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John Williams on... Guitar Competitions


Australian Guitar Journal 1990 - John Williams cover From the "Australian Guitar Journal" interview by Austin Prichard-Levy
(early 1990's).

A-P-L: What is your opinion of guitar competitions? Do you think they are good for developing young players, and do you support them?

JW : No, basically I don't like or approve of competitions on any instrument.

I don't think music can be evaluated like a race - I know that's an obvious thing to say and that there are many ifs and buts involved, because they do help some artists and concentrate the public's attention on music. But I particularly don't like the way many guitar competitions are run, the confusing way points are awarded differently in each round of a competition, and especially the over-exploitation of the "Big Winner" and the competitive values that puts on players and the activity of guitar playing itself.

Winning is a matter of taste in most cases, and there are often many other equally deserving competitors other than just the First Prize recipient. I feel it would be fairer to have a select group of finalists, each of whom receives the same award and status.

I have served on juries in the past, but these days I refuse to take part, and I feel it is important to take that stand otherwise your reservations have no meaning. Having said all that, I know it happens anyway and sometimes there is sponsorship involved which does help the general public interest and support. But it still doesn't need to be a cut and dried thing, where each finalist is ranked as precisely as 1,2,3. I think it is those competitive values that are wrong, not the celebration of excellence in music as such. I have talked about the idea of setting up a competition where this other approach is used, but nothing definite has emerged from it yet; it may take some time to develop.

AP-L: So would you support a competition here in Australia if it were organized along the lines you have indicated rather than the usual prize system?

JW: (laughs) Well, that's like when a politician gets asked whether they will support something if x,y and z happens. Let's wait and see if it occurs first!

Australian Guitar Journal 1990 - John Williams

John Williams, from the "Australian Guitar Journal" interview by Austin Prichard-Levy - 1990





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