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IICGF Classical Guitar Competition

India International Classical Guitar Festival - Competition 2026 invites classical guitarists from India to participate in a professionally structured, age-based competition designed to encourage musical excellence and fair evaluation.

Competition Rules

Please Visit the Festival Information page for the results of the Competition!

 

 

The Competition is only open to Indian Nationals who are Permanent Residents of India. 
Indian students who are studying or have studied classical guitar courses in foreign music conservatories or universities (for more than one year) are not eligible for the competition. 
 
There are 3 age categories : 
 

  1. Junior - Ages 8 to 12 

  2. Intermediate - Ages 13 to 19

  3. Advanced - Ages 20 to 35

 
The First round will be a Video Round. 
Only 1 piece is required for the Video Round for all age categories. 
The Video must not exceed the total duration of 5 minutes. 
 
Following the video round will be the Final round. 
The piece played on the Video round cannot be performed again on the final round.

Registration Requirements (Mandatory)

All participants must upload the following at the time of registration:
 

  • A valid Government-issued ID for age verification:

    • Aadhaar Card or Voter ID

    • School students may upload their current School ID card

  • Music scores (PDF format) for the selected repertoire:

    • Scores may be uploaded during registration or emailed later if required

 
Registrations without valid ID will not be accepted.

Competition Format

Round 1 – Video Round

  • Participants must upload one performance video to YouTube (Public mode only)
     

  • Video title must follow this format: ​

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[Name of Candidate Performing “Name of Piece” Category Junior / Intermediate / Advanced] – The India International Classical Guitar Festival’s Competition 2026
 

Video & audio must be clear. Both hands of the candidate must be visible.
 

Studio recording is not required. Smartphone recording is accepted but Video must be in landscape mode. 
 

Video must be raw and unedited & a single take only. 
 

Candidates must announce their full name and name of the piece in the beginning of the video performance. Total video duration must not exceed 5 minutes & must not contain more than 1 piece.

Round 2 – Final Round (Live Performance)

  • Selected participants will advance to the Final Round
     

  • Venue: Satyajit Ray Auditorium, ICCR
     

  • Final repertoire must follow the category-specific requirements listed below

Evaluation Boards & Repertoire Policy

  • The competition follows Trinity College London and ABRSM syllabi for musical level assessment
     

  • Participants may perform repertoire outside the syllabus if the technical and musical level corresponds to the required grade, in consultation with their teacher

Music Score Submission Guidelines

  • Soft copies (PDF) of scores are required
     

    • Recommended scanning method: Doc Scanner
       

    • File size should be kept minimal
       

  • Hard copies:
     

Finalists must bring three (3) printed sets of their scores on the day of the live performance

Competition Categories

Junior Category
(Ages 8–12)

  • Minimum pieces required: 2

    • 1 piece for the Video Round

    • 1 different piece for the Final Round
       

  • Syllabus level: Trinity or ABRSM – Grade 2 or higher (current or old syllabus)
     

  • Duration per piece:

    • Minimum: 1 minute 30 seconds

    • Maximum: 4 minutes
       

Repeats are allowed. ​

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  • Video Round: Only one piece may be submitted & must not be more than 4 minutes in length. Please note : The piece performed on the Video round cannot be performed again if the candidate is selected for the final round. 

Intermediate Category
(Ages 13–19)

  • Minimum repertoire:

    • 2-3 pieces ( 1 for the Video & 1 or more for the final round ) 

    • Total performance time of 6-8 minutes for the final round
       

  • Example formats: ( final round ) 

    • 2 pieces of ~ 3 minutes each

    • 2 pieces of ~ 4 minutes each

    • 3 pieces of ~ 2 minutes each

    • 1 piece of ~ 7 minutes in length

​​​​

  • Syllabus level: Trinity or ABRSM – Grade 5 and above

  • Duration per piece: Minimum: 2 minutes,

  • Maximum time : 8 minutes for the final round.

​​

  • Video Round: Only one piece may be submitted & must not be more than 5 minutes in length. Please note : The piece performed on the Video round cannot be performed again if the candidate is selected for the final round. 

Advanced Category
(Ages 20–35)

  • Minimum repertoire:

    • 3-4 pieces or ( 1 for the Video & 1 or more for the final round) 

    • Programme of 10–15 minutes for the final round
       

  • Syllabus level: Grade 7 and above

  • Maximum: 5 minutes for the Video round

  • Maximum: 15 minutes for the final ( maximum 4 pieces ) 

  • Minimum: 10 minutes required for the final round 
     

  • Preferred composers:

    • Fernando Sor, Francisco Tárrega, Heitor Villa-Lobos, J.S. Bach, Domenico Scarlatti, Dionisio Aguado, William Walton, Manuel M. Ponce, J.Turina, F.M.Torroba, M.LLobet, Astor Piazzolla, C.Tedesco, Hans Werner Henze. ( note : this is a rough guideline only, feel free to choose pieces outside the composer's list ) 
       

  • Performance options:

    • One extended work (up to 12 minutes), or

    • Multiple works (maximum 4 pieces)
       

  • Video Round: Only one piece may be submitted; & must not be more than 5 minutes in length. Please note : The piece performed on the Video round cannot be performed again if the candidate is selected for the final round. 

Important Notes

  • Participants must strictly adhere to age category and repertoire requirements
     

  • Decisions regarding category placement and progression are final
     

  • The piece performed on the Video round cannot be repeated again on the final round
     

  • Participants must use a nylon-string classical guitar, bring their own guitars, foot-rests & accessories. 
     

  • It is recommended to perform the pieces from memory but not mandatory. Participants can bring their score & perform.

Prizes

Instrument Prizes

 

  • Martinez Torres Rosewood 650 (with gig bag) 

  • Martinez MC-128S (with gig bag)

  • Saers S3 Classical Guitar (with gig bag)

  • Saers S5 Classical Guitar (with gig bag) 

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String Prizes

 

  • Sponsored by Savarez

  • Curated string gift sets for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners in each category

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