Third Annual International Guitar Competition Offers $22,000 in Cash Prizes

Featuring $22,000 in prize money, the third annual Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival will take place at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts (Wilson Center) on August 13-15, 2015. An international, multi-genre festival that features four different competitions-Rock/Blues, Fingerstyle, Jazz, and Classical-the Guitar Competition & Festival is open to competitors of all ages.

All applications must be received by midnight (CDT) on Friday, May 1, 2015. Competitors may apply online at www.wilson-center.com/competitions2015 for a maximum of two categories; the registration fee is $50 for one category or $80 for two categories.

>From the pool of YouTube and DVD applications, jurors will select semi-finalists who will be invited to perform in the live semi-final round at the Wilson Center, located within Mitchell Park in Brookfield, Wisconsin, just minutes west of Milwaukee. The number of competitors advancing to the final round will be determined by the semi-final round adjudicators; semi-final and final round performances will be judged by a panel of renowned artists from each genre.

For each of the four genres, the first-place cash prize is $3,000; the second-place cash prize is $1,500; and the third-place cash prize is $1,000. First-place winners in each genre will also perform live on Saturday, August 15.

"As the only competition that combines these four genres, the Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival provides an opportunity for cross-pollination between players of different styles," said Guitar Competition Project Manager Don Sipe. "Last year, competitors came from 21 U.S. states and numerous countries around the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Slovenia, Israel, and Canada."

The semi-final and final competition rounds, as well as master classes offered throughout the weekend and access to vendor booths are free and open to the public. "The festival's innovative structure is designed to create multiple opportunities for fans, amateur players, and professionals to interact with one another and elevate awareness of what is happening across the entire field," said Wilson Center Executive Director Jonathan Winkle.

Tickets also are available for the three festival concerts, including Croatian virtuoso classical guitarist Ana Vidovic on Thursday, August 13, at 7:30pm; internationally renowned guitarist Troy Stetina and American jazz guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg on Friday, August 14, at 7:30pm; and fingerstyle legend Leo Kottke with special guest, Canada-based guitarist Antoine Dufour on Saturday, August 15, at 7:00pm. Tickets range from $23-$70, including a $2/ticket facility fee and Wisconsin State sales tax, and may be purchased online at www.wilson-center.com/performances-2015 or through the Wilson Center Box Office at 262-781-9520.

The 2015 Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival is sponsored by Cascio Interstate Music, Enterforce, TravelWisconsin.com, the Wilson Family Foundation, and Krause Funeral Homes & Cremation Services. Visit Brookfield is the 2015 Wilson Center Guitar Competition & Festival Tourism Partner. To learn more, visit www.wilson-center.com/guitar-competition-festival.

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