The 3rd Youth Category of the Classical Guitar Competition of Finland 2021 was held on May 29th-30th online for the second time. The competition featured a total of 38 guitarists from nine countries. The share of participants from Finland was about 74%.Other participants were from  Germany, Portugal, Estonia, Serbia, Turkey, Romania, Spain and Canada. Youth category had three age groups: 12 years and younger, 13-15 years old and 16-20 years old. The jury members were: Andrzej Wilkus, Helsinki, Markku Laakso, Kuopio and Patrik Kleemola, Turku. Third Youth Guitar Competition was organised by Tampere Guitar Festival.

Results

Please note that the numbers are to indicate the playing order, not the results.

Group 1 (12 years and younger)

1. Prize: Ken Ma, Canada (75 €); Tuomas Kujala, Finland (75 €, Special Prize by the Association of Guitar Teachers of Finland 100 €)
2. Prize David Tudor, Romania (50 €)
3. Prize shared: Emmi Koponen, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy); Saska Salmela, Finland (TGF prize and diploma); Victoria Yu, Finland (D'Addario Gift Box); Vilho Hietala, Finland (Vuoden lavaleijona 2021 – Ostinato 70 € gift card); Eric Hongye, Finland (TGF prize and diploma); Lassi Kyllönen, Finland (TGF prize and diploma); Hiski Holkko, Finland (TGF Incentive Award: Free entry to the next youth guitar competition); Veikka Tanskanen, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)

Group 2 (13-15 years old)

1. Prize shared: Vasco Ferreira Grãos, Portugal (100 €); Uroš Jaćević, Serbia (100 €)
2. Prize shared: Svenja Lienemann, Germany (50 €); Arul Medini Jothi, Finland (Vuoden lavaleijona 2021 – Ostinato 70 € gift card, Special Prize by the Association of Guitar Teachers of Finland 100 €)

3. Prize shared: Antton Kiuru, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy); Matleena Määttä, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy and TGF Incentive Award: Free entry to the next youth guitar competition)

Other prizes:

• Joel Miettinen, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)
• Aleksi Nivala, Finland (D'Addario Gift Box)
• Mikael Myllymäki, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Bhargav Aniish Punaganti Venkata, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Oskar Märtin, Estonia (TGF prize and diploma)
• Oskar Kalmanlehto, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Kedharnatha Singh Ramabharathi, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Georgios Karamertzanis, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Hamsadharshni Ravibalasingam, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Riia Pietilä, Finland (TGF prize and diploma)
• Defne Çimen, Turkey (TGF prize and diploma)
• Sheila Le, Suomi (TGF prize and diploma)

Group 3 (16-20 years old)

1. Prize: Valentin Gheorghe, Romania (150 €)
2. Prize shared: Eneko Aristondo, Spain (75 €); Barkan Canbolat, Turkey (75 €)
3. Prize shared: Lauri Kujari, Finland (Vuoden lavaleijona 2021 – Ostinato 70 € gift card, Special Prize by the Association of Guitar Teachers of Finland 100 €, Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy); Veera Mara, Finland (D'Addario Gift Box)

Other prizes:

• Veeti Forsström, Finland (TGF Incentive Award: Free entry to the next youth guitar competition, Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)
• Daniel Jonsson, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)
• Veikka Ruotsalainen, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)
• Vili Sinelampi, Finland (Guitarist's Theme Day at the Sibelius Academy)

See the video of the result announcing session, where the jury gives also feedback for all the age groups.