Malibu, CA -- The judges for the third triennial Parkening International Guitar Competition, to be presented by Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, from Wednesday, May 30, to Saturday, June 2, 2012, have been announced.Representing different areas of the classical music world, the five judges are Dave Grusin, film composer and jazz artist; Costa Pilavachi, Senior Vice President of Universal Music Group and one of the judges at the 2009 Parkening Competition; David Russell, guitar virtuoso; Julie Smith, Classical Project Manager for The Recording Academy (presenter of the Grammy Awards); and Jim Svejda, Classical KUSC radio host and producer.The competition, which debuted in 2006, offers the largest prize purse of any classical guitar competition in the world, with competitors vying for cash awards in excess of US$65,000. The gold medalist wins the Jack Marshall Prize of US$30,000. The panel will judge 15 competitors, three of whom will advance to the final round to perform a concerto before a live audience with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra. The gold, silver, and bronze medalists will be announced at the conclusion of the final round.The Parkening Competition honors classical guitarist Christopher Parkening's lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia. Parkening serves as Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine.In addition to the Parkening International Guitar Competition, on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 29 and 30, 2012, the Parkening Young Guitarist Competition will be held at Pepperdine. This two-day event will help to identify outstanding young guitarists and encourage them to continue their performance careers and studies. The 2012 Parkening Competition is made possible by generous grants from Howard and Roberta Ahmanson and Juanita and Manny Del Arroz. Applications, more information about competition requirements and judging, and the competition schedule are available at: http://arts.pepperdine.edu/parkening/

Results for the X CERTAMEN INTERNACIONAL DE GUITARRA "LUYS MILÁN” ROSA GIL:

1st Prize: Ekachai Jearakul
2nd Prize: Claire Sananikone
3rd Prize, Exaequo: Ihar Dzedusenka Sanja y Plohl
Finalist: Shinichiro Tokunaga Public Prize: Sanja Plohl
ROSA GIL Award for Interpretation of Spanish music: Claire Sananikone
Award for a performer born or resident in the Valencian Community: Albert Rodriguez

2012 Artists in Residence Program at I-Park

Application Deadline: January 30, 2012

The I-Park Foundation, Inc., a 450-acre natural woodland retreat in East Haddam, CT (U.S), announces its twelfth season hosting its multi-disciplinary residency program. Self-directed artists’ residencies will be offered from May through November 2012, with off-season sessions in April and December. Most residencies are four weeks in duration. Residencies are offered to creative individuals working in the following disciplines: Visual (including Environmental) Art, Music Composition/Sound Sculpture/Design, Moving Image,Creative Writing and Landscape/Garden Design. Work samples are evaluated through a competitive, juried process.

A $30 application fee helps defray the cost of the independent jury panels. Accepted artists are responsible for their own work materials as well as transportation to and from the area. The program is otherwise offered at no cost to accepted artists, including a basic meal program where most of, though not all, the food is provided.

Accommodations at I-Park include comfortable private living quarters in an 1850’s era farmhouse and a private studio space. An abundance of tools, equipment, musical instruments and peripherals, site materials, an electric kiln, wireless internet and library facilities are provided.

International applicants are welcome. To defray the cost of travel, four $750.00 grants will be awarded to international artists whose work is held in particularly high regard by the Grant Committee.

Application materials are available online at http://www.i-park.org/residency.html.

For more information, contact Brad Tuggle, Residency Program Director, by e-mail: applications@i-park.org or by phone: 860-873-2468.

Spanish guitar luthier Manuel Rodriguez was featured on CNN yesterday.  See this link for the complete story and video.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/08/business/spain-business/index.html

2012 will be the 25th anniversary of Segovia’s death.  The 2012 edition of Piero Bonaguri's annual guitar course at Scuola Grande di San Filippo, Faenza (Italy) will be dedicated to Segovia. The 2012 guitar course will develop in a deeper reflection on the guitar today (composition, teaching, performance, guitar making, publishing) involving some leading figures in a dialogue with the young generations of guitarists and with the audience.  Bonaguri has also collected a huge amount of unpublished letters written by Segovia, letters which reveal some important and unknown aspect of his artistic biography and will present recitals dedicated to Segovia.

Details of the events will appear on the website: http://scuolagrandesanfilippo.it/index.php