The Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition is part of the Annual Philadelphia Classical Guitar Festival.
The jurors are pleased to announce….
The 2025 Competition Awards
Youth Division
1st Prize – Ethan Kim
2nd Prize – Lucca Farkas
3rd Prize – Catalina Wert
Adult Division
1st/ Peter Segal Prize – Jiujiu Wu
2nd Prize – Kyle Khembunjong
3rd Prize – Carlos Bedoya
There are two separate divisions:
1. The Adult Division is a national competition open to advanced classical guitarists of any age residing in the United States or foreign students with valid US student visas at the time of application and competition award.
2. The Youth Division is a competition open to students age 18 and under residing in the United States foreign students with valid US student visas at the time of application and competition award.
| Adult Division | Youth Division | |
| Eligibility | A national competition open to advanced classical guitarists residing in the USA. | A national competition for students age 18 and under. |
| Prizes (*) | • 1st Prize – $1500, Peter Segal* prize and invitation to perform at the next PCGS Festival • 2nd Prize – $750 • 3rd Prize – $500 | • 1st Prize – $200 • 2nd Prize – $100 • 3rd Prize – $50 |
| Application Fee | $75 – Includes admission to all Sunday Guitar Festival events and a one year PCGS membership. | $40 – Includes admission to all Sunday Guitar Festival events and a one year PCGS membership. |
| Repertoire | Free-choice: At least two contrasting selections (up to 15 minutes). | Free-choice: At least two contrasting selections (up to 10 minutes). |
(*) For US citizens and resident alien awardees, all prizes and awards in the amount of $600 or greater must be reported by PCGS to the IRS on Form 1099-MISC. It is the responsibility of all prize/award recipients, regardless of the amount of the prize/award, to report the taxable prize/award to the IRS on their personal income tax returns. All US citizens and resident alien awardees are required to complete IRS form W9 and provide it to PCGS as a condition to receiving the cash award.
For nonresident alien awards, PCGS is required to withhold 30% tax on the full amount of the prize/award unless the individual is exempt from taxation under a tax treaty. This information is reported by PCGS to the IRS on Form 1042-S. All non resident alien awardees are required complete either IRS Form W8BEN or IRS documentation as evidence of tax exemption to PCGS prior to receiving any cash prize.
Awardees must provide evidence of their immigration status and tax status.
2025 Jury Members include
Rene ‘Izquierdo
Ben Lougheed
Kevin Cope
Ross Mann
Emiliano Pardo Tristan
Ted Williams
Alan Krantz
Alberta Khoury
There are three rounds:
> The Preliminary round – The jury will review Unlisted YouTube submissions and select up to 12 advancing competitors from each division. Entrants will be notified if they have advanced to the semifinal round no later than March 15, 2025 and invited to participate in the semifinal round in Philadelphia.
> The Semifinal round – will take place at 12:00pm, Saturday, April 5, 2025, beginning at 1:00PM
> The Final round will take place on Sunday, April 6, 2025 during the 2025 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society Festival in Philadelphia.
Settlement Music School,
416 Queen St, Philadelphia, PA.
Prize winners will be announced before the closing concert of the 2025 Festival.
Applications and recordings are due no later than
February 15, 2025 [11:59 pm EST]
Download a Flyer to Print and Share!
GUIDELINES FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
- The Guitar Society reserves the right to cancel any competition division and return student entries and fees if insufficient entries are received. Entries must be received no later than 11:59pm (ET) on February 15, 2025. Entries received after 11:59pm ET will not be accepted.
- Editing or digital manipulation of recorded entries is not permitted and will be sufficient reason for disqualification.
- Recording submission: Unlisted YouTube video submissions should feature both audio and video tracks. Entrants may submit separate YouTube videos for each selection, type the repertoire selection and composer in the YouTube video notes, or announce the selection and composer in your video. Please submit YouTube link(s) for the Preliminary Round on the initial registration form.
- The same repertoire must be performed in the Preliminary, Semifinal, and Final Rounds.
- Editing of recorded entries is not permitted and will be sufficient reason for disqualification.
- Prior first prize winners may not participate in the same division.
Questions can be directed to competition@phillyguitar.com
PETER SEGAL
*Peter Segal was a prominent musician in Philadelphia and was a founding member and leader of the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society in 1967. Along with performing in solo and chamber music programs throughout the region, he performed with a variety of ensembles including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Concerto Soloists, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Relache and also toured internationally. Peter Segal was also a well regarded teacher and scholar and founded classical guitar programs with several institutions including the Boyer College of Music at Temple University and the Philadelphia Musical Academy, Peter Segal was also a well regarded teacher and scholar and founded classical guitar programs with several institutions including the Boyer College of Music at Temple University and the Philadelphia Musical Academy.
2024 Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition Awards Announced!!
| | YOUTH DIVISION | ADULT DIVISION |
| 1st prize | Penelope Shvarts | David Manzanaers-Salguero Peter Segal Prize |
| 2nd prize | Kiran Lee | Sara d’Ippolito Reichert |
| 3rd prize | Ethan Kim | Jiujiu Wu |
| 4th | |
 |
Jiujiu Wu (3rd Prize Adult), Sara d’Ippolito Reichert (2nd Prize Adult),
Penelope Shvarts (1st Prize Youth), Ethan Kim (3rd Prize Youth),
David Manzanares-Salguero (1st Prize Adult), Ross Mann (Competition Director).
Thanks to our jury members !
John Arnold, Dan Boring, Alberta Khoury, Alan Liu, Ross Mann, Lenny Ranallo, Ted Williams
Some jurors may not take part in every round.
PRIOR WINNERS
ADULT DIVISION ~
Peter Segal Prize
2023 – Gwenyth Aggeler
2022 – Adult division cancelled
2021- Alan Liu
2019- Congyi Zhang
2018- Philip Goldenberg
2017- Benjamin Pasternak
2016- Bokyung Byun
2015- Alec Holcomb
2014- Michael Gratovich
2013- Celil Refik Kaya
2012- Nikolay S Gavlishin
2011- Pierre Ferreyra-Mansille
2010- Nikolay S Gavlishin
2010- Jarek Ervin
2009- Jeremy Llyons
2008- Edward Mann
YOUTH DIVISION
2023 – Tae Kim
2022 – 1. Jiasheng Shi
2021- Andrei Orasanu
2019- Mia Gagliardi
2018- Everett Shen
2017- Oscar Somersalo
2016- Grant Lu
2015- Thomas Pfefer
2014- Thomas Pfefer
2013- Peter Zarillo
2012- Chrisitan Sweger
2011- John Bogan
2010- Chrisitan Sweger
2010- Alex Pollock
2009- Matt Weschler
2008- Kevin Meister