The 2025 International Competition is open to all classical guitarists, irrespective of nationality and of any age, who are not represented by an artists' agency (impresario).

After the final round, prizes will be awarded to THREE CANDIDATES who have a distinctive artistic personality and great stage presence, show charisma, and who are able to bring out the poetic value, virtuosity and technical prowess of a varied repertoire.

The instrument used must be a classical guitar (six strings or more).

The programme of each round must include the imposed work or works specified below.

The remainder of the programme is free choice and must comprise pieces from the classical guitar solo repertoire or transcriptions and may include unpublished pieces.

To enter the Competition, the candidate has to email the duly completed application form, a link to a video posted on YOUTUBE and proof of the registration fee payment.

Non-refundable registration fee : 70 EUR.

The full Competition regulations and the application form can be obtained as of now via the electronic form below or by email : info(at)bigfest.be.

Wednesday, 5 November 2025 at midnight (Belgian Time)
deadline for requests for the full Competition regulations and application form via the electronic form below or by email info(at)bigfest.be

Friday, 7 November 2025 at midnight (Belgian Time)
deadline by which the completed application form, proof of the registration fee payment and link to a video posted on YOUTUBE must have been received by the Competition organisers

Monday, 10 November 2025
announcement of the pre-selection results

Sunday, 30 November 2025
final round - announcement of winners - awards ceremony

PRE-SELECTION BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

Viewing by the Jury of a video posted on YOUTUBE, realised after 13 October 2025 and produced in accordance with the detailed instructions in the full set of competition regulations, which must be requested via the electronic form below or by email info(at)bigfest.be.

Recording time : from 15 to 20 minutes.

Recording programme : free choice of pieces played from memory, and the two imposed works (which do not have to be played from memory) :

« Marinera » by Nicolas Alfonso
Schott Music Editions (Album « Songs and danses from Spain », N° SF 9409).
Link: https://en.schott-music.com/shop/gesaenge-und-taenze-aus-spanien-no89281.html

« La Rosa », Hommage à Federico Garcia Lorca, by Nicolas Alfonso
Schott Music Editions (Album « Spanish Souveniors », N° SF 9415).
Link: https://en.schott-music.com/shop/erinnerung-aus-spanien-no89287.html

The candidate may choose in which order his pieces are played.

It is possible for the pieces in this programme to be played again during the final round.

Following the deliberation, the Jury may select up to 3 candidates for the final round.

These will be personally notified and their names posted on www.bigfest.be, the Festival website.

PUBLIC FINAL ROUND – free admission

Sunday, 30 November 2025 - 09:00.

Venue: Hay Doun Cultural Centre - 83 Rue du Gaz, 1020 Brussels - Belgium (Festival venue)

Admission restricted to the 3 finalists chosen following the pre-selection process.

The running order will be arranged by ballot and communicated to the finalists.

Duration: from 20 to 25 minutes maximum on stage.

Programme: free choice of pieces and the two imposed works, all played from memory :

« La Rosa », Hommage à Federico Garcia Lorca, by Nicolas Alfonso
Schott Music Editions (Album « Spanish Souveniors », N° SF 9415).
Link: https://en.schott-music.com/shop/erinnerung-aus-spanien-no89287.html

« El Vito » by Nicolas Alfonso
Schott Music Editions (Album « Songs and danses from Spain », N° SF 9409).
Link: https://en.schott-music.com/shop/gesaenge-und-taenze-aus-spanien-no89281.html

This programme may contain in whole or in part, the works already played during the pre-selection process.

The candidate may choose in which order his pieces are played.

Following this round and after deliberation by the Jury, three prizes will be awarded.

Each finalist is responsible for all his/her travel costs.

On request, finalists who live over 150 km from Brussels can stay free of charge with a host family (breakfast included) for one or two nights, between 29 November and 1 December 2025.

All finalists are required to be present for the announcement of the results and the prize giving ceremony on Sunday 30 November 2025 or they will forfeit their prize.

AWARDS

1^st Prize
of the 2025 Brussels International Guitar Competition « Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso »

• 3.000 EUR (three thousand Euros),

• diploma,

• recital at the 2026 Brussels International Guitar Festival & Competitions (if other recitals are offered, these will be announced later),

• album distributed on line (.mp3 format) in the most important international music stores (iTunes, Amazon, etc.), offered by DotGuitar for the DotGuitar/CD label http://www.dotguitar.it/zine/cd/dotguitar_cd.html,

• various gifts offered by the Competition partners (details to follow).

2^nd Prize
of the 2025 Brussels International Guitar Competition « Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso »

• 2.000 EUR (two thousand Euros),

• diploma,

• album distributed on line (.mp3 format) in the most important international music stores (iTunes, Amazon, etc.), offered by DotGuitar for the DotGuitar/CD label http://www.dotguitar.it/zine/cd/dotguitar_cd.html,

• various gifts offered by the Competition partners (details to follow).

3^rd Prize
of the 2025 Brussels International Guitar Competition « Ilse & Nicolas Alfonso »

• 1.000 EUR (one thousand Euros),

• diploma,

• album distributed on line (.mp3 format) in the most important international music stores (iTunes, Amazon, etc.), offered by DotGuitar for the DotGuitar/CD label http://www.dotguitar.it/zine/cd/dotguitar_cd.html,

• various gifts offered by the Competition partners (details to follow).

The Jury of each round will mainly comprise personalities from the Belgian and international artistic world.

The Jury’s decisions are final.

The Jury reserves the right not to present certain prizes if it deems the level to be insufficient.