2025 CERTAMEN LLOBET | Interpretation

Miquel Llobet Barcelona International Guitar Competition

22nd edition 2025 | November 6-9 | INTERPRETATION

PRESENTATION

This year we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the first edition of the Barcelona International Guitar Competition, a tribute to María Luisa Anido, which took place from January 24 to 27, 1995, under the direction of its founder, the Chilean maestro Eulogio Dávalos. It was an opportunity to organize a selfless event, which teachers and professors called for as a collective need.

After the competition, the distinguished Lady of the Guitar, María Luisa Anido, in an act of generosity, requested that the recognition of the event be redirected to honor her beloved teacher, the Catalan guitarist and composer Miquel Llobet.

Thus, after ten years of tireless efforts, in 2005 the event received the necessary public support to confirm its second edition, at which point it officially became the Miquel Llobet Barcelona International Guitar Competition, doing justice to this forgotten virtuoso from Barcelona, known worldwide for popularizing traditional Catalan songs.

In 2025, the Llobet Interpretation Competition presents a repertoire of valuable composers, highlighting original works and arrangements of refined technique and complex sonic beauty.

In the first round, the Classification phase, we present L’Arlésienne, an exquisite transcription by Miquel Llobet of the incidental music from Alphonse Daudet’s melodrama by the great French composer Georges Bizet, marking the 150th anniversary of his death. The other piece will be Gymnopédie No. 1 by Erik Satie, another great French composer, on the centenary of his passing.

In the second round, the Semifinal, participants will perform Humorada by the pianist from Mataró, Francesca Madriguera—better known as Paquita Madriguera—who dedicated the work to her husband Andrés Segovia and whose 125th anniversary is celebrated this year. This stage will close with the piece awarded First Prize at the 2024 Llobet Composition Competition, Tríptico de la Luz by Madrid-based composer Santiago Abadía.

In the final and third round, the Final, the finalists will refine their musical skills by choosing one of two works to perform with the Brossa Quartet: either the third movement, III. Eine kleine Tagmusik from Die Vögel, op. 21, by Mexican composer Eduardo Angulo, or Quatre Dibuixos per a Guitarra i Cordes by Catalan composer Llorenç Balsach.

As we say every year, we hope this occasion of personal growth will inspire and promote new artistic challenges.

RULES

1) Iberamerik Concert Associació, organizer of the Miquel Llobet Barcelona Internacional Guitar Competition, call for 22nd edition that will take place in Barcelona, from 6th to 9th of November, 2025.

2) The contest is open to all guitarists, regardless of nationality, who are no older than 35 years of age at time of registration. First Prize winners from previous editions are not eligible to enter.

3) The Contest will develop in person at the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Barcelona.

4) The draw for the competition’s first round performance order will be held at the Municipal Conservatory of Music of Barcelona on the Thursday 6th of November at 10:00 a.m. All competitors must attend, those not in attendance will forfeit their right to participate.

5) All cash prizes are subject to their corresponding taxes which will be withheld according to the current legislation.

6) The Organising Committee of the Certamen Llobet will not be responsible for programming dates and cancellation for any of the concerts offered as part of a prize.

7) The travel, accommodation and living costs incurred during the competition will be covered by the participant.

8) All rights to any recordings of the participants made by Certamen Llobet during the competition will be held by the Organising Committee.

9) By registering for the competition the participant agrees to all the rules of the Certamen Llobet competition. In the case of a discrepancy or disagreement, the Spanish edition of these rules will be used. The decision of the Jury is final.

10) Anything not specified in these rules is not the responsibility of the Organising Committee.

REGISTRATION

11) Registration for the competition should be made through the website.
Registration deadline: Sunday, October 19th, 2025. There will be a maximum of 20 participants.
The following documents will be required:
a) Biography and artist photo
b) Copy of passport or identity card
c) Proof of bank transfer

12) The registration fee is 60 Euros, to be made by bank transfer (indicating participant’s full name) to the following account:
CAIXABANK IBAN: ES71 2100 5516 8121 0016 5290 SWIFT: CAIXESBB
or by PAYPAL: certamenllobet@gmail.com

13) By registering for the competition, participants will receive free entry and preferential attendance to other activities and concerts put on as part of the Certamen Llobet.

ROUNDS

14) The competition will be held in three rounds:
1st ROUND (Classification): Thursday, November 6th at 10:00 a.m., for all participants. Competitors are required to perform the following set works:

– Arlésienne, George Bizet (arr. Miquel Llobet) (150th Anniversary of death)

– Gymnopédie nº 1, Erik Satie (arr. Johannes Miehling) (Centenary of death)

(+ info Composers and Works)

2nd ROUND (Semi-final): Friday, November 7th at 10:00 a.m., for all participants who classify. Competitors are required to perform the following set works:

– Humorada, Paquita Madriguera (125th Anniversary of birth)

– Tríptico de la Luz, Santiago Abadía (Winning work of the 2024 Llobet Composition Competition)

(+ info Composers and Works)

3rd ROUND (Final and Prize Giving Ceremony): Sunday, November 9th at 7:00 p.m., three finalists will be selected. The work in this round will be performed with string quartet. Participants are to choose from one of the following works:

– 3er mov. Eine kleine Tagmusik de Die Vögel (op. 21), Eduardo Angulo

– Quatre Dibuixos per a Guitarra i Cordes, Llorenç Balsach

(+ info Composers and Works)

PRIZES

15) The following prizes will be awarded:
1st PRIZE: 3.000 Euros, Medal and Honorary Diploma
Recording of an audiovisual produced by IRS Produccions and promotion through social networks.
Concerts in Spain:
Garrigues Guitar Festival Memorial Emili Pujol
Festival de Guitarra Girona-Costa Brava
International concerts:
Pending to be defined
2nd PRIZE: 2.000 Euros, Medal and Honorary Diploma
3rd PRIZE: 1.000 Euros, Medal and Honorary Diploma
And special Prizes:
Llobet PRIZE, awarded for the best interpretation of the set work by Miguel Llobet: Honorary Diploma and concert at Art Llobet
CAT PRIZE, for the best classifying Catalan player: Honorary Diploma and concert at Garrigues Guitar Festival Memorial Emili Pujol
Audience PRIZE: Honorary Diploma and concert at Art Llobet