The Philadelphia Classical Guitar Competition is part of the Annual Philadelphia Classical Guitar Festival.

	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).

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

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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.  

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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	

PRIOR WINNERS