Filipino guitarist wins the 2012 Philippine International Guitar Competition

Filipino guitarist Franco Raymundo M. Maigue won the top prize in the 2012 Philippine International Guitar Competition which concluded on Sunday, January 29, 2012 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino (Little Theater) of the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 

Maigue emerged winner among eight finalists during the Final Round who were chosen from among 20 semi-finalists from Indonesia, Germany, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, USA and the Philippines during the Elimination Round on held on Friday, January 27, 2012.

 

Maigue won a Yuichi Imai Limited Model Guitar, a cash prize of P35,000, concerts in the Philippines in 2013 and in Thailand in 2012, a Trophy,  and other items such as string sets from Aranjuez Guitar Strings and a Hercules guitar stand from JB Music.

 

The other winners were Takashi Endo from Japan (2nd Prize) and Worrapat Yansupap (3rd Prize) from Thailand.  Roneil Santos was awarded a Special Prize as “Best Filipino Guitarist”.  

The distinguished panel of international jurors was composed of Carsten Linck from Germany (head of jury), Yuichi Imai and Tomonori Arai from Japan, Leon Koudelak from the Czech Republic, Michel Rabaud from France, Steve Lin from Taiwan and the USA and Woratep Rattana-umpawan from Thailand.

 

Maigue was the First Prize winner of the 2002 and 2009 National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA).  He has been featured as soloist of the Metro Manila Community Orchestra, the Manila Symphony Orchestra and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra.  He is also a member of the UP Guitar Orchestra, Kithara Quartet, Abelardo Guitar Quartet and the UP Jazz Ensemble.  He finished his Bachelor of Music degree, major in Guitar (cum laude) at the UP College of Music.

 

The Competition was a highlight of the 4-day event which included exhibits as well as a lecture-workshop, masterclasses and concerts by local and international concert guitarists and ensembles. The 2012 Philippine International Guitar Festival and Competition was presented by Guitar Friends and the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

 

Press release from CCP