2025 National High School Classical Guitar Competition

Open to residents of all 50 states who are attending and matriculated in a public or private high school in the above states through the date of the competition finals. Applicants may not be represented by professional management.

2025 COMPETITION PRIZES

First Prize: $500.00 and a concert performance at the 2026 Long Island Guitar Festival's Emerging Artist Showcase. In 2025 the first-place winner of the National High School Classical Guitar Competition will receive a guitar donated by Long Island classical guitar luthier Brian Itzkin – www.itzkinguitars.com.

Second Prize: $200.00.

Additional prizes will be awarded to all competitors who perform at the Festival. Prizes will include accessories and strings donated by D'Addario, Savarez and Augustine.

The competition is limited to the first thirty applicants to have all required materials submitted to the Long Island Guitar Festival by the stipulated deadline.

A completed application, a link to a web-accessible video performance and an entry fee of $40.00 must be received by the Long Island Guitar Festival no later than April 1, 2025. Late entries will not be considered. 

Both the 2025 Competition Rules and Guidelines and 2025 Competition Application can be downloaded here in a compressed zip file.

All applicants are responsible for their own expenses such as travel, lodging, etc.

2025 COMPETITION REPERTOIRE

All applicants must perform on a nylon string, classical guitar when recording their video or performing in the semi-finals or finals.

Performance Video: A four to seven minute video sample of your playing. A link to this video, uploaded to YouTube or another web-accessible site, should be emailed to ligfcompetition@gmail.com.

Semi-finals: A piece chosen from the Heitor Villa-Lobos Complete Works for Solo Guitar, Editions Max Eschig.

Finals: A piece chosen from the Heitor Villa-Lobos Complete Works for Solo Guitar, Editions Max Eschig AND a piece of 4 to 7 minutes in length. This may include multiple movements from the same composition, such as a suite or sonata.

For further information about repertoire and other rules and guidelines, please consult the Competition Rules and Guidelines.

HOW TO APPLY

A completed application and the entry fee should be mailed to the address below. Checks and money orders should be made out to Oberon Foundation. Indicate in memo: For Long Island Guitar Festival - Competition.

Mail your completed application with entry fee by April 1, 2025 to
Long Island Guitar Festival 2025 - Competition
PO Box 114
Saint James, NY 11780

Email the link to your performance video to ligfcompetition@gmail.com by April 1, 2025.

For more information please contact us at LIGFestival@aol.com.