrupted without penalty. Finalists must keep to their twelve minute limit. 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 CAD

2nd Prize – $200 CAD

3rd Prize – $100 CAD