In lieu of the current climate and COVID restrictions, the Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition was held online this year. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to all our 2021 competitors.
To view all competitor videos in full, click here.
2021 Winner announcement:
2021 Winner: Pavel Ralev
2021 Second Place: Ziggy Johnston
2021 Third Pace: Clancy McLeod
The Adelaide International Classical Guitar Competition is the most prestigious guitar competition in the Southern Hemisphere and has provided career-launching opportunities for seven incredible young guitarists: Jin-Hee Kim (South Korea) in 2010, Andrey Lebedev (Australia) in 2012, Bogdan Mihailescu (Romania) in 2014, Marko Topchii (Ukraine) in 2016, Miles Johnston (Australia) in 2018, Andrew Blanch (Australia) in 2019 and Pietro Locatto in 2020 (Italy).
Prizes
All prizes are funded by the Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation.
First Prize
- AUD $10,000 prize money
- A Jim Redgate Guitar, valued at AUD $23,000
- An invitation to perform at the next Adelaide Guitar Festival (including all travel expenses)
Second Prize
- AUD $4,000 prize money
Third Prize
- AUD $2,000 prize money
The Classical Guitar Competition is proudly supported by Adelaide Festival Centre Foundation. You can support the work of the Foundation in delivering youth and education programs and career development opportunities.
2021 Finalists
Alexis Chin (Australia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: Prelude from BWV 997 by J.S. Bach
Free Choice #2: Introduction et Caprice, Op. 23 by Giulio Regondi
Clancy McLeod (Australia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: Prelude in E Major, BWV 1006a, J.S. Bach
Free Choice #2: Invocación y danza, Joaquin Rodrigo
Connor Whyte (Australia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: Elegie by Johann Kasper Mertz
Free Choice #2: Junto al Generalife by Joaquín Rodrigo
Hayden Burke (Australia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: Prelude and Presto from BWV 996 - Johann Sebastian Bach
Free Choice #2: Gigue from BWV 996 - Johann Sebastien Bach
Free Choice #3: Lento from Drei Tentos - Hans Werner Henze
Free Choice #4: Allegro non troppo from Sonata 3 - Manuel Maria Ponce
Pavel Ralev (Bulgaria)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: J. S. Bach - Violin Partita 2, BWV1004, Allemanda; Giga
Free Choice #2: Carlo Domeniconi - Suite Koyunbaba, I; IV
Vuk Dragičević (Serbia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: L. Legnani - Caprice No. 7
Free Choice #2: A. Barrios - Villancico de Navidad
Free Choice #3: J. Rodrigo - Invocacion y danza
Ziggy Johnston (Australia)
Compulsory Piece: Robert Davidson - Cliffside
Free Choice #1: Grave from Violin Sonata 2 in A minor, BWV 1003 by J.S. Bach
Free Choice #2: Allegro from Violin Sonata 2 in A minor, BWV 1003 by J.S. Bach
Free Choice #3: Canto from Sonata for Guitar by Alberto Ginastera
Free Choice #4: Finale from Sonata for Guitar by Alberto Ginastera