Eligibility: Open to competitors, regardless of nationality, who are not older than either 14 or 18 years old, depending upon the category, through the date of the competition finals, and who are not represented by professional management. Each division is limited to the first forty-five applicants to have all required materials in to the GFA. First prize winners from any previous YGSC are not eligible for the same age group.
Deadline: Entries with all fees and application materials must be received by the GFA no later than July 1, 2008. No late entries will be considered.
No tape is required for the competition, but if you are interested in performing in a masterclass (for an additional fee), you must submit a 15 minute audition tape or CD to:
Richard Patterson
Entry Requirements for Both Divisions
Entry fee: $120 - includes a three day pass for all convention activities and concerts Friday through Sunday. All competitors must be current GFA members ($30 with valid student ID). Make the check payable to: Guitar Foundation of America. Application fee can be paid by credit card, check, money order, or Pay-Pal. PAY APPLICATION FEE ONLINE
Please note that the competitors themselves must be GFA members. No more than two family members accompanying the contestant may purchase a three day (August 8-10) convention pass at the special rate of $100. Regular convention rates apply to all other attendees.
A letter of recommendation from a current instructor.
Proof of age (photocopies are acceptable).
Preliminary Round Program
Final Round Program
All decisions regarding eligibility made by the YGSC Director and judges are final and no protests or appeals will be entertained.
Competition Requirements for Both Divisions
All pieces must be memorized for the Preliminary and Final Rounds.
All entrants must perform repertoire on nylon string classical-type guitar.
Preliminary Rounds, Saturday, August 9, 2008 (live audition only):
This is a closed round-no observers are allowed.
Select any solo from the Heitor Villa-Lobos Complete Works for Solo Guitar, Editions Max Eschig,
And, select one free choice piece not to exceed 6 minutes.
The above selections may be played in any order.
Each performer is allotted a 12-minute slot in the Preliminary Round schedule. Due to the nature of this event, a performance may be stopped by the judges if the player is not near completion of the music after 12 minutes of playing.
Finalists will be announced at the featured evening concert on the concluding day of the Preliminary Round.
15-18 Division, Final Round (four finalists):
This round is open to the public.
Three solo pieces of contrasting styles not to exceed a total of 15 minutes. Villa-Lobos works may not be included, but other works from the Preliminary round may be performed in this round. All performers will be stopped at a total of 15 minutes playing time.
14 & Under Division, Final Round (four finalists):
This round is open to the public.
Two solo pieces of contrasting styles not to exceed a total of 12 minutes. Villa-Lobos works may not be included, but other works from the Preliminary round may be performed in this round. All performers will be stopped at a total of 12 minutes playing time.
Competition Procedures
Check in for the YGSC participants will be at the registration desk the evening before the first day of preliminaries. Competitor information packets containing schedules, venues and warm up locations will be available at registration.
There will be a meeting of competitors and their families at on Friday, August 8 (time: TBA).
For the Preliminary Round, contestants should be near the judging venue, ready to perform, at least 15 minutes before their scheduled time. (This is necessary in the unlikely event that judging will run ahead of schedule.)
Contestants should bring only their guitar (without the case) and guitar-elevation device into the judging venue. The judges do not require copies of the score.
Make sure to tune the instrument before entering the judging venue. Performers are allowed, of course, to check tuning once inside the Preliminary venue.
Judging
Each player will be evaluated on a 0-25 point scale for four categories (Program Selection, Technique, Interpretation, Overall Presentation), making the highest possible score 100 total points.
Judges with a current student as a contestant will be excused from judging that contestant and the remaining judges' scores will be averaged.
The judges' scores will be tallied for each performer. The four performers with the highest scores will continue to the Final Round
Judges will make comments on their scoring sheets regarding the individual performances, and these comments will be made available and may be picked up at the registration desk only by the contestant or legal guardian the day after the Preliminary Round.
Judges with a current student as a finalist will be excused from judging the Final Round and another judge, if available, will replace the excused judge.
The decision of the judges for both rounds is final and no protests or appeals will be entertained.
All registrations and payments must be made directly through the GFA website. Youth Competitor Three-day Pass:$120*
Youth Competitor Full Registration:$260*
Parents' Three-Day Pass:$100 per person
* Competition registration requires active GFA Membership, an additional $50, or $30 for full-time students.
ONLINE REGISTRATION FORM
To register for the 2008 GFA Youth Solo Competition complete this online form
