The festival, held on the grounds of the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (Idecaf), opened with a guitar orchestra. The open-stage format allows classical guitar enthusiasts to connect. Organizers aimed to increase public engagement, creating a more festive atmosphere alongside the formal concert series.
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The guitar orchestra performance opens the festival, 15/8. Photo: Provided by the organizers |
This year's festival features international artists such as Jeremy Jouve (France), Michal Nagy (Poland), Mauricio Diaz Alvarez (Mexico), XuanXuan Sun (China), 4.13 Guitar Quartet (Indonesia), and the festival's large guitar orchestra. In addition to concerts, the artists are also leading several skill-building workshops.
The highlight is the international guitar competition with over 100 contestants from Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The competition includes five categories: Open Category, Junior Category (under 18), Ensemble Category, Local Category, and Local U13 Category (under 13).
The jury comprises international and Vietnamese artists, including Michal Nagy, Jeremy Jouve, Mauricio Diaz Alvarez, Xuanxuan Sun, the 4.13 Quartet, and An Tran. The organizers hope the competition will inspire and launch the careers of young talents.
The festival concludes on 17/8 with an ensemble performance, followed by the announcement of the international guitar competition winners.
The Saigon international guitar festival was first held in 2014, hosting world-renowned artists such as Jeremy Jouve (winner of the US GFA in 2003) and Anton Baranov (winner of the GFA in 2013). A classical guitar competition was added in 2018. The festival has become a popular event for music lovers in Ho Chi Minh City and a valuable learning experience for young Vietnamese guitarists.
Tam Ky
