GuitArt X Marks Its 10th Edition in Plovdiv With Vlatko Stefanovski, Yamandu Costa and a Classical Guitar Final

GuitArt X is underway in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from October 1 through 4, marking the tenth edition of the international guitar festival. The program opened with recitals by Thu Le and Samuel Solomon and continues with the Vlatko Stefanovski Trio on October 3.

The centerpiece is the International Classical Guitar Competition, open to classical guitarists of any age and nationality. Entrants submitted a video round by the September 10 application deadline, so entries are now closed. Six finalists, announced on September 18, play live on October 4 at 10:00 at the Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts Prof. Asen Diamandiev, each with a 17 to 20 minute program that has to differ from their first-round repertoire. The jury is Hristo Kolikov, Thu Le, Stella Miteva-Dinkova, Kostas Tosidis and Ivan Andonov.

The first-prize package, valued above €6,000, includes an Anastasios Koukourigkos double-top spruce concert guitar (about €4,500), €1,500 in cash, a KNA pickup, concert slots at GuitArt and at the Tremolo Guitar Festival in Skopje, and Savarez prizes. Second prize is a Kremona Rondo guitar plus €500, third prize €300. Brazilian seven-string guitarist Yamandu Costa closes the festival the same day at the Boris Hristov House of Culture.