Denver Guitar Festival & Competition

Friday, Saturday & Sunday – September 5–7, 2025

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the sixth annual Denver Guitar Festival & Competition at the Lamont School of Music, University of Denver. This three-day celebration of the classical guitar includes guest recitals, lectures, master classes as well as the Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition and Undergraduate & Youth Competitions, totaling over $8000 in prize money.

We hope you can join us in what promises to be an exciting weekend of guitar events!

Laura Husbands, Artistic Director

Registration & Ticketing coming soon!

 

Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition

First prize $2500
Second prize $1500
Third prize $750
Fourth prize $500

* $300 cash audience prize

Undergraduate Competition

First prize $1000
Second prize $500
Third prize $300
Fourth prize $200

Youth Competition

First prize $500
Second prize $300
Third prize $150
Fourth prize $50

Contact

Questions? 
Please contact Laura Husbands, Artist Director at laura.husbands@du.edu

All events will take place in the Robert & Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, on the University of Denver campus.
2344 East Iliff Avenue
Denver, CO 80210

For questions about the guitar program at DU Lamont, please contact Jonathan Leathwood, Chair of Guitar and Harp at Jonathan.Leathwood@du.edu

• Schedule

  All events will take place in the Robert & Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, on the University of Denver campus.
  2344 East Iliff Avenue
  Denver, CO 80210

  Festival schedule

  Friday, September 5

  9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration & Check-In
  Joy Burns Plaza

  10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Preliminary Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Closed to public

  10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
  Room 209

  2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m, Preliminary Round (continued)
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Closed to public

  7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital: Petra Poláčková
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  $15, plus $3 fee to purchase online

  
  Saturday, September 6

  10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Jonathan Leathwood Masterclass
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public

  10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
  Room 209

  1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Semifinal Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public

  3:00 p.m.  Undergraduate Competition Check-In
  Joy Burns Plaza

  4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Preliminary Round
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public
  
  7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital: Leonela Alejandro 
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  $15, plus $3 fee to purchase online

  
  Sunday, September 7

  10:00 a.m.  Jonathan Leathwood lecture: "Perceiving and Shaping Harmony: A Practical Talk for Guitarists"
  Williams Recital Salon
  Open to the public

  10:00 a.m. Youth Competition Check-in
  Joy Burns Plaza

  10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
  Room 209

  11:00 a.m. Youth Competition
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public
  
  1:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Final Round
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public

  2:00 p.m. Undergraduate and Youth Competitions Awards Ceremony
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public
  
  3.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Masterclass: Petra Poláčková
  Hamilton Recital Hall
  Open to the public

  3.30 p.m. - 5.30 p.m. Masterclass: Leonela Alejandro 
  Williams Recital Salon
  Open to the public
  
  7:30 p.m. Final Round - Josefina P. Tuason International Competition
  Hamilton Recital Hall
   $15, plus $3 fee to purchase online
  
  9:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony

   

   

• Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition

  Competition Rules

  JOSEFINA P. TUASON INTERNATIONAL
  GUITAR COMPETITION

  The Josefina P. Tuason International Guitar Competition is open to classical guitarist regardless of nationality and age.

  Preliminary Round: 7 minutes
  Semi final Round: 10 minutes
  Final round: 20 minutes

  Free-choice programs for all rounds. Competitors may repeat repertoire without penalty. It is expected that repertoire will fit the time limit of each round. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty. Up to 12 competitors will be chosen for the semi final round, and 4 for the final round. All competitors will be provided an individual practice room for 1 hour before their performance time. The Preliminary and Semi final round will be judged blindly.

  All decisions by the judges are final. Guitar professors teaching at the Lamont School of Music will NOT be taking part in any judging of the Solo Artist Competition.

  Judges 
  To be announced.

  First prize $2500
  Second prize $1500
  Third prize $750
  Fourth prize $500

  All prizes subject to mandatory 30 percent federal tax withholding for foreign prize-winners; US prize-winners will be issued an IRS-1099 Form. By submitting an application to this competition, participants agree to terms allowing the University of Denver to use audio, recording and photo during the competition.

  Previous first prize winners are not eligible to compete. 

  Competition Registration - coming soon
   

• Undergraduate Competition

  UNDERGRADUATE COMPETITION

  The Undergraduate Competition is open to all classical guitarists ages 18-22 as of September 6, 2025.
  The Undergraduate Competition will be held in two rounds. Free choice program for all rounds.

  Preliminary round 7 minutes.
  Final round 10 minutes.

  Free-choice program for both rounds. Competitors may repeat repertoire without penalty. It is expected that repertoire will fit time limit of each round. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty.

  First Prize - $1000
  Second prize - $500
  Third prize - $300
  Fourth prize- $200

  All decisions by the judges are final.

  Judges for the Youth Competition 
  Laura Husbands
  Jonathan Leathwood

  Previous first prize winners are not eligible to compete. 

  Competition Registration - coming soon
   

• Youth Competition

  YOUTH COMPETITION

  The Youth Competition is open to all classical guitarists 18 years and under as of September 6, 2025.

  One round: 7 minutes time limit 

  Free-choice program. It is expected that repertoire will fit the time limit. Should competitors exceed the time limit, they will be asked to stop playing with no penalty.

  First Prize - $500
  Second prize - $300
  Third prize - $150
  Fourth prize- $50
  
  Additionally, all winners are guaranteed admission to the Lamont School of Music* and a minimum scholarship award: 
  
  First prize = $30,000
  Second prize = $25,000
  Third prize = $20,000
  Fourth prize = $15,000
  
  *Admission and scholarships are guaranteed provided all the standards for admission into the University of Denver have been met. If the winner is not a senior in high school, admission and scholarship will be awarded upon graduation. Prize winners may elect to submit more recent audition recordings at the time of admission for additional scholarship consideration. 

  All decisions by the judges are final.

  Judges for the Youth Competition 
  Laura Husbands
  Jonathan Leathwood

  Previous first prize winners are not eligible to compete. 

  Competition Registration - coming soon
   

• Guest Artists

  Guest artists will be announced soon!

• Applications & Competition Registration

  Festival Passes (Admission to all ticketed events):

  • International Competition registration and pass
    $130
  • Undergraduate Competition registration and pass
    $110
  • Youth Competition registration and pass
    $90

  Once competitors have paid their registration fee they will be emailed an application form. This may take up to one business day.

  • Non-Competitor Festival Pass
    $35
  • Concert & Competition Individual Ticket
    $15, plus $3 fee to purchase online
• Places to Stay Near DU

  Information & reservations for hotels near the University of Denver.