All Ensemble Competitions (Student-Teacher Duet, Youth and College Divisions) will be virtual again this year. The first round video submission date is May 1st, 2022 .
All solo competitions will take place in person on October 1-2, 2022 at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Guitar Idol Carolina:
Guitar Idol Carolina – Open to all non-classical guitar players ages 8-25. Contestants are allowed to use sheet music. All guitar styles are welcome. Loop pedals and backing tracks are allowed. Each competitor must perform up to 5 min of music. Three prize winners will be announced in person and online (website and Facebook) on Sunday, October 2nd, 2022. READ MORE
Division 1:
Division I (College/professional)- This category has no age limit. All performance selections must be memorized and performed on a classical guitar. Each competitor in Division I is expected to perform up to 10 minutes of music for the 1st round. Nine competitors will be chosen to compete in the final round. READ MORE
Division 2:
All selections must be memorized and performed on a classical guitar. Each competitor in Division II must perform up to 7 min of music from memory. READ MORE
Division 3:
All selections must be memorized and performed on a classical guitar. Each competitor in Division III must perform up to 5 min of music from memory. READ MORE
NEW DIVISION: Student-Teacher Duet:
This new category is open to students of ages 12 and under (as of August 2022). This competition division will take place virtually this year. Performers are allowed to use sheet music. All competitors must submit live video online (unedited live video recording) by May 1st, 2022. Video recording should be up to 5 minutes. We recommend submitting two short contrasting pieces READ MORE
Ensemble Division (Youth):
This competition division is virtual again this year. The Ensemble Division is open to the Classical guitar duos, trios, quartets, larger guitar ensembles or chamber ensembles,( which include the classical guitar). Ensemble size is limited to 9 players maximum. Duets of classical guitar and any other solo instrument (including voice) combination are welcome. Performers are allowed to use sheet music. Teachers are allowed to be part of the group with 4 or more participants. The oldest ensemble competitor cannot be older than 18th as of August 30th, 2022. READ MORE
Ensemble Division (College):
This competition division is virtual again this year. This division is open to players ages 18 and up. Younger players can participate at this division as well. The Youth Ensemble Division is open to the Classical guitar duos, trios, quartets, larger guitar ensembles or chamber ensembles,( which include the classical guitar). Ensemble size is limited to 9 players maximum. READ MORE
Judges’ comments will be made available upon request via email: SouthernGuitarFest[at]gmail.com
What our judges are looking for:
Good stage presence
Musicianship
Polished performance
All judges’ decisions are final.
All prizes subject to mandatory 30% federal tax withholding for foreign prize-winners; US prize-winners may be issued an IRS-W9.
All prize amounts are subject to change.