BUFFALO, N.Y. – The JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition is pleased to announce the 2012 competition dates and issues a call for submissions. The competition is presented by WNED and the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and honors BPO Music Director and acclaimed classical guitarist JoAnn Falletta.

The exciting competition semifinals will take place June 6 and 7 with the finals scheduled for Saturday, June 9 on the Kleinhans Music Hall Main Stage. The three semi-finalists will compete in a full performance with the BPO under the direction of Maestro Falletta. Following the performance, the judges will select the 2012 competition champion. Finalists will be competing for an outstanding package of prize money, a concert tour and a concert guitar graciously donated by gifted Mexican luthier, Gabriel Hernandez Jimenez.

Once again, the esteemed Buffalo-based virtuoso guitar duo of Joanne Castellani and Michael Andriaccio will act as artistic directors for this renowned international event. Judges from around the world are artists who excel in their fields (see page 2 for biographies).

From the beginning, the biannual competition has attracted top classical guitarists from around the world and is considered the premier competition of its kind. In addition to the competition, the semi-finalists will perform at “Guitar Days”, a unique element of the event that finds competitors invited into the community to perform at various venues and functions.

Applications must be received by April 1. Artists who are interested in competing are encouraged to visit fallettacompetition.org. From the preliminary judging that takes place in April, eight performers will be invited to compete in the semifinal rounds, June 6 and 7.

Tickets for the semi-finals on June 6 and 7 and the final competition on June 9 are available at BPO.org.

 Eduardo Fernandez
Recognized as one of the leading guitarists of today, Fernandez was born in 1952 in Uruguay, and studied with Abel Carlevaro, Guido Santorsola and Hector Tosar. After several international prizes in competitions, his New York debut in 1977, which received spectacular reviews, launched him on an international career.

Adam Holzman
Adam Holzman has been at the forefront of the American guitar scene for the past 30 years as a teacher, international performer and recording artist. A winner of numerous international competitions including First Prize at the 1983 Guitar Foundation of America Competition, Mr. Holzman's has performed at some of the world's most prestigious halls including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and Carnegie Recital Hall in New York City.

Ricardo Iznaola
Ricardo Iznaola, Chair of the Guitar and Harp Department and Director of the Conservatory Program at DU's Lamont School of Music, is John Evans Distinguished Professor in Music, a distinction bestowed on Professor Iznaola in the Fall of 2004. Born in Havana, Cuba, in 1949, he and his family moved to the United States in 1980, after having lived in Colombia, Venezuela and Spain. He was appointed faculty at the University of Denver in 1983.

Tony Morris
Tony Morris is heard by radio listeners on over 250 stations world-wide of the Classical Guitar Alive program. He is an active performer as both a solo guitarist and with flutist Renata Green. He has performed multiple times at the White House, and was chosen by the US State Dept. to serve as a Cultural Envoy for a 2010 concert tour of Paraguay in honor of the 125th anniversary of the birth of Paraguayan guitarist-composer Agustin Barrios Mangore. He frequently serves as an adjudicator, lecturer, and served as adjunct guitar professor at Texas Lutheran University from 2006-2011.

Berta Rojas
Renowned for her flawless technique and innate musicality, Berta Rojas ranks among today’s foremost classical guitarists. On the concert stage, she moves easily between classical and other musical genres. She continues to captivate audiences and critics from Carnegie Hall to the South bank Centre in London, selling out venues around the world. Berta maintains a busy schedule of CD recordings. Her Intimate Barrios is one of the most celebrated recordings of the great Paraguayan, glowing with the insight that only a Paraguayan compatriot could bring to his music.

Additional judge biographical information and photos can be found at fallettacompetition.org.

Through WNED-TV, ThinkBright and Well/WORLD TV, Classical 94.5/WNED-FM and WNED-
AM 970, the member-supported WNED Buffalo/Toronto provides high quality programming and services to local, regional and national audiences that enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate Western New York and Southern Ontario communities. Additional information about WNED can be found at wned.org.