Margarita Escarpa began her guitar studies at the Real Conservatorio de Música de Madrid with some of Spain’s most distinguished teachers, receiving the highest possible honour, the Premio Extraordinario Fin de Carrera. She later worked with David Russell, Gerardo Arriaga and Miguel Angel Girollet and has taken part in many of Europe’s prestigious courses and festivals. At the same time she graduated at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid in Mathematical Sciences. As a competitor, she has won major prizes in several important competitions, including the 1990 Concurso Internacional Alhambra in Alcoy, the 1991 Esztergom International Competition in Hungary, the 1992 Concours International de Guitare of Radio France, the 1993 Concurso Internacional Andrés Segovia in Palma de Mallorca, and in 1994 at the Certamen Internacional Andrés Segovia in Granada and the Guitar Foundation of America International Competition in Quebec. Margarita Escarpa works intensively as a concert performer and teacher in Spain and throughout Europe and has a number of recordings to her credit. Since October 2021 Mrs Escarpa is an associate professor at Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Vienna.
Tomislav Vasilj
Tomislav Vasilj began studying music at the Ivan Zajc Music School with teacher Josip Burjan. He continued his secondary education with Alemka Orlic at the Blagoje Bersa Music School and after the third grade he enrolled in guitar studies at the Hochschulle für Musik und darstellende Kunst in Graz, Austria. In 1988, he obtained a master’s degree from the same university mentored by Martin Myslivecek. He took part in numerous seminars led by famous guitar teachers (A. Pierri, A. Carlevaro, T. Offermann, P. Steidel…). He has worked as a guitar teacher at the Blagoje Bersa Music School in Zagreb since 1999, where his students regularly perform on various occasions as well as at regional and national competitions, winning numerous awards. He performs both as a soloist and as a part of various ensembles. Since 2003, he has been a member of the Zagreb Guitar Quartet. As a part of this quartet, he has performed in more than 20 countries all over Europe, North America, Africa and Asia. Furthermore, with this same quarter, he performed with different orchestras, one of them being the Zagreb Philharmonic. Not only that, as a soloist he has performed at numerous events, including the Varaždin Baroque Evening, Music Tribune in Opatija. Since 2014, Tomislav has been a member of the guitar duo called Coulé. He is also participating as a member of the jury on guitar competitions, and regularly organizes seminars for primary and secondary school students. He regularly holds seminars and summer masterclasses, the most prominent being the annual summer masterclass ‘Young masters’ in Samobor, Croatia, where he has been a lecturer since its first edition. He has also served on the juries of many guitar competitions. Since 2021, he has been the artistic associate of the Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, where he teaches chamber music.
Monika Krajnc Štih
Monika Krajnc Štih is a guitar teacher at the elementary music school and performing arts grammar school in Velenje, Slovenia.
She obtained her Bachelor’s and Masters degree at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, Austria, her mentor was prof. Martin Mysliveček. In her Masters dissertation she researched the life of one of the most important guitarists, Ida Presti and for this purpose she interviewed the revered guitarist and composer, John W. Duarte, and published the interview in the dissertation. She attended guitar seminars with professors Jerko Novak, Istvan Romer, Tomaž Lorenz, Abel Carlevaro, David Crosky, John W. Duarte, Pavel Steidl.
As a secondary school student she won many first prizes when competing solo or with chamber music. She released a CD with her husband Boris – in one of the first guitar duos in Slovenia. Since then, she performed as a soloist or a member of various chamber ensembles.
She dedicated a big part of her teaching career to developing guitar orchestra – not just at the music school in Velenje, but in the whole country. The guitar orchestra of music school Velenje won a first prize and performed with the orchestra of ZGF 2017 Zagreb Guitar Festival.
Her students are achieving the highest recognition awards and prizes at competitions on a national and international level.
She is also a member of juries in regional, national and international competitions, as well as a technical advisor for the national competition for young musicians TEMSIG.
Solo professional
What are we supposed to say to a professional guitarist? You already know so much! Maybe just one thing: try constantly to evoke the child in you and recall those days when you fell in love with the guitar, enjoying every note you played, each little phrase and unforgettable performances. Call on your original musicality and give yourself sincerely. Be gentle with yourself, be happy and satisfied with your artistic achievements. Convince us in your interpretation and leave us breathless!
4th Solo Category
If you are applying to this category you are one step closer to become true professional guitarist. For those who have achieved a winning streak in the lower categories so far, each new competition is a demanding chalange: expectations are bursting in all directions. Try not to burden yourself with things like what others expect of you, and keep in mind that competition is only a part of your development story, not just a purpose in itself. On the other hand, if you have not competed so far and now you are finally going to, that means you are a winner already. Because of your courage and strong decision. Any recognition will be welcome, but the preparation process is what will raise your level of playing. You are investing your time completely, your emotions and your energy. At least one member of the jury will recognize it. Furthermore you will have a chance for private jury class and get a descriptive grade. These conversations are often far worthier than mere points.
3rd Solo Category
Ah, that 3rd category! This one covers the range from 14 to 17 years. In Croatia and in the wider region it applies to high school students of or to the final grade of primary music school. Do not forget that a well chosen reportoare might be 50% of your success.. Thereby, you are advised to have boundless confidence in your guitar teacher, particularly in his own selection and evaluation of the pieces you are supposed to compete with. Perhaps your enthusiasm for a certain piece will result in choosing a repertoire that you are not up to yet. If this happens, try to strike a balance between that beloved and demanding composition and the rest of the program, which in that case should be technically simpler.
2nd Solo Category
You are already a trained guitarist and there is a serious task ahead of you. The competition is supposed to be an incentive to master many challenges in the classical guitar technique. Thanks to your diligent guitar practice, you are able to dedicate yourself to longer musical forms such as themes with variations. Small formes are also widely represented in the guitar literature. Therefore a piece of that kind will certainly spice up your competition program.
1st Solo Category (up to 12 years old)
The first category includes young guitarists who turn 12 in 2024, or younger. The latter should not be discouraged, especially those who started recently, two or three years ago. Maybe their skills are not sufficient yet for the more demanding repertoire. Nevertheless, do not forget that even a very simple piece can demonstrate musicality, a sense of phrasing, a beautiful sound, an understanding of musical forms, and above all, the joy of making music. This is something that every jury rewards.
The Revue of the Youngest (up to 10 years old)
For those under 10, this may be the first competitive performance of their lives and it will be remembered for a lifetime. Therefore, we are opening the festival this year with the Revue of the Youngest. They will present themselves as soloists and few will be brave enough to play in a duo. Furthermore, in the Revue category the youngest guitarists can also perform by their teacher guitar accompaniment, which is a particularly enjoyable music experience! This is an early and, before musical college probably the only opportunity to perform with an accompanist! In this category, each brave candidate will be awarded but only one solo and one duo performance will be additionally awarded special prizes.
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