Tension runs high in Alessandria

In a week filled with breathtaking artistry and high-stakes performance, the 57th Michele Pittaluga International Guitar Competition concluded on Saturday with the victory of Ausias Parejo, a 19-year-old guitarist from Valencia, Spain. The final round was performed with the Orchestra Classica di Alessandria, conducted by Paolo Ferrara.

The first prize, which includes a significant cash award from a total prize pool of €30,000, a valuable concert guitar, and a slate of international concert engagements, solidifies the 19-year-old Spaniard's place among the rising stars of the classical guitar world.

The second prize was awarded to Catalina Pires of Starnberg, Germany, while third place went to Beijing-based Shilong Fan. The jury, comprising guitarists Dimitri Illarionov, Luis Orlandini, Joaquin Clerch, Thomas Muller Pering, Roman Viazowskyi, Christian Saggese, and Micaela Pittaluga, reached its decision after the final performances. The competition was overseen by Artistic Director Marco Tamayo.

Ausias Parejo has steadily built a reputation as a thoughtful and refined musician. He began his studies in his hometown of Valencia before moving to Madrid to continue his training under renowned pedagogues. His prior successes include prizes at several national competitions in Spain and select international events, which established him as a promising competitor ahead of his arrival in Alessandria. Parejo has previoulsy participated in the Pittaluga competition, winning a Second and a Third Prize.