Certamen Internacional Guitarra Clásica «Andrés Segovia»
International Classical Guitar Competition “Andrés Segovia”
Declared an Event of Tourist Interest of Andalusia (Order of March 9, 2021)
Owing to his residence in this privileged enclave of the Granada coast, on June 6, 1983, Andrés Segovia was named “Adoptive Son of the town of La Herradura and of Almuñécar.” In his honor, the former Paseo de La Herradura was renamed Paseo Andrés Segovia, and the International Classical Guitar Competition “Andrés Segovia” was created.
The first edition was held in January 1985 at the Church of San José, with the musicologist Antonio Martín Moreno presiding over the jury. Since 2006, the competition has been held at the Auditorium of the La Herradura Civic Center around November 22, the feast day of Saint Cecilia, Patron Saint of Music. Alongside the competition, a composition contest for guitar works was organized between 1987 and 2015.
Coinciding with the centenary of Andrés Segovia’s birth, since 1993 Her Majesty Queen Sofía has held the Honorary Presidency of the Competition. Starting with the 31st edition (2015), the President of the Jury was musician and cultural manager Diego Martínez. Since 2021, the musicologist Francisco J. Giménez has served as President of the Jury.
The Jury of the International Classical Guitar Competition “Andrés Segovia” has included renowned international professionals such as Leo Brouwer, Antón García Abril, Jesús Villa Rojo, Claudio Prieto, Joaquín Clerch, Franz Halász, and David Martínez —the latter three being international guitarists who won awards in the early editions of the Competition.
