site.btaInternational Classical Guitar Competition Takes Place in Kyustendil from March 31 to April 4

The 29th International Classical Guitar Competition will take place in Kyustendil from March 31 to April 4, Ivan Andonov, chair of the Bratstvo 1869 Community Centre, told the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He added that a record number of participants from three continents is expected.

The programme will begin with a two-day National Conference of Guitarists in Bulgaria, featuring gala concerts and recitals. The competition will be officially opened on April 2 with a festive concert, while performances in the different age categories will be held on April 3 and 4.

Masterclasses led by some of the most prominent names in the guitar world are also planned, offering young guitarists the opportunity to learn from their experience and expertise. A number of concerts by distinguished performers from Vietnam, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Bulgaria, and other countries will also take place. "Kyustendil will become the guitar capital not only of Europe, but of the world," Andonov said, adding that the competition is among the leading events of its kind globally.

The programme also includes lectures, talks, masterclasses, and concerts featuring musicians from Bulgaria and abroad. Participants from various age groups are expected from Bulgaria, Austria, Bahrain, Vietnam, Serbia, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Romania, Ukraine, and Kosovo. Members of the jury include Prof. Stela Miteva-Dinkova (Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts – Plovdiv), Assoc. Prof. Rosen Balkanski (National Academy of Music – Sofia), Thu Le (Vietnam/Bahrain), and Anton Apostolov (Canada/Bulgaria).

The competition is part of the Culture Ministry’s Programme with measures for the protection of talented children, which provides financial support and one-year scholarships for those in the top three positions in the second and third age groups. The event is held under the patronage of Kyustendil Mayor Ognyan Atanasov, with the support of local cultural institutions and partners.