Parkening International Guitar Competition
The Parkening International Guitar Competition is the most prestigious classical guitar competition in the world, honoring Christopher Parkening's lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia. The competition features cash prizes in excess of $65,000—the largest prize purse of any classical guitar competition. After three days of intense public performances, the winner of the Parkening International Guitar Competition receives a gold medal, a $30,000 cash prize, and a title that may skyrocket a classical music career and change the winner's life forever.
The Young Guitarist Competition helps to identify outstanding young guitarists (17 years and younger) and encourages them to continue their performance careers and study.
The next competition is tentatively scheduled to take place May 28-June 1, 2024. To receive notifications about the next competition, join our e-mail list below.
Andrea Roberto Wins 2019 CompetitionAndrea Roberto won the Gold Medal at the 2019 Parkening International Guitar Competition. Find out more about Andrea Roberto and other winners on our Past Competitions page.
2019 Final Round on LivestreamView the final round from 2019 on our Media and News page.
Join Our Mailing List to Receive the Latest NewsThe next competition is tentatively scheduled for 2023. To receive notifications about the next competition, join our mailing list below.