About the JFIGCC
The JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, inaugurated by WNED and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra in Buffalo, New York in 2004, will present its third competition on June 9-13, 2008 at Buffalo’s Kleinhans Music Hall.
Open to classical guitarists throughout the world, the competition set a deadline of April 4, 2008 for applications – which has quickly passed - and the official announcement of semifinalists and alternates will be right here on this site on May 1, 2008. The public will be able to attend the two-part semifinal round competitions on June 10 and 11. Finalists will perform with the BPO, conducted by JoAnn Falletta, on June 13. (To purchase tickets to semifinals and finals visit www.bpo.org.)
Buffalo-based Joanne Castellaniand Michael Andriaccio, who are well known internationally as a chamber ensemble duo, are the Competition’s artistic directors. They head the judges for the preliminary round, joined by Classical 94.5/WNED-FM program host John Landis and David Dusman, founder and president of Dusman Audio, Inc., which provides classical recording, post-production and mastering services.
Semifinal round/finalist judges include renowned virtuoso guitarist and composer David Leisner; producer and host of NPR’s “Classical Guitar Alive” Tony Morris; Spanish virtuoso guitarist and festival/competition director Enrique Muñoz Teruel;one of today’s leading international guitarists Eduardo Fernandez; and President of the Guitar Foundation of America Brian Head in addition to preliminary judges Castellani, Andriaccio and Landis.
“Once again, WNED and the BPO are making plans to welcome distinguished musicians from North America and around the globe,” said Donald K. Boswell, WNED President and CEO. “Area audiences will experience remarkable performances by highly talented and dedicated guitarists.” BPO Executive Director Daniel Hart said that having eminent music professionals and educators as judges “greatly enhances the world class status of this competition.”
Financial support for the JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition has been provided byHSBC Bank, NOCO Energy Corporation, Clover Management, BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Robertson & Bach Fine Jewelry, Monaco Violins, Mercedes Benz of Buffalo, Western Regional Off-Track Betting, Fichte Endl & Elmer Eye Associates, Angelo and Carol Fatta, Keyser-Cadillac, Fleur de Son Classics, Niagara Lutheran Health Systems and Savarez. The Competition has also received support from the Adam’s Mark, GSP and Editions Orphee.
The Prize Packages
For the
2008 JoAnn Falletta International
Guitar Concerto Competition
Joanne Castellani and Michael Andriaccio, CoDirectors
June 9-13, 2008 in Buffalo, New York, USA
First Prize: $7500.00 US
Return engagement with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.
Engagement with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra
Recording Contract with Fleur de Son Classics, Ltd.
A concert Guitar Dake Traphagen, USA.
Karura Flight Case.
Second Prize: $3,000.00 US
Third Prize: $1,500.00
Audience Favorite Award ~ Musicians’ Favorite Award
Judges: Joanne Castellani & Michael Andriaccio, USA: Guitar duo, internationally acclaimed touring and recording artists.
Eduardo Fernandez, Uruguay: International concert guitarist.
David Leisner, USA: Virtuoso guitarist and Composer.
Tony Morris, USA: Producer and Host of “Classical Guitar Alive”, an internationally syndicated radio program dedicated to the guitar.
David Dusman (Preliminary Round), USA: Award winning recording engineer.
David Frost, USA; 2 time Grammy Award winning producer.
John Landis, USA: Radio producer WNED-FM, conductor.
Enrique Muñoz Teruel, Spain: Concert guitarist and Festival/Competition Director.
This event is one of the most visible performance competitions in the world with national and international broadcast visibility.
Winners of the 2006 Competition
First prize: Pablo Garibay, Mexico
Second Prize: Masao Tanibe, Japan
Third Prize: Isaac Bustos, USA
Winners of the 2004 Competition
First Prize: Marcin Dylla, Poland
Second Prize: Pablo Garibay, Mexico
Third Prize: Rene Izquierda, USA/Cuba