Australian classical guitarist Campbell Diamond has won 1st Prize at the 24th Forum Gitarre Wien (the Vienna International Guitar Competition), which will see him perform in Europe and Asia next year. He also took home the Sakurai Guitar Prize worth 8000 euros (approximately $13,136 AUD) and the Jeunesse Prize, which offers the chance to perform in concert at the Wiener Konzerthaus in 2020. Born in Bowral, New South Wales, Diamond began playing the guitar at the relatively late age of 17. He studied with  Timothy Kain and Minh Le Hoang from 2010 to 2014, initially at the ANU School of Music, then moved to Cologne to train at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz. Diamond has now been based in Cologne for the last four years and studies privately with Judicaël Perroy in Paris, commuting there. He spoke to Limelight about winning the Forum Gitarre Wien.

Campbell Diamond. Photograph supplied

Congratulations! How important is a competition win like this for you?

This particular competition has a reputation for being one of the most prestigious international guitar competitions in Europe, but more than that, it gives me the opportunity to play about 10 concerts around...