Competition 2024
2024 Natasha International Fingerstyle Competition
Top 30 Finalists
Finals Ruleset
Submission Ruleset
This round will determine the placement of the 30 finalists.
- All contestants must record TWO pieces in one video without halt; re-tuning and effects changing included in the video.
- Both pieces in the video must be played with a Natasha Guitar.
- Must be filmed in one take with no cuts, guitar and face shown; video and audio must be recorded at the same time (different software is fine).
- Must display a separate Natasha Competition Entry Sheet on paper or mobile device before each performance. This cannot be edited in at the beginning.
- All effects are allowed except for the following: multi-tracking, looping, MIDI controllers, self made orchestration.
- Each song must be over two minutes in length.
- Videos can be titled however you like, but you must include the website https://natashaguitar.com/ and #natashacompetition2024 somewhere in the description. Videos must be publicly posted to YouTube.
- You will get a confirmation from bob@natashaguitar.com if your submission has been validated.
Sign up using the following application form
Click hereSample template:
Name: Tommy Emmanuel
Country: Australia
Song One Name: Angelina
Song Two Name: Amazing Grace
Piece One Type: Original Composition
Piece Two Type: Original Arrangement
Submission Link:
https://youtu.be/XWS1IRF_IFA
Email: bob@natashaguitar.com
Related Statements
- Natasha Guitars is the sole distributor of any information regarding the proceedings of this competition.
- Natasha retains the rights to repost the videos received during this competition.
Timeline of Events
- Preliminary round will begin on January 2nd and end on February 29th.
- Results for the prelims will be announced by March 10th selecting 100 people for the second round.
- Semifinals will begin March 11th and end on April 10th.
- Results for the semifinals will be announced April 20th with 30 people making it to the finals.
- The draw will happen on April 20th along with the announcement.
- Final round starts April 21st and ends July 15th.
- You can submit for the final round as soon as you receive your guitar from the draw.
- Results for the final round will be announced by July 31st and prizes will be shipped soon after.
Judging Criteria to Consider
- Performance: fluency, articulation, rhythm, dynamics, note clarity
- Accuracy (for covers only): detail perception, tone, groove
- Creativity (for arrangements and originals only): originality, completion, uniqueness
- Complexity: difficulty, depth, cohesiveness
A small note to consider is that originals tend to weigh the most in terms of grading, then arrangements, and then covers. This doesn’t mean you cannot stand a chance with a cover song, the difference is pretty small but could be the deciding factor between two great submissions.
Submission Notes
- Please follow the submission guidelines, your submission will be invalidated upon failure to do so.
- Participating on behalf of someone would result in immediate disqualification.
- All submissions will be graded with complete fairness and results published. Send us an email if you want to appeal your results.
Competition Entry Sheet
Judging Panel
World class recording and performing artist from Brazil. He was also a finalist in the Acoustic Guitarist of the Year 2019 Competition in the UK.
Globally recognized guitar master from Japan with over 300,000 subscribers on YouTube. Often hailed by legends in the fingerstyle world such as Tommy Emmanuel as the best young musician in the genre.
A world renowned jazz fingerstyle guitarist with over 200,000 YouTube subscribers. Graduated with a bachelors in Jazz Performance at the Florida International University.
Renowned Dutch performing artist. She received first prize at the Francisco Mário International Prize for Modern Guitar.
A guitar player from Germany with over 200,000 combined fans across various social media platforms.
A guitar player from the United States; studies at the Berklee College of Music for the Guitar Performance Degree.
A respected guitar player from Thailand and the former winner of the Natasha International Fingerstyle Competition 2023.
Three-time grammy winning jazz guitarist from Brazil; graduate from the Berklee College of Music.
The Natasha Guitar Draw
After 30 finalists are selected from the second round, a draw that determines the Natasha guitar used for the final round will occur.
A random number from 1-30 will be generated and assigned to each finalist which will then be drawn for each guitar in the pool.
The guitar you draw will be the guitar used for the finals and you can keep it! lf you have a Natasha guitar already, you can use that for the finals as well.
Selecting to receive an NBSG is an option that finalists can elect for if they don’t wish to partake in the draw.
Draw Results
The winner of the mystery prize, the NEW Natasha Carbon Fiber Guitar, is Nate Lopez for creative use of instruments in his playing.
Competition Sponsors
