ANU guitar students take top two prizes at the Adelaide International Guitar Competition

3 September, 2012

ANU Guitar students have taken 1st and 2nd prizes at the Adelaide International Guitar Competition at the Adelaide International Guitar Festival 9-12 August 2012.

First Prize went to ANU Honours student Andrey Lebedev, which included $10,000 in prize money and a guitar made by revered maker Jim Redgate valued at $16,000. The Second prize of $4,000 was awarded to Stephanie Jones who is (remarkably) still only in second year. Both played magnificently against a strong international line-up, including 16 semi-finalists from Italy, Germany, France, Thailand, China and across Australia.

Artistic Director for the 2012 Adelaide International Guitar Festival and world renowned guitarist, Slava Grigoryan, recalls, “I first met Andrey when he was nine years old, as I was giving a guitar workshop at his school. I remember being incredibly impressed back then by his high level of focus and musical ability. All his hard work over the years has certainly paid off and it’s great to see him doing exceptionally well today. He certainly has a very promising career ahead.”

Continuing on his prize winning streak, Andrey has also just won the highly sought-after Sydney Eisteddfod NSW Doctors Orchestra Instrumental Scholarship, becoming the first classical guitarist to win a major instrumental award in the event's 79-year history.

Andrey and Stephanie are both students of world-renowned guitar pedagogue Tim Kain (image above), who has taught many prize winning guitarists, the most recent being Bachelor of music student Callum Henshaw, who was awarded first prize in the IX Concurso Internacional de Guitarra - Festival de Córdoba, Spain just recently in July.

"The win in the Adelaide Competition and the Sydney Eisteddfod have come at a very significant time for me. I finish my Bachelor degree this year and I've been thinking a lot about future options and making it as a full-time concert artist.

I've definitely had my fill of set backs and losses over the last few years. In particular, I had a life changing trip through Europe in 2011 (supported by the Friends' of the School of Music), which really opened my eyes to the challenges of artistic music making in the international scene. Since then I have been working very hard to grow in maturity as an artist. I know that this is a lifelong journey, but this competition win has given me a strong sign that I am on the right track!" Andrey Lebedev. Read more about Andrey Lebedev

"I am honoured to have competed with such amazing musicians from all over the globe! This award not only provides financial support for future musical endeavours, but also helps kick start my reputation as a musician and guitarist nationally and internationally. I am so fortunate to have the support of my family, friends and my outstanding teachers Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang." Stephanie Jones