Since its inception in Granada, Spain, the Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition has grown into what is now widely regarded as the world’s most prestigious competition for guitar builders. From the very beginning, GSI and the GSI Foundation have proudly supported this event—long before it reached its current international stature—because we believed in its mission: to recognize serious craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and the living tradition of fine guitar making.

Organized by the European Guitar Foundation and our longtime friend Vicente Coves, the competition takes place in Granada, a city inseparable from the history of both the classical and flamenco guitar. Over the years, the event has become a true benchmark for contemporary lutherie, highlighting makers whose work defines the present—and future—of the instrument.

To celebrate this legacy, we have prepared a dedicated section in our store featuring instruments built by prize winners from the Antonio Marín Montero Competition.

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Explore Award-Winning Guitars

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Below is a complete spotlight on all prize winners, from the most recent editions to the very first—many of whom are now internationally respected guitar makers.

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VIII Edition (2025)

Classical Guitar

• 1st Prize: Manuel Arango

• 2nd Prize: Antonio Zwirn

• 3rd Prize: Henrik Ballowitz

Flamenco Guitar

• 1st Prize: Juan Fregenal

• 2nd Prize: Manuel Arango

• 3rd Prize: Not awarded

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VII Edition (2024)

Classical Guitar

• 1st Prize: Hironori Fukuda

• 2nd Prize: Eduardo Bossa

• 3rd Prize: Darío García

Flamenco Guitar

• 1st Prize: Gao Yi

• 2nd Prize: Darío García

• 3rd Prize: Rojas & Sanzol

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VI Edition (2023)

Classical Guitar

• 1st Prize: Francisco Jiménez

• 2nd Prize: Colin van Aelbrouck

• 3rd Prize: Gerardo Centonze

Flamenco Guitar

• 1st Prize: Colin van Aelbrouck

• 2nd Prize: Francisco Manuel Molina Fajardo

• 3rd Prize: Francisco Jiménez

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V Edition (2022)

• 1st Prize: Alexis Parducci

• 2nd Prize: Miguel Ángel Gutiérrez

• 3rd Prize: Adrian Savary

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IV Edition (2021)

(At this edition, prizes were awarded without separate classical and flamenco categories)

• 1st Prize: Paula Lazzarini

• 2nd Prize: Jesús Jiménez

• 3rd Prize: Amélie Bouvret

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III Edition (2019)

Classical Guitar

• 1st Prize: Darragh O’Connell

• 2nd Prize: Youri Soroka

• 3rd Prize: Hironori Fukuda

Flamenco Guitar

• 1st Prize: Victor Quintanilla

• 2nd Prize: Mihail Kharash

• 3rd Prize: Not awarded

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II Edition (2018)

• 1st Prize: Francisco Muñoz Alba

• 2nd Prize: Yulong Guo

• 3rd Prize: Hans van Velzen

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I Edition (2017)

• 1st Prize: Sergio Valverde

• 2nd Prize: Julia Wenzel & Oscar Muñoz

• 3rd Prize: Not awarded

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A Commitment from the Start

GSI and the GSI Foundation have supported the Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition from its very first edition. Seeing so many early prize winners develop internationally respected careers has only reinforced what we believed from day one: this competition matters.

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Want to participate in the competition?

The z will take place in Granada from July 30 to August 1, 2026, as part of the Granada Guitar Festival. The competition will once again feature both classical and flamenco guitars, welcoming makers from around the world.

Click the button below to learn more about the competition, rules, and registration details.
Application deadline: July 20, 2026.

Learn More

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Jury:

Director: Mr. Vicente Coves. International concert artist. President of the European Guitar Foundation

Presidents:

Classical: Mr. José Marín Plazuelo. World famous guitar maker.
Flamenco: Mr. Manuel Cáceres. World famous guitar maker.

Members:

Mr. Yuris Zeltins. World famous guitar maker.                                                                                                   
Mr. Javier Mengual. World-renowned guitar maker. Luthier en Alhambra Guitarras.
Mr. Edmund Blöchinger. World-renowned guitar maker.
Mr. José González López. World-renowned guitar maker.
Mr. David Collett. President of Guitar Salon International in Los Ángeles.
Classical guitarist: María Esther Guzmán. International Concert Artist.
Flamenco guitarrist: Paco Serrano. International Flamenco Concert Artist. Catedrático de Guitarra Flamenca del Conservatorio Superior de Música de Córdoba
 

Secretary: Mr. Alberto Cuéllar. Guitarrist & Ceo of Jitamen