Adult Guitar Competition
Guidelines for the Adult Competition
Application Deadline: February 6, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.
The Competition: March 5-7, 2026
The Adult Guitar Competition is comprised of three rounds, the first round is via via Youtube video submission, and the semifinal and final rounds are on the UTD campus. The candidate should fill out the application, pay the fee, and adhere to the following guidelines regarding repertory selection. The application for the 2026 Texas Guitar Competition and Festival is due February 6th, 2026.
This year, the semifinals will take place on March 5 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. in a location disclosed to competitors, and the Finals will take place on March 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Theatre.
Registration Instructions
The following materials must be submitted by each competitor. Candidates who have (in the past) achieved semi-finalist or finalist status are exempt from the need to submit a YouTube link. Previous first place winners are ineligible to compete. A committee will pre-screen and select the preliminary field of competitors who will be invited to participate in the semifinal competition.
- Submit your application fee of $50 on the UT Dallas Marketplace
- Request a letter of recommendation by your guitar instructor. No application will be considered without a letter of recommendation.
- Sign the Competition Agreement Form in English o en Español
- Record your preliminary round video and upload it to your YouTube as an unlisted video (see “Competitor’s Schedule” below for more information)
- Finally, submit the UT Dallas Guitar Competition Form in English y en Español.
If you are a U.S. Citizen, please bring your Social Security card. If you are NOT a U.S. Citizen, please bring your passport and/or Visa.
You must be present Saturday night at the award presentation in order to receive the merchandise prizes. If you are not present, only the check for the award amount will be mailed to you.
Per U.S. IRS regulations, prizes awarded to non-U.S. citizens may be subject to tax withholding, dependent upon current tax treaty between the U.S. and the winner’s country of citizenship. U.S. citizens who are awarded prizes will not have tax withheld, and will receive an IRS Form 1099 from UT Dallas at the end of the year if the total of earnings from UT Dallas are $600 or more.
Competitor’s Schedule
Preliminary Round – via YouTube link
For those that are entering the competition for the first time, please take note: the “required works” videos should not exceed 10 minutes. Your preliminary round entries are submitted at the time of registration online, see “Registration Instructions” above. Note: previous competitors are NOT required to submit a YouTube link, and only need to submit the application and fee.
Each candidate should choose one option from each of the two categories listed. Each category lists three options. Select only one from each category.
List of Required works for the competition (not to exceed 10 minutes total):
- An outer movement from a suite by JS Bach
or… A Sonata by Domenico Scarlatti (such as K 208, or K 322)
or… Preludio and Allegro by Santiago de Murcia - Madroños by Federico Torroba
or… Gran Vals by Francisco Tarrega
or… Scherzo-Vals by Miguel Llobet
Semi-Final Round
At UT Dallas and by invitation. Play for the jury the music you recorded and submitted for the Preliminary Round (not to exceed 10 minutes).
Final Round
A varied program of up to 25 minutes. The program should include your choice of required works listed above in 1 and 2.
Judging Criteria
Performers will be judged on the following:
- Program
- Technique
- Interpretation/Style
- Performance Characteristics
Questions?
Please email Dr. James Wilder.
