In Cilento, in the splendid baronial palace of Torchiara, the third edition of the Guitar Oasis International Music Festival & Competition was held, which saw the participation of international stars and attracted young musicians from all over the world.
A musical oasis in Cilento
Tali Roth, internationally renowned guitarist and Director of the Guitar Program at the prestigious Pre-College Juilliard School in New York, is President of Guitar Oasis International, an American non-profit foundation dedicated to promoting young musical talents around the world, sponsored by American donors.
In collaboration with the Municipality of Torchiara and its Councilor Gennaro Guida, Roth as founding director CEO of GuitarOasisInternational Music Festival, brought the first, second and third edition of the GuitarOasisInternational Music Festival and the first edition of the GuitarOasisInternational Festival Competition to the evocative scenery of Cilento.
The event, which was a great success with the public and critics, saw the participation of young musicians from all over the world, who performed a repertoire of high technical and artistic level. Roth, in addition to being a member of the guitar jury, inaugurated the Guitar Oasis International Music Festival with an applauded concert in the gardens of Palazzo De Concilis, delighting the audience with a program that ranged from Agustin Barrios to Astor Piazzolla. The music event, now in its third edition, confirms itself as an international event, capable of creating a bridge between Cilento and the most prestigious musical institutions in the world.
A unique opportunity for young talents
The festival was divided into masterclasses, concerts and an international competition which saw the participation of students from 15 different nations. The aim was to offer young musicians a stage where they could perform, perfect their skills and compare themselves with other talents and teachers of international caliber.
The three sections of the competition
The competition, divided into guitar, violin and composition for film music, saw promising young artists and already established musicians triumph. Among the winners of the guitar section the names of Giuseppe Tarlino and Claudio Longobardi stand out, both from the Salerno Conservatory. In the violin section, Emanuele Samuele Bilotto of the Cosenza Conservatory stood out.
“Guitar” up to 18 years:
First Prize: Giuseppe Tarlino (Salerno Conservatory)
Second Prize: Braydon Kim (Juilliard School, New York)
Third Prize: (ex-equo): Nikhil Shaha (Juilliard School, New York) and Alex Pio Busà (Accademia Musicale Monteverdi di Avola, Sicily)
“Violin” from 18 years with no age limits:
First Prize: Emanuele Samuele Bilotto (Cosenza Conservatory)
Second Prize: Vittoria Romana Bertin (JuniOrchestra, Fondazione Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia)
Third Prize: Ludovica Vasaturo (JuniOrchestra, Fondazione Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia)
A focus on film music
The competition dedicated an entire section to composition for film music, demonstrating the growing interest in this musical genre. Participants had the opportunity to follow seminars on music for media held by the Maestro Federico Ferrandina, guitarist and composer for media and TV. Furthermore, they were able to learn more about the use of Dolby Atmos in a seminar conducted by Umberto Sorbo. The jury of the “Composition for film music” section was made up of leading names in the sector: Head of Jury Sharon Farber, Grammy Award-winning composer for Hollywood and Amit Weiner, composition teacher at the “Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance”.
Here are the winners of the “Composition for film music” section of the Guitar Oasis International Music Festival & Competition:
- Up to 18 years: Davide Di Leo (ROME)
- Over 18 years:
- First prize: Asaf Shochat.
- Second prize (ex aequo): Alon Lifshitz and Uri Burger.
- Third prize: Omri Dov.
All the winners of the “Over 18 years old” category come from “Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance” (Israel).
An exceptional jury
A high-profile jury made up of internationally renowned musicians and teachers will decide the winners. For the guitar section, the presidency was entrusted to Martha Masters, professor at Arizona State University and president of the Guitar Foundation of America. The violin jury was chaired by Cristina Ghidotti of the Salerno Conservatory.
An international success
The Guitar Oasis International Music Festival & Competition ended with great success among the public and critics. The event demonstrated how music can unite young people from all over the world, offering them an opportunity for growth and cultural exchange. The presence of important institutions such as the Juilliard School in New York and the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia has given further prestige to the initiative.
