More than 300 virtuosos and string enthusiasts from 50 domestic and foreign cities are entered in the 18th China (Zhuhai) International Guitar Art Festival & Corbin Cup Guitar Competition, which opened July 29 and closes tonight at the International Conference Center of Beijing Normal University Zhuhai Campus.

The guitar contest has open, children, teenage, professional teacher, and ensemble levels in the classic category, and six groups of adult, teenage, band, and finger stylists under folk-pop. This makes it one of the most precise guitar gatherings in the world.

A seminar was held to discuss how to propel the development of guitars in China, and meanwhile, a reception saw Chinese guitar moguls treated to vintages from famed Spanish winery Bodegas Olarra.

Opening ceremony [Photo by Zhu Xi / Zhuhai Daily]

Guitar expert Wu Zibiao; Professor Ye Dengmin of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music; Ding Wuhong, judge of the Sanremo International Guitar Festival & Competition; and Li Liang, guitar teacher from the Sichuan Conservatory of Music are among the professionals giving classes, individual concerts, and art lectures.

Founded in 1999, the China (Zhuhai) International Guitar Art Festival is the oldest of its kind in the country. It has head-hunted several rising stars including Hong Tenghuan, PhD alumnus of the International College of Music Hamburg, and Xiao Xiao, postgraduate of Cleveland State University.

A brochure recording the two-decade history and status of the festival will be showcased during the event.