Scores for two pieces that premiered at the cciMB 2016 (San Francisco Conservatory of Music) have been published by the Canadian publisher Les Productions d’Oz: Nazcan (2015) for eight guitars and two narrators (Spanish, English) by Javier Farías and Imbricatta (2015) for solo guitar by Sergio Assad (cciMB2016 commissioned composition). Les Productions d’Oz has kindly offered to make the score for Imbricatta available to all cciMB 2018 participants upon completion of their application.

The cciMB 2018 Jury will be joined by Prof. Michael R. Hampel, vice-director of the Musikhochschule Trossingen, Germany, and head of the Guitar Department. An active performer, both as soloist and in chamber ensembles, Hampel is also dedicated to the promotion of young guitarist. In 1990, he founded the Open Source Guitars, a prestigious guitar ensemble of the Trossingen University of Music.

The International Guitar Competition Maurizio Biasini (cciMB) & Festival  is pleased to announce its 4^th edition, to be hosted by the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional (CRR) de Paris, France, from April 27 – May 2, 2018, under Artistic Director Gérard Abiton. This unique contest, which rotates its location between important cities of music in Europe and the USA, offers young classical guitarists the opportunity to “meet, exchange, compete and learn”, in an informal, stimulating environment. With € 20’000 total prize money at stake, participants need to tackle a challenging program, including a commissioned composition by Jean-Dominique Krynen and a concert with orchestra in the final round. In addition to the € 12’000 cash prize, the winner of the competition will be invited to give solo recitals in various European cities: Basel (Rising Stars series of the Allgemeine Musikgesellschaft), Bologna and Paris. At least twelve semifinalists will be chosen through an online video audition by the international Jury composed of prominent musicians and guitarists: Gérard Abiton (F), Michael Hampel (D), Stephan Schmidt (CH), David Tanenbaum (USA), Marco Vinicio Carnicelli, Alberto Martelli, and Walter Zanetti (I). We are looking forward to welcoming you to the wonderful City of Paris.

The Conservatoire à rayonnement régional – CRR de Paris is a performing arts school of the City of Paris, located since 1990 in the prestigious building on 14 rue de Madrid, formerly occupied by the Conservatoire National Supérieur. Attended by 1,750 pupils and students under the guidance of 285 teachers, the CRR offers a rich variety of degree courses in music, dance and theatre as well as a high-level cultural season of nearly 400 annual events. The CRR educational program includes three main areas: an art school dedicated to highly motivated children and adolescents, who besides training in a specific field receive a general preparative art schooling; preparatory classes for higher education, the Pôle Supérieur Paris Boulogne-Billancourt allows outstanding students of these classes to complete a Bachelor's degree course; and a « grand école » which guides students towards a professional career as a performer, preparing them for participation in national and international competitions or admission to orchestras.