Mozarteum International Guitar Festival
Mozarteum International Guitar Festival
9.-11. November 2025
Contact
mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com
Application for masterclasses:
Deadline: August 16, 2025
- Application form (PDF)
Application for competition:
Deadline: October 7, 2025
- Application form (PDF)
Application for guitar makers:
Deadline: August, 16 2025
- Application form (PDF)
About
From 9 to 11 November, the Mozarteum University in Salzburg will host the Mozarteum Guitar Festival – three days dedicated to classical guitar. The programme includes an international guitar competition, masterclasses with renowned artists, a chamber music competition, Erasmus masterclasses and an exhibition by guitar makers.
The festival will be complemented by lectures by international musicologists, who will offer different perspectives on guitar music and its history. This year's focus is on the Brazilian guitar repertoire, which is celebrated for its special character and musical diversity. With the support of the Brazilian Embassy in Vienna, the festival offers a special opportunity for students, musicians and guitar lovers to exchange ideas, learn and network in a relaxed atmosphere.
Events
Concerts
at Solitär, Mirabellplatz 1
- 9 November 2025, 7:30 p.m.
DUO ASSAD (Brazil) - 10 November 2025, 7:30 p.m.
GABRIEL BIANCO (France) - 11 November 2025, 6:30 p.m.
Mozarteum International Guitar Competition Final – Gala Concert
Masterclasses
- Odair Assad, Sergio Assad, Gabriel Bianco, Adriano Del Sal, Andrea De Vitis, Giuseppe Feola, Bozhana Pavlova, Cecilio Perera, Marco Tamayo, Kostantinos Tosidis, Maria Isabel Siewers, Laura Young.
Lectures
- Luciano Lima (Brazil), Frédéric Zigante (Italy).
Workshop
- Michi Ruzitschka – exploring Choro
Luthiers Exhibition
Information on applying for masterclasses
The Mozarteum International Guitar Festival offers a unique opportunity to study with some of the most renowned names in the international classical guitar scene in an environment of high artistic and cultural prestige.
- Sergio Assad – Exclusive master class (only 5 places available)
- Odair Assad – Exclusive master class (only 3 places available)
- Thomas Boysen – Workshop on the Baroque repertoire
- Adriano Del Sal
- Andrea De Vitis
- Giuseppe Feola
- Bozhana Pavlova
- Cecilio Perera
- Maria Isabel Siewers
- Kostas Tosidis
- Marco Tamayo
- Laura Young
Registration fee: 170 euros
Includes
- 3 individual lessons
- Access as a listener to all masterclasses
- Free access to all concerts, workshops, lectures and the exhibition of guitar makers
- Participation in the lectures by Prof. Frédéric Zigante (Italy) and Prof. Luciano Lima (Brazil) on the work of Heitor Villa-Lobos and Radames Gnattali.
- There are 18 places available for the masterclasses. Participants must submit the registration form (without payment of the fee) by 16 August 2025 to the email address mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com. From this date, they will receive confirmation from the festival and must pay the fee of 170 euros by bank transfer by 1 September 2025 at the latest. Both the initial registration (without payment) and the payment confirmation must be sent to the email address mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com. Payments made before receiving confirmation from the festival will not be refunded.
Selection of teachers
For the three individual lessons, each participant must indicate their five preferred teachers. At least two of these preferences are guaranteed. Lessons will take place on the three days of the festival. Participation in the master class with Sergio and Odair Assad is limited to eight students. Priority will be given to advanced students and/or those with exceptional talent, based on the CV submitted.
Documents to be submitted for application
- Application form (PDF) with indication of the 5 preferred teachers
- Artistic CV
- Video link (optional, but recommended)
Deadlines
- Application deadline: 16 August 2025 (registration form only, no payment required)
- Payment deadline: 1 September 2025 (after receiving a confirmation email from the festival)
Accommodation: Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of the participants.
Information on applying for the competition
The Mozarteum International Guitar Festival will also host the first edition of the Mozarteum International Guitar Competition, offering aspiring guitarists a unique platform to showcase their talent and artistic vision. The competition will be divided into two phases, with particular emphasis on the originality of the proposed programme and the coherence of the artistic project.
The competition aims to encourage reflection on the repertoire and inspire participants to explore rarely performed works, engage with lesser-known guitar literature and consider the deep connection between artistic personality and repertoire selection. It also highlights the importance of contemporary music and compositions by women, thus promoting diversity and innovation in the world of guitar.
Each year, the competition will include a selection of compulsory pieces that participants will perform in addition to their freely chosen repertoire. For the first edition, participants must perform one of Heitor Villa-Lobos' Douze Études.
It is strongly recommended to use the updated critical edition published by Max Eschig-Durand and edited by Frédéric Zigante.
Preliminary round (online)
- Participants must submit a video with a programme of their choice lasting 15 to 20 minutes, including an etude from Heitor Villa-Lobos' Douze Études.
- Submissions should demonstrate stylistic authenticity and interpretative coherence, originality and technical skill.
- Submission deadline: 7 October 2025
Final (live)
- The live final will take place on 11 November 2025 in the Solitär at the Mozarteum University in Salzburg.
- A maximum of five finalists will be selected from the preliminary round.
- Each finalist will perform a programme of their choice in front of an international jury.
- Duration: approx. 20 to 25 minutes. The programme must include an etude from ‘Douze Études’ by Heitor Villa-Lobos.
Upon registration, each candidate must submit a conceptual overview of the selected programme (in English or German) explaining the artistic coherence between the pieces selected for both rounds. The repertoire is freely selectable and there is no obligation to include works by female composers.
However, if the programme contains such pieces, the performer may win the special ‘Women's Voices’ prize.
Note: It is not permitted to repeat pieces performed in the preliminary round in the final round, with the exception of the étude by Villa-Lobos.
People born on or after 11 November 1995 are eligible to participate.
First prize
- A concert at the Mozarteum Guitar Festival 2026 in Salzburg (performance fee: €800)
- A guitar from Altamira (worth €4,000)
- A guitar from a professional guitar maker (worth €4,000)
- A contract with D'Addario
Second prize
- A guitar from Altamira (worth €4,000)
- D'Addario strings
Third prize
- D'Addario strings
Heitor Villa-Lobos Special Prize – Best interpretation of the étude by Heitor Villa-Lobos
- Free participation in masterclasses at the Mozarteum Guitar Festival 2026
- D'Addario strings
- Note: This prize will be awarded to one of the finalists.
Special prize ‘Women's Voices’ – Best interpretation of a composition by a female composer
- Free participation in masterclasses at the Mozarteum Guitar Festival 2026
- D'Addario strings
- Note: This prize will be awarded to one of the finalists.
- Registration fee: €75 (non-refundable)
- Submission deadline: 7 October 2025
- Applications and videos must be sent by email to the following email address: mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com
- Required documents:
- Application form (PDF)
- Copy of a valid ID (passport or identity card)
- Copy of the programme for the final round (including a conceptual overview)
- Copy of the transfer receipt for the registration fee
Payment details
The registration fee of €75 must be paid by bank transfer.
Bank details:
Mozarteum University Salzburg
UniCredit Bank Austria AG
IBAN: AT38 1100 0099 5325 8200
BIC: BKAUATWW
Please indicate the following PURPOSE OF TRANSFER: Mozarteum Competition 2025 – [Name of participant]
A copy of the transfer receipt (with the specified purpose) must be sent together with the other required documents to mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com.
Information on applying for guitar makers
The Mozarteum International Guitar Festival is pleased to announce the selection process for eight guitar makers who will have the opportunity to exhibit their instruments in the prestigious setting of the festival.
- The instruments will be exhibited on 9 November in the foyer of the Solitär. On 10 November (from the afternoon onwards) and on 11 November, they will be exhibited in the foyer (Mirabellplatz 1, Salzburg) during the competition and the award ceremony for the finalists.
- On 9 November and on the morning of 10 November, the guitar makers will take turns using the foyer of the Solitär to give interested musicians the opportunity to try out the guitars individually according to a schedule.
This is a unique opportunity to present your work to artists, students and professionals from the international classical guitar scene.
To participate in the selection process, please submit the following:
- A completed application form form confirming your availability to participate in the festival from 9 to 11 November.
- A short artistic biography
- Applications must be sent to mozarteumguitarfestival@gmail.com by 16 August 2025.
- Due to limited space, the first 8 registrations will be considered and will receive a confirmation email, after which they can proceed with the payment of the registration fee.
Participation fee
The participation fee (240 euros) is only payable after confirmation has been received from the organisers.
- Exhibition space in the foyer of the Mozarteum University (table will be provided)
- Free admission to the concerts on 9, 10 and 11 November, which will take place in the Solitär of the Mozarteum University
Deadlines
- Application deadline: 16 August 2025 (registration form only, no payment required)
- Payment deadline: 1 September (after receiving a confirmation email from the festival).
Travel & accommodation: Travel and accommodation costs are to be covered by the participants.
With the kind support of:
