Competition Regulations
Art. 1 - The cultural association Centro Chitarristico “Mauro Giuliani” Gorizia (Italy) in collaboration with the town of Valle-Bale (Croatia) establishes and organizes the 8th Altamira International Guitar Competition Bale-Valle “Live Guitar”.
This competition is meant to promote and develop the musical art and it is open to all performers of both sexes and all nationalities.
Art. 2 - Location, type of instruments and categories.
The competition will take place at the Elementary school (address: via Domenico Cernecca 3 - Bale-Valle, Croatia) and for the final round in the Castel Bembo in Bale-Valle (Croatia) from 5th to 7th July 2024 and it will consist of the following instruments and categories:
Classic Guitar
1st category: soloists up to 11 years date of birth from 2013 [included]);
2nd category: soloists up to 14 years date of birth from 2010 [included]);
3rd category: soloists up to 17 years date of birth from 2007 [included]);
4th category: soloists up to 20 years date of birth from 2004 [included]);
5th concert category: soloists, with no age limit.
6th chamber music with guitar category: guitar duo, trio, quartet and ensemble; guitar with other instrument/s up to 12 years date of birth from 2012 [included]);
7th chamber music with guitar category: guitar duo, trio, quartet and ensemble; guitar with other instrument/s up to 17 years date of birth from 2007 [included]);
8th chamber music with guitar category: guitar duo, trio, quartet and ensemble; guitar with other instrument/s with no age limit.
The average age of the group will be considered for categories 6 and 7.
Categories must have a minimum of three competitors, otherwise the organizing committee reserves the right to cancel such category. In this case the competition secretary will refund any application fee paid.
Piano – Classic/Celtic harp – Accordion - Violin - Classic/modern canto - Electric guitar
Section Soloists Categories A, B, C, D, E
Section Chamber Music Categories A, B, C, D, E (from duo to the ensemble of all numbers and type of instruments)
Category A: for those born in 2014 onward;
Category B: for those born in 2011 onward;
Category C: for those born in 2008 onward;
Category D: for those born in 2006 onward;
Category E: for those born in 1999 onward;
Competitors can subscribe to a higher category when they believe that their preparation allows it, but not to a lower category. For all categories in section Chamber Music the average age of group members will be considered.
Art. 3 - Within some days after the end of registrations, the timetable with the details of the auditions (hour and day) will be published on the Internet address www.bale-valleguitarcompetition.com. Winners are obliged to participate in the awarding ceremony and in the final concert, otherwise the prize will not be awarded.
Art. 4 - Inscription fees and instructions for participation
For the participation in the competition, the following non-refundable entry fees are required:
Classic Guitar
Categories: 1st ,2nd ,3rd € 30.
Category: 4th € 40.
Category: 5th (concert category) € 50.
Categories: 6th, 7th € 25 for head – 160 for ensemble with 7 or more musicians.
Category: 8th € 50 for head – 330 for ensemble with 7 or more musicians.
Flute - Classic/Celtic harp – Accordion - Violin - Classic/modern canto - Electric guitar - Chamber music
Section Soloists categories A, B, C, D, E € 30.
Section Chamber Music category E € 25 for head – 160 for ensemble with 7 or more musicians.
Application deadline is 22 June 2024. Applications must be submitted no later than the day of the deadline:
1. Filling the online application form published on the competition website (www.bale-valleguitarcompetition.com/application/competition)
2. E-mail (address: info@bale-valleguitarcompetition.com)
Should you have any problem applying with the above methods, please contact the organization committee.
The following documents must be enclosed in the applications sent by mail. Any incomplete application will be disqualified:
A. printed (in capital letters) or typewritten application form (provided by the festival direction and enclosed to the brochure or downloaded from the competition website; photocopies are accepted).
B. Copy of a valid identification document.
C. Copy of the payment receipt of the registration fee.
Payment must be made in Euro currency by one of the following means:
- Direct bank transfer. You may wish to instruct your bank to make payment direct to the following bank account:
• Centro Chitarristico Mauro Giuliani - Cassa Rurale del FVG
IBAN: IT55K0862212403008000001729 - BIC/SWIFT: CCRTIT2T96A
Please, write the following in the reason for payment: “8th Bale-Valle Competition”, name, instrument and category of the competitor.
Competitors can apply to more than one category; in such case, registration and payment of the relevant fees should be repeated for each category in which they intend to participate.
Bank transfers made outside SEPA area should be done without any extra charges for the recipient (OUR mode).
Art. 5 - The competitors agree straightaway to be filmed and/or recorded during the competition or during the winners’ concerts, waiving expressly any right, even economic, concerning such filming and recordings.
Furthermore, the competitors agree upon a possible spreading and use of this performances carried out during the competition or the winners’ concerts using any media. In addition, competitors will not be entitled to make any claim, economic or of any other kind for these performances in the winners’ concerts.
Art. 6 – Program
Classic Guitar
1st category: free program for the maximum duration of 5 minutes;
2nd category: free program for the maximum duration of 8 minutes;
3rd category: free program for the maximum duration of 12 minutes;
4th category: The category will consist of a preliminary round and a final round.
• Preliminary round: free program of the maximum duration of 10 minutes.
• Final round: free program of the maximum duration of 15 minutes
(a composition already played during the first round may not be repeated in the second round).
The three competitors with the highest score in the preliminary round will be admitted to the final round.
5th concert category: The Concert category will consist of a preliminary round and a final round.
• Preliminary round: free program of the maximum duration of 15 minutes.
• Final round: free program of the maximum duration of 20 minutes
(a composition already played during the first round may not be repeated in the second round).
The three competitors with the highest score in the preliminary round will be admitted to the final round.
6th chamber music with guitar category: free program for the maximum duration of 5 minutes.
7th chamber music with guitar category: free program for the maximum duration of 10 minutes.
8th chamber music with guitar category: free program for the maximum duration of 20 minutes.
Flute - Classic/Celtic harp – Accordion - Violin - Classic/modern canto - Electric guitar - Chamber music
Category A: free program for the maximum duration of 5 minutes;
Category B: free program for the maximum duration of 8 minutes;
Category C: free program for the maximum duration of 12 minutes;
Category D: free program for the maximum duration of 15 minutes;
Category E: free program for the maximum duration of 15 minutes;
For all categories, the performance of the pieces of the program will take place both in memory and through the reading of its score.
Art. 7 - The judging commission, composed of musicians of evident musical competence, may interrupt the performance at any time if maximum time limits are exceeded.
When a competitor under examination is found to be student of a member of the Jury, that juror will be excluded from discussing and voting that performance. The score of this juror will be defined by the Competition secretary office as the arithmetical average of the scores given by the other jurors to that competitor.
Art. 8 - The verdict and all the decisions of the jury are unquestionable and final.
Art. 9 - The commission reserves the right not to assign any prize whenever the artistic level of the performances is considered inadequate, or to assign an equal classification based on ex-æquo results. Ex-aequo is not available for the first prize of the 4th, 5th and 8th categories for classic guitar.
Art. 9a - The scoring of the examining commission for all the categories (excluding the categories 4th, 5th and 8th of classic guitar) of all the instruments will be expressed in hundredths as follows:
- First place: score from 94 to 100
- Second place: score from 88 to 93
- Third place: score from 80 to 87
The competitor who will have the best score in the first place (with a minimum score of 97 points) will win the “Special Prize”.
Art. 10 - The auditions will take place in Bale-Valle town from 5th to 7th July 2024.
The final rounds of classic guitar will take place with the following schedule:
• Classic guitar - 4 and 5 category: Sunday 7th July 2024 at 20.30.
The awarding ceremonies and the winners’ concerts will take place at the end of every competition day. The program and schedule of the award ceremonies will be published on the website www.bale-valleguitarcompetition.com.
Before the performance, the competitors will be required to produce a copy of the score of the compositions chosen for the examination and to show some valid identity document to the Jury.
All auditions and concerts will be open to the public.
Art. 11 - Prizes
Classic Guitar
1 category
First Absolute special prize: Altamira Guitar, cup, gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
1st prize: gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
2nd prize: silver medal and diploma.
3rd prize: bronze medal and diploma.
2 category
First Absolute special prize: Altamira Guitar, cup, gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
1st prize: gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
2nd prize: silver medal and diploma.
3rd prize: bronze medal and diploma.
3 category
First Absolute special prize: Altamira Guitar, cup, gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
1st prize: gold medal, diploma and strings prize.
2nd prize: silver medal and diploma.
3rd prize: bronze medal and diploma.
4 category
1st prize: € 300; Altamira Guitar, cup, gold medal and diploma.
2nd prize: € 200; cup, silver medal and diploma.
3rd prize: € 100; cup, bronze medal and diploma.
5 concert category
1st prize: € 1.000; Altamira Guitar; Two concerts: “International Mercatali Guitar Festival” (Gorizia–Italy) 2025; International Guitar Festival Bale-Valle 2025; cup, gold medal and diploma.
2nd prize: € 500; cup, silver medal and diploma.
3rd prize: € 300; cup, bronze medal and diploma.
6 category
First Absolute special prize: educational award; cup, gold medal and diploma to each competitor.
1st prize: cup, gold medal and diploma to each competitor, strings prize.
2nd prize: silver medal and diploma to each competitor.
3rd prize: bronze medal and diploma to each competitor.
7 category
First Absolute special prize: educational award; cup, gold medal and diploma to each competitor.
1st prize: cup, gold medal and diploma to each competitor, strings prize.
2nd prize: silver medal and diploma to each competitor.
3rd prize: bronze medal and diploma to each competitor.
8 category
1st prize: € 500; a concert in one International Guitar Festival 2025; cup, gold medal and diploma to each competitor.
2nd prize: € 300: Cup, silver medal and diploma to each competitor.
3rd prize: € 200; Cup, bronze medal and diploma to each competitor.
• AUDIENCE AWARD for 4th,5th and 8th categories: the audience award is the only award that will be favorite by a public vote. The public attending the final round will be asked to vote for their favorite finalist with a ballot paper. The winner of the Audience Award will receive a “Bale-Valle Honor Award” plaque and a music award.
Flute - Classic/Celtic harp – Accordion - Violin - Classic/modern canto - Electric guitar - Chamber music
Section soloists, Categories A, B, C, D
First Absolute special prize: Cup, gold medal, diploma and educational prize
1st prize: gold medal, diploma
2nd prize: silver medal, diploma
3rd prize: bronze medal, diploma
Section soloists, Category E
First Absolute special prize: € 100; cup, gold medal, diploma
1st prize: gold medal, diploma
2nd prize: silver medal, diploma
3rd prize: bronze medal, diploma
Section Chamber Music, Category E
First Absolute special prize: € 200; cup, gold medal, diploma
1st prize: gold medal, diploma
2nd prize: silver medal, diploma
3rd prize: bronze medal, diploma
“Virtuous school prize”: a plate of honor will be awarded to the Music School with the largest number of competitors.
“Teacher’s prize”: a diploma of honor and a nomination to be a juror in the next edition of the Competition will be awarded to the teacher with the largest number of competitors.
Art. 12 - The organization reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions publishing the possible changes in the Internet under the address: www.bale-valleguitarcompetition.com/regulations.
Art. 13 - Privacy protection. Pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 on “Personal Data Protection Code”, (GDPR) any personal data provided for the registration will be exclusively used for the following purposes: a) the application and the participation to the competition; b) sending information on the Centro Chitarristico “Mauro Giuliani” cultural activity. If the personal data for the purposes described in the previous chapter a) are not provided we cannot guarantee your participation to the competition. In the case of winners with prize giving, personal data is kept in accordance to applicable Italian fiscal laws otherwise data is only kept in order to maintain and publish a palmares (list of winners). You may exercise the rights stated in articles from 15 to 21 of the GDPR by writing to: Centro Chitarristico “Mauro Giuliani”, Corso Italia 51 – 34170 Gorizia (Italiy) –e-mail: info@ccmg.it. Please check www.ccmg.it/concorso/privacy for further detail on our Privacy Policy.
Art. 14 - Admission to the competition takes place once the validity and the conformity of the documents that the Organizing Committee requires have been verified.
By signing the application form or by submitting the online application form through the www.balevalleguitarcompetition.com website, each candidate agrees to accept these regulations and to resign all rights related to possible audio and video recordings, as specified in art.5.
Art. 15 - All legal controversies will be settled in the Court of Gorizia (Italy).
For further information regarding the event and the payment methods, please contact the Competition secretary’s office using the addresses pointed out below.
The present competition is part of the 13th International Guitar Festival “Bale-Valle Live Guitar” and includes concerts, international picture exposition and other events on the guitar and music world.
