Artyom DervoedThe finals of the 39th Annual International Guitar Competition "Michele Pittaluga" was held in Alessandria, Italy, September 29, 2006. There were 51 competitors, and an international jury including Alirio Diaz (Venezuela), Marlaena Kessick (USA), Ricardo Jesus Gallen (Spain), Jhibaro Rodriguez (Venezuela), Norbert Kraft (Canada), Leonardo De Angelis (Italy), Zoran Dukic (Croatia), Micaela Pittaluga (Italy).

First Prize was awarded to Artyom Dervoed from Moscow, Russia. The prize included 8500 euro, an extensive concert tour, a recording with Naxos in Toronto (Canada), a Breil watch, Exagon tuning machines, the Italian President medal, and hotel expenses. Find out more about Artyom at: www.dervoed.com.

Second prize was awarded to Anabel Montesinos Aragon, from Tarragona, Spain, and third prize went to Pablo Garibay from Mexico.

The seven semifinalists were:
Krawiec Grzegorz (Poland), Zamfirescu Stan (Romania), Montesinos Anabel (Spain), Maimone Adriana (Italy), Nieminen Juuso (Finland), Garibay Pablo (Mexico), Dervoed Artyom (Russia) with golden pins and travel expenses refund (2700 euro)

Other special prizes went to:

• Anabel Montesinos (Spain) Blardone prize, 2000 euro
• Anatoly Pak (Uzbekistan) Masterclass in Naxos Festival, 500 euro
• Andrey Galayan (Uzbekistan) Masterclass in Naxos Festival, 500 euro
• Hatim Wahdani (Marocco) Rotary Alessandria Prize, 250 euro
• Mircea Gogoncea (Romania) Rotary Gavi Prize, 500 euro
• Stan and Jonut Zamfirescu (Romania) Happy tours Prize, weekend in French riviera
• Adriana Maimone (Italy) Soroptimist prize, 500 euro
• Anatoly Pak & Andrey Galayan (Uzbekistan) Berben voucher, 350 euro
• Mircea Gogoncea (Romania) Berben voucher, 350 euro
• Hatim Wahdani (Maroc) Berben voucher, 350 euro

For more about the competition, visit www.pittaluga.org