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
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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 80210Festival schedule
Friday, September 5
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration & Check-In
Joy Burns Plaza10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Preliminary Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
Closed to public10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 2092:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m, Preliminary Round (continued)
Hamilton Recital Hall
Closed to public7:30 p.m. Guest Artist Recital: Petra Poláčková
Hamilton Recital Hall
$15, plus $3 fee to purchase online
Saturday, September 610:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Jonathan Leathwood Masterclass
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 2091:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Semifinal Round - Josefina P Tuason International Competition
Hamilton Recital Hall
Open to the public3:00 p.m. Undergraduate Competition Check-In
Joy Burns Plaza4:00 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 710:00 a.m. Jonathan Leathwood lecture: "Perceiving and Shaping Harmony: A Practical Talk for Guitarists"
Williams Recital Salon
Open to the public10:00 a.m. Youth Competition Check-in
Joy Burns Plaza10:00 a.m. Adam Moore Guitars
Room 20911:00 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 public2:00 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 public3.30 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 COMPETITIONThe 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 minutesFree-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 $500All 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
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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- $200All decisions by the judges are final.
Judges for the Youth Competition
Laura Husbands
Jonathan LeathwoodPrevious first prize winners are not eligible to compete.
Competition Registration - coming soon
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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 LeathwoodPrevious first prize winners are not eligible to compete.
Competition Registration - coming soon
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Guest Artists
Guest artists will be announced soon!
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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
- International Competition registration and pass
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Places to Stay Near DU
Information & reservations for hotels near the University of Denver.