11th International Competition for Young Guitarists
«Andrés Segovia» from 31st March to 3rd April 2021
in Monheim am Rhein

Competition shifted

We are sorry that we must postpone the competition. New date:

31st March till 3rd April 2021

We are aware that this postponement is very disappointing. But with the actual situation concerning the Corona pandemia we cannot see any alternative.

Applications for June 2020 stay valid for the shifted competition 2021.
It is also possible to apply anew for the shifted competition.
The new enrolment period will last from 1st till 30th November 2020.
The choice of compulsory pieces remains the same.
The free programme can be changed, you must only tell us in November.

Age groups changed:
The key-date for calculating the age will be the 4th April 2021.
Age group 1    under 15 years
Age group 2    15 to 17 years
Age group 3    18 to 20 years
This alteration is limited to the competition 2021 only.

The new date is situated in the week before Easter 2021 and will directly precede the "15th Anna Amalia Competition for Young Guitarists" in Weimar (D). So, if the international guitar talents feel disposed, they will have the opportunity to tackle two competitions right one after the other.

We ask your understanding for our decisions and we do hope to see many of the actual applicants on 31st March 2021.

The 2021 Compulsory Pieces for all age groups are online.
We changed the rules concerning the special EGTA-prize.

Dear readers, for many people, a passion for music begins with a guitar. There is hardly any instrument that is more popular among budding musicians - and consequently this stringed instrument employed in such a variety of musical styles marks the beginning of many careers in music. However, enthusiasm for the guitar is not restricted to beginners. Technically demanding compositions and many-faceted uses in musical compositions make the guitar an instrument for virtuoso performances.

Over the next few days the International Competition for Young Guitarists will once again prove this and will focus on the high standards achieved by young guitarists. These talented youngsters will show in their performance of specially chosen works in front of a jury of renowned experts that the guitar is not only a popular instrument but is at the same time one that makes great demands on the player.

I am very pleased that in this competition - taking place this year for the 10th time - young musicians from so many different countries are going to demonstrate their skills to audiences of music lovers and to leading lights in the world of guitarists. As well as ensuring cultural exchange, the next few days here in Monheim will give participants the opportunity to push their playing to new limits and test it in new combinations of instruments.

Giving those with outstanding musical talent the opportunity to display and develop their skills - regardless of their family background or their country of birth - is one of the important aims of our policy in the field of culture. This competition for young musicians achieves just that for guitarists with great success. Nine months ago, the Prime Minister of our federal state, Armin Laschet, presented the Prize for the Promotion of Culture of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for 2017 to the guitar duo Sören Golz und Ivan Danilov. These two young men had participated, from 2004 on, in this competition for young guitarists and repeatedly won prizes. I would be delighted to see participants in this year's competition follow their example so that I could meet them again later in their careers.

Isabel Pfeiffer-Poensgen
Minister for Culture and Science
of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia

Get an impression of our competition by this VIDEO-TRAILER.

Here you will find a detailed report on our 2016 competition (sorry in German only)