Guitar Syllabus
OWN CHOICE SOLOS – 18 years and under
One or more pieces of your own choice
G1 Novice Time limit 3 mins (A) Entrants in this class should have been learning the guitar for less than 12 months by 1st January 2026.
G2 Grade 1 Time limit 3 mins (A)
G3 Grade 2 Time limit 4 mins (A)
G4 Grades 3-4 Time limit 5 mins (B)
G5 Grades 5-6 Time limit 6 mins (B)
G6 Grades 7-8 Time limit 8 mins (B)
G7 Diploma Time limit 10 mins (C)
BRITISH MUSIC - 18 years and under
One or more pieces by a British composer
G8 Any standard Time limit 8 mins (B)
OWN CHOICE SOLOS – 19 years and over
Two or more pieces of your own choice
G9 Grades 1-3 Time limit 4 mins (B)
G10 Grades 4-5 Time limit 6 mins (C)
G11 Grades 6-8 Time limit 8 mins (C)
G12 Diploma Time limit 12 mins (C)
BRITISH MUSIC - 19 years and over
One or more pieces by a British composer
G13 Any standard Time limit 8 mins (C)
RECITAL CLASS
Three or more pieces/movements of your own choice
G14 Any Age Time limit 20 mins (E)
PUPIL AND TEACHER DUET CLASSES
One or more pieces of your own choice
G15 Novice Time limit 3 mins (B) Entrants in this class should have been learning the guitar for less than 12 months by 1st January 2026.
G16 Grades 1-2 Time limit 4 mins (B)
G17 Grades 3-4 Time limit 5 mins (B)
G18 Grades 5-6 Time limit 6 mins (B)
G19 Grades 7-8+ Time limit 10 mins (B)
ENSEMBLE CLASSES
One or more pieces of your own choice
G20 Duet 12 years and under Time limit 5 mins (B)
G21 Duet 18 years and under Time limit 7 mins (B)
G22 Duet 19 years and over Time limit 10 mins (C)
G23 Guitar/ukulele ensemble 12 years and under – 3 or more players Time limit 5 mins (B)
G24 Guitar/ukulele ensemble 15 years and under – 3 or more players Time limit 8 mins (E)
G25 Guitar/ukulele ensemble any age – 3 or more players Time limit 15 mins (E)
G26 Guitar and other Instruments, including voice any age - 3 or more players Time limit 15 mins (E)
Adjudicator: Christopher Stell DipRAM, LRAM, ARAM
Venue: Menuhin Room, Portsmouth Central Library
Dates: 8th February 2026
Closing date for entries: 10th November 2025
Online entries: pfpa.org.uk
Paper entries/titles to: Andrew Richardson, 24 Ferndale, Waterlooville, Hants, PO7 7PA
Christopher Stell
Christopher Stell studied with Michael Lewin at the Royal Academy of Music, and then with Sergio and Odair Assad in Brussels. It was at this time that Christopher began his collaboration with Mark Eden forming the Eden Stell Guitar Duo. As part of the duo Chris has performed in over 20 countries, including tours in the USA and China and had concerto engagements with renowned ensembles such as the Prague Chamber Orchestra. International recitals include an appearance at the Guitar Foundation of America Omni Foundation Concert Series in San Francisco and the Alla Grande Festival in Canada. Chris has also performed at prestigious venues such as the Beethovenhalle in Bonn, Stuttgart Liederhalle, The Sage in Gateshead, Uppsala Kongress Hall in Sweden, 92nd Street Y in New York and, in London's Purcell Rooms, Wigmore Hall and Kings Place. In 2019 Chris was invited to give a special performance of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto Madrigal in the Stadttheater Aschaffenburg in the presence of Cecilia Rodrigo. Chris is a founding member of the VIDA Guitar Quartet who have rapidly become one of the world’s most celebrated classical guitar ensembles with concerts throughout Europe USA and China. Chris is an experienced teacher working with players of all levels in a variety of settings. Chris is artistic director of the Play2 festival for children in Armenia and professor of guitar at the Royal College of Music London. Chris is a D’Addario strings endorsed artist.
The Arne Brattland Award will be presented to the most Promising Young Guitarist, 12 years and under.
The Victoria Cup will be awarded for the best classical guitar performance, 14 years and under.
The Vice Chairman Cup will be awarded for the best classical guitar performance, 15-18 years.
The Vincent Lindsey-Clark Cup for the best performance of a piece by Vincent Lindsey-Clark or any British composer, under 19 years.
