[January 22, 2015]

Parkening International Guitar Competition Announces Judges for 2015 Competition

The judges for the fourth triennial Parkening International Guitar Competition, to be presented by Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA (News - Alert), from Wednesday, May 27, to Saturday, May 30, 2015, have been announced.

Representing different areas of the classical music world, the five judges are Lynn Harrell, cello virtuoso and conductor; Lee Holdridge, Emmy Award-winning film composer; Charlotte Lee, senior vice president, IMG Artists; Angel Romero, guitar maestro, soloist, and conductor; and David Thomas, recording producer.

The competition, which debuted in 2006, offers the largest prize purse of any classical guitar competition in the world, with competitors vying for cash awards in excess of US$65,000. After three days of intense public performances, the winner of the Parkening International Guitar Competition receives a gold medal, the Jack Marshall Prize of US$30,000, and the most prestigious title in classical guitar.

The panel will judge 15 competitors, three of whom will advance to the final round to perform a concerto before a live audience with the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra. The gol, silver, and bronze medalists will be announced at the conclusion of the final round.

The Parkening Competition honors the distinguished career of the classical guitarist Christopher Parkening and his lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists as demonstrated by his mentor, the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia (News - Alert). Parkening is celebrated as one of the world's preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar and serves as Distinguished Professor of Music at Pepperdine University. A two-time Grammy nominee and a featured soloist in some of the finest orchestras in the country, his concerts and recordings have received the highest worldwide acclaim, captivating audiences around the world, from New York to Tokyo.

"The creation of this competition was one of my lifelong dreams," says Parkening. "It champions and rewards the traditions of musical excellence, and fulfills my vision for a world-class guitar competition equal to the great piano and violin competitions."

In addition to the Parkening International Guitar Competition, on Tuesday and Wednesday, May 26 and 27, 2015, the Parkening Young Guitarist Competition will be held at Pepperdine. This two-day event will help to identify outstanding young guitarists and encourage them to continue their performance careers and studies.

The 2015 Parkening Competition is made possible by a generous grant from Howard and Roberta Ahmanson.

For the first time in its history, the Parkening International Guitar Competition is now accepting applications online. The process is now faster and more accessible for potential competitors around the world. Applications are due February 6, 2015.

Applications, more information about competition requirements and judging, and the competition schedule are available at: http://arts.pepperdine.edu/parkening/

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